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If more data centers are going to be built, we need more protections in state law. Otherwise, utility customers will pay more for electricity and there will be significant environmental impacts. Maryland should require data centers to self fund all of their needed utility infrastructure, including additional energy generation; to generate a portion of their energy needs with onsite renewable sources; to pay a higher electricity rate than other customers; as well as repeal existing tax breaks.
Data centers are the major cause of increasing electricity prices and that’s not fair. New data centers are being built faster than energy production is increasing and much of this growth is happening outside of Maryland. This still impacts our energy prices because we are part of a regional energy grid. We need to enact state requirements on data centers (see my first response), pursue increased renewable energy generation in-state, and provide utility assistance to residents in need.
Yes. As Secretary of the Transit Caucus and a long-time rider myself, I know that public transit is an essential service for many. I have consistently voted for funding for Metro, the Purple Line, and local bus service. I fought for our county to receive ongoing funding for Bus Rapid Transit, including a forthcoming line along 355. We also need to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety to get people to transit stops safely. I sponsored Maryland’s Vision Zero law and other roadway safety laws.
My top priorities are 1) continuing investments in our public schools, 2) protecting social safety net programs, and 3) expanding access to affordable child care. As Chair of the Revenues Subcommittee, I believe that the state budget shouldn’t be balanced solely through budget cuts. I’ve been fighting for years to close tax loopholes so that big corporations pay their fair share of taxes. We also need to decouple from certain harmful and costly tax provisions in the federal Big Ugly Bill (HR 1).
I’ve voted for and co-sponsored legislation to protect our immigrant neighbors, including banning local law enforcement from coordinating with ICE and to prevent new ICE detention centers. I sponsored the law to allow eligible immigrants to receive anti-poverty tax credits from the state. On the Rockville City Council, I was the lead sponsor of the Trust Ordinance, which ensures that all residents feel comfortable calling 9-1-1 by barring local police from asking about immigration status.
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Date centers don't bring enough positive impacts to the state to outweigh the negatives. Sure, through their construction they employee individuals. But once they're built, the number of employees is miniscule. Their presence is unwelcome in Maryland. They are a strain on our already aging power grid, they drain our water supply, and they're an eyesore on the landscape. Maryland farmers are already dealing with residential expansion, they shouldn't have to deal with data centers too.
Escalating utility costs are driven by the rising regional electricity prices, and the aging infrastructure. Addressing this requires expanding energy generation to increase supply, and investing in modern grid improvement plans. The state needs to pursue a balanced energy planning that will strengthen reliability, while protecting rate payers from unnecessary regulatory or infrastructural costs.
Public transportation is a necessity that hasn't been allowed to flourish to its fullest potential. A great example is the DMV's former trolley lines that were extensive and went everywhere. Instead of growing from that point, they were torn out with the justification of the Metro replacing them. But many areas that were serviced then, are no longer. Then there are plenty of places that are left without a way to travel without a vehicle. I support the expansion of our public transportation.
My top priorities would be strengthening our economic foundations that support long term growth, including investments in infrastructure, workforce development and key industries like agriculture that sustain local economies. Secondly, I would prioritize funding for essential public services such as education, public safety, and transportation that directly affect quality of life and economic opportunity. Third, focus on responsible fiscal management by supporting programs that deliver results.
Immigrants are certainly an important part of Maryland's communities. My focus will be on strengthening the overall economy, improving workforce opportunities, and supporting small businesses so everyone who works and lives in Maryland can contribute and succeed. By prioritizing strong economic growth, public safety, and effective public services, we can create conditions where all communities can thrive.
I support regulations that ensure data centers do not contribute to unfair increases in utility costs for residents, pay for the cost of their impacts, and are limited to locations that will not create undue burdens for communities. I voted last year to override the governor’s veto of legislation requiring a Data Center Impact Study. While I understand that these facilities may be necessary to support technological evolution, I am generally not a fan of having them in Maryland.
Escalating costs are the result of a combination of complex, interrelated factors including unusually cold winter temperatures, lack of accountability by the PJM Interconnection regional grid operator, cuts by the Administration to federal clean energy programs, and “phantom load” from data center applications. We are addressing these issues with a comprehensive new bill called the Continuing the Next Generation Energy Act, which builds on laws we passed over the last couple years.
Public transportation is a public good and is relied on by hundreds of thousands of residents and workers. I was proud to serve as the Floor Leader on the Metro Funding Modification Act of 2026, which ensures consistent capital funding to maintain and upgrade the WMATA Metro system. As a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation & Environment, I am deeply involved in ensuring that we invest wisely in public transportation projects across the state.
On the Appropriations Committee, I work to fund important priorities and safety net programs while meeting our obligation to balance the budget. My top three priorities are affordability, accountability, and opportunity. This includes protecting civil rights and democratic institutions from the abuses of the Trump Administration, fully supporting investments in public education, affordable housing, relief from utility costs, and transportation infrastructure, and promoting economic development.
As a representative of two of the most diverse cities in America, I proudly support and/or co-sponsor several bills to protect our immigrant communities, including the Maryland Values Act of 2025, U-Visa protections, banning so-called 287(g) agreements with ICE, and supporting bills to limit the presence of immigrant detention centers in Maryland. I also supported bills to limit data sharing with ICE and authorize “converse 1983” lawsuits against federal officials who violate civil rights.
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Maryland’s data center expansion is directly linked to rising utility rates, as families effectively subsidize infrastructure for facilities that spike energy demand. This growth also threatens our water supply and agricultural land. We cannot prioritize expansion over energy affordability. I support innovation, but I will continue to champion policies that protect households from high bills and safeguard our environment against unregulated data center development.
Marylanders need immediate relief from skyrocketing energy bills. This crisis is fueled by transmission delays, data center growth, and utility greed. I’m fighting to hold companies like PEPCO and Exelon accountable by banning their political contributions and "lavish meal" lobbying. I also supported measures to stop utilities from passing the costs of corporate bonuses and private jets onto ratepayers. We must force PJM to speed up energy connections and make data centers pay their fair share.
Traffic in Gaithersburg and Rockville isn't just an inconvenience, it’s lost family time. Reliable, affordable public transit is the key to reclaiming that time, improving quality of life, and protecting our environment. I’ve voted to fully fund Metro and expand bus access so residents have real options. I will continue advocating for two-way, all-day, every-day service on the MARC Brunswick line, transforming it into a true regional transit backbone for our community.
Our top duty is a balanced budget that funds essentials while cutting waste. I have three key priorities. First, public education: I’ll fight to sustain the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future to ensure we have the nation’s best schools. Second, childcare: it’s a massive expense, and I believe in universal access. Third, healthcare: as federal funds drop, I’ll protect services for children and adults with developmental disabilities and continue to strongly oppose DDA cuts.
As an immigrant raised in this district, I value the dignity and opportunity Maryland offered by this community to my family. I am horrified by the current administration’s cruel immigration policies, which prioritize political quotas over public safety and divert resources from stopping violent crime. I’ve fought back by supporting a ban on 287(g) agreements to keep local police out of ICE’s work and opposing the construction of a massive ICE detention facility in our state.
