Anne Arundel's Steuart Pittman elected new chair of Maryland Democratic Party

BALTIMORE — The Maryland Democratic Party unanimously elected Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman as its new party chair Saturday, according to a news release.
Pittman was the preferred choice of Gov. Wes Moore and outgoing party chair Ken Ulman, who left June 13 after less than two years on the job. The new leader will be tasked with shaping Maryland Democrats' strategy after perhaps the toughest state legislative session in recent memory and ahead of critical elections next year.
'Steuart Pittman's success, experience, and leadership in Anne Arundel County is a significant asset for Democrats across the state,' Moore said in the release. 'He has a track record of winning tough races and knows how to get things done.'
Pittman, who has served as county executive since 2018, presided over crime reductions in Anne Arundel and led the county to earn the first two AAA bond ratings in its history. He worked as a community organizer at the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now before holding elected office, according to the release.
'I hope to utilize my background and experience to elect as many Democrats as possible and continue to move Maryland forward,' Pittman said in the release.
Pittman told The Baltimore Sun last month that the actions of President Donald Trump, which have greatly impacted the large base of federal workers in Maryland, give the Democratic Party a 'huge opportunity to grow.'
'People who voted for Trump voted for a lot of reasons,' Pittman said. 'And most of them didn't know that they were electing somebody who was going to threaten the economic well-being of the state.'
According to the release, Pittman will close out his personal campaign account to legally assume the party chair position by the end of June. Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party is an unpaid position.
As Pittman is term-limited as Anne Arundel County executive, three Democrats have already jumped into the race to replace him: County Council members Allison Pickard and Pete Smith, as well as James Kitchin, a special assistant to Pittman who was previously a teacher and public policy researcher.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Fox News

14 minutes ago

• Fox News

They want Americans dead, too — the threat from Iran and its proxies

Print Close By David Zimmermann Published June 22, 2025 Israel's recent preemptive strikes and ongoing military campaign against Iran have captured global headlines as the country endeavors to neutralize the Iranian regime's offensive military and nuclear weapons capability. Just hours ago, Israel's efforts to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions were significantly enhanced by U.S.-delivered bunker buster bombs and Tomahawk missiles that struck three Iranian nuclear facilities. Americans must understand these military actions directly enhance U.S. national security as they weaken the numerous Iranian-supported Islamist extremist terrorist groups that threaten Americans at home and abroad. Operation Rising Lion, initiated by Israel on June 13, 2025, has targeted multiple nuclear facilities, nuclear scientists, military infrastructure, and military leadership across Iran. Iran's radical Islamist regime has, time after time, publicly stated its desire – even promise – to "wipe Israel off the map." Operation Rising Lion, with the recent addition of American military power, will hopefully eliminate Iran's ability to keep such a promise, while at the same time preventing Iran from threatening the existence of neighboring Sunni Arab states and Western countries, including the U.S., with nuclear weapons. HEGSETH, MILITARY BRASS DESCRIBE 'INCREDIBLE AND OVERWHELMING SUCCESS' OF US STRIKES ON IRAN Iran is currently the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism, and it funds, trains, and arms terrorist groups including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and various U.S.-designated Shia militia operating in Iraq. Preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons prevents these proxies from having access to such destructive power as well – whether from a true nuclear bomb or a "dirty" bomb. Hamas, designated by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) in 1997, drafted a written charter in 1988 that declares all Jews are targets for killing. On October 7, 2023, Hamas' devastating terror attack on Israel murdered 45 Americans (amongst 1200 total victims) while 12 Americans were among the 251 who were kidnapped. Is there any doubt that if Hamas were to obtain the destructive power of a nuclear device they would use it to carry out their sworn objective? For Americans who think Hamas is a foreign threat only, please know that Hamas has been in the U.S. for decades. Internal Hamas documents and FBI wiretaps, introduced as evidence in various U.S. federal criminal cases within the past 20 years, demonstrate the existence of a nationwide Hamas network engaged in fundraising, lobbying, education and propaganda dissemination dating back to the 1980s. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION Hezbollah, also designated by the U.S. as an FTO in 1997, has its own "Open Letter" that was written in 1985. Within this Letter, Hezbollah states one of its objectives is Israel's obliteration. Additionally, the Letter states, "We are moving in the direction of fighting the roots of vice and the first root of vice is America." Prior to Al Qaeda's attack on the U.S. in 2001, Hezbollah was responsible for more U.S. terrorism casualties than any other Islamist extremist terrorist group. In November 2023, then-FBI Director Chris Wray testified to Congress that Hezbollah has sought to buy weaponry, seed operatives, and raise funds in America. Even though Israel has weakened Hezbollah over the past 12 months, the terror organization still exists and remains a global threat. Again, is there any doubt that if Hezbollah were to obtain nuclear weapons capability, they would use it to carry out a new form of terror against Israel, the U.S., Jews and Americans across the globe? The Houthis (Ansar Allah), first designated as an FTO by the U.S. in 2021 and re-designated in 2025 after the initial designation was revoked, have an official slogan: "Allahu Akbar. Death to America. Death to Israel. Curse on the Jews. Victory to Islam." Since October 2023, the Houthis have been launching missile and drone attacks not only on Israeli civilians, but on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea believed by the Houthis to be connected to Israel, the U.S., or Western allies. Once more, the same question can be asked – and easily answered – about whether the Houthis would use the destructive power of a nuclear weapon if the Iranian regime were to give them this capability. SIGN UP FOR ANTISEMITISM EXPOSED NEWSLETTER Finally, many Americans do not realize the Iranian regime has exported terror directly to U.S. shores already. In recent years, as per Department of Justice records, the Iranian regime has sponsored murder-for-hire plots – within U.S. borders – designed to assassinate former senior U.S. leaders Mike Pompeo and John Bolton, a Saudi Ambassador to the U.S., Iranian dissidents who escaped Iran and currently live in the U.S. (such as Iranian American journalist Masih Alinejad), and even President Donald Trump himself. There are other examples of such plots, and all of these plots were disrupted by the phenomenal work of my FBI colleagues and numerous other partners. My point is Iran is not simply a distant threat in a far-off foreign land: Iran has targeted Americans on U.S. soil. A weakened – or, better yet, a fallen – Iranian regime without nuclear weapons would prevent its Islamist terrorist proxies from acquiring an unimaginable destructive power that threatens not only Israel, but the U.S. as well. Disrupting Iran's nuclear ambitions would also cripple its own ability to threaten Americans on U.S. soil. Ultimately, preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons will not only make Israel safer, but it will also make the U.S. – and the world – safer. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION Print Close URL

Yahoo

15 minutes ago

• Yahoo

Mitch McConnell weighs in on U.S. strikes in Iran

HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) – Indiana Governor Mike Braun and Senator Todd Young gave their thoughts on the U.S. strikes in Iran, and now, Senator Mitch McConnell has given his thoughts. McConnell 'commends' President Donald Trump for using 'decisive action' and standing with Israel. His full statement can be read below. 'Israel's bold response to the war thrust upon it by Iran's proxies has created a unique opportunity to cripple Iran's nuclear ambitions and strike a lasting blow to its hegemonic aggression. Seizing this opportunity is not an escalation toward war — it is a prudent response to the warmongers in Tehran. Iran would be foolish to misunderstand American resolve. I commend the President for authorizing decisive action and all U.S. servicemembers responsible for carrying it out. The United States' interest in denying Iran a nuclear weapon, in standing with our ally, Israel, and in reestablishing credible deterrent power is undeniable and urgent.' Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Wall Street Journal

18 minutes ago

• Wall Street Journal

WSJ Opinion: Isolationists vs. Interventionists, GOP Split on Iran

From the award-winning opinion pages of The Wall Street Journal, the Journal Editorial Report sees columnists and members of the Journal Editorial Board debate the major economic, political and cultural issues of the day. From the policy debates to the political fights, each week get critical perspective and the analysis you need on developments from Washington.