Political notes: We love a parade, Bernie gets involved in CD-3, a potential new role for Krish Vignarajah, and more

Five weeks into his bid for U.S. Senate, former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) is coming out of political hibernation this weekend.

He’ll start by marching in Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in Ocean City, where he’s also scheduled to raise money at a parade-watching party hosted at Seacrets by Rebecca and Leighton Moore, the owners of the celebrated party venue and local philanthropists who are the grand marshals of this year’s parade.

Hogan won’t be marching in Sunday’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in Annapolis — only current elected officials are allowed to do so — but he does plan to attend and work the crowd, especially in front of Stan & Joe’s Saloon on West Street, where the professional fighters traditionally gather.

Coincidentally or not, another candidate for Senate, U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-6th), will be greeting parade goers right across the street from Stan & Joe’s. He’s opening a small campaign office on the other side of West Street.

Representing the Moore administration in the Annapolis parade is Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller (D).

National conservatives in Md.

Some national conservative celebrities are coming to Maryland this week:

On Tuesday, former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, who was the Republican nominee for governor in New York in 2022, is headlining the annual Lincoln Reagan Day Dinner for the Anne Arundel County Republican Central Committee.

And on Wednesday evening, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) — a member of the House Freedom Caucus who is seen as a possible running mate to former President Donald Trump — will headline the Lincoln Reagan Douglass Dinner of the Baltimore City Republican Party.

Bernie weighs in

Vermont Senator and progressive icon Bernie Sanders is taking sides in the 22-candidate Democratic primary for the open 3rd District congressional seat. Sanders announced this week that he is backing John Morse, a labor lawyer who is trying to stake his claim as the most progressive candidate in the crowded field.

“John Morse is standing up for a sustainable economy that is focused on everyday people, not the corporate special interests or the billionaire class,” Sanders said. “John will fight tooth and nail for education for all in better and safer schools and policies that recognize health care is a human right.”

Morse has also been endorsed by the United Auto Workers Union, the Association of Flight Attendants, where he once worked, and The Communication Workers of America Union.

“This campaign is about giving a voice to the voiceless and ensuring a brighter, healthier future for all Marylanders,” he said.

The 3rd District takes in all of Howard County, a big chunk of Anne Arundel County, and a sliver of Carroll County.

New gig for Krish Vignarajah?

Six years after running for governor of Maryland, Krish Vignarajah, the former White House policy adviser who now heads the Baltimore-based immigrants’ services organization Global Refuge, could become the next first lady of Delaware. Her husband, environmental advocate Collin O’Mara, announced this week that he’s seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in the First State.

“Well over half of Delawareans have no idea who they want to vote for in the primary, and those that signal support for some of the other candidates — it’s fairly tepid,” O’Mara told Delaware Public Media. “And so we think there’s a significant lane that’s still available for a progressive alternative that can actually deliver big things for the state.”

O’Mara, who is president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, is Delaware’s former Natural Resources secretary. He’s expected to face Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long and New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer in the Sept. 10 Democratic primary.

Vignarajah’s brother, Thiru Vignarajah, is running for mayor of Baltimore in this year’s May 14 Democratic primary — his fourth run for citywide office in six years.

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