REPLACING:

John Sarbanes (D)

WORK HISTORY:

Maryland State Senate (Member, District 30); Margrave Strategies (Senior Director of University Projects); National Aquarium in Baltimore (Government Affairs Director); Office of House Democratic Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer (Intern) [i]

EDUCATION:

Diploma, Haddon Heights (NJ) High School; BA, Towson University; MPP, Johns Hopkins University [ii]

CAMPAIGNED ON:

Rebuilding the Key Bridge; Defending Choice; Combating the Epidemic of Gun Violence; Protecting the Chesapeake Bay & Leading on Climate Change; Building an Inclusive Economy; Strengthening our Healthcare System; Protecting our Democracy; Education [iii] 

ON THE ISSUES

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

Endorsed by Reproductive Freedom for All and EMILY’s List, Elfreth has said “healthcare decisions should be between you and your doctor – not elected officials or judges.” In the Maryland Senate, she voted to expand access to reproductive healthcare and cosponsored a constitutional amendment to enshrine those rights in the state constitution. She has pledged to make Roe v. Wade the law of the land and to “take on extremists who want to enforce a national abortion ban and prohibit IVF.” [iv] 

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

Elfreth has advocated for “reforming our broken immigration system.” [v] She has decried conservative plans to “watch list” federal employees who cannot be trusted to secure the U.S. border. [vi]

ECONOMY & JOBS:

In the Maryland General Assembly, Elfreth supported bills to expand broadband access, expand the Small Business Development Center, expand agritourism opportunities, and revitalize the RISE Zone Program. [vii] Her current campaign platform includes rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge; expanding medical leave, parental leave, and caregiver leave; bringing down the cost of childcare; expanding access to workforce housing; and reducing student loans. [viii] 

TAXES:

Elfreth served on the Maryland Senate’s Budget & Taxation Committee, where she supported legislation to improve the 529 Save4College Program, increase public input on budget cuts, and mandate stronger reporting of the spending of Anne Arundel County’s hotel tax revenues, among others. [ix]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY:

In June 2024, when asked about how the federal government can do more on suburban crime, Elfreth said, “The federal government needs to do more to prevent gun violence, including banning assault weapons, requiring background checks, and cracking down on illegal guns. It also needs to invest in modernizing policing, which includes expanding grants for evidence-based, community-oriented policing programs like that of Anne Arundel County’s world-recognized Crisis Response Team. Finally, it needs to invest more in behavioral health and substance abuse treatment programs.” [x]

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

Endorsed by the Maryland League of Conservation Voters (and holding a 100% lifetime score), Elfreth touts her work to pass bills increasing oyster populations, investing in clean jobs, committing Maryland to reaching 50% renewable energy by 2030, and building more resilient infrastructure in response to climate change. [xi]

FOREIGN POLICY:

Endorsed by Pro-Israel America, Elfreth has travelled to Israel and said, “the State of Israel has the right to exist and to defend itself.” [xii] She supports additional assistance for Ukraine, arguing the war “is fundamentally about Russian autocracy versus western democracy.” [xiii]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

In the Maryland Senate, Elfreth passed a law to secure millions in funding for prenatal care for expecting mothers, a law providing additional resources to disproportionately affected communities, and a measure creating a Prescription Drug Affordability Board. She pledges to fight to protect the Affordable Care Act, expand cancer screenings for first responders, and allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices for seniors. [xiv] 

DEMOCRACY:

Elfreth has pledged to cosponsor the For the People Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act. [xv] 

SOCIAL ISSUES:

Elfreth has been a public supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, including supporting a 2023 bill that guaranteed marriage equality be recognized in Maryland’s Retirement & Pension System. [xvi]