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Debate in Maryland over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

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These pages were updated from March 2020 through June 2020 and do not contain the latest commentary available. To submit arguments for inclusion on this page, email editor@ballotpedia.org. To learn how Ballotpedia decides which arguments to feature, click here.


Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. In addition to monitoring federal, state, and local responses to the coronavirus, we are also capturing the nationwide and local debates on whether to extend or lift coronavirus-related restrictions affecting the economy, schools, government operations, public health, religious services, and travel.

These arguments come from a variety of sources, including public officials, journalists, think tanks, economists, scientists, and other stakeholders. We encourage you to share the debates happening in your local community to editor@ballotpedia.org.


This article covers the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in Maryland in response to the coronavirus pandemic. You will find the following:


Debate over reopening plans in Maryland

See also: Debate over stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the stay-at-home order in Maryland.


Debate over stay-at-home orders in Maryland

See also: Debate over stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the stay-at-home order in Maryland.

  • Governor Larry Hogan (R) (Newsweek): Governor Larry Hogan responded to comments made by Congressman Andy Harris (R) at a ReOpen Maryland protest.

    "First of all, look, I think everybody has a right to protest and express their feelings. A couple of dozen people did so yesterday and they have every right to do that. Sadly, we had far more people die yesterday in Maryland than we had protesters. ... Congressman Harris, I'm not sure where he woke up yesterday morning, but maybe he confused North Korea and South Korea. South Korea's doing a great job on testing and we just saved the lives of thousands of Marylanders by getting those half million tests from [South] Korea. But I really don't have any further comment. He's obviously got the right to say whatever crazy things he wants to say but, you know, I don't really need to respond to them." - "MARYLAND'S REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR DISMISSES 'CRAZY THINGS' SAID BY GOP REPRESENTATIVE AT ANTI-LOCKDOWN PROTEST IN HIS STATE," May 3, 2020.

  • Congressman Andy Harris (R) (Newsweek): At a protest over Maryland's stay-at-home order, Congressman Andy Harris said the government should not be able to decide whether religious gatherings were essential.

    "Unbelievably, in America, I have been told that you can't practice your religion and the state has decided that my religion is essential or nonessential. I didn't wake up in Communist China and I didn't wake up in North Korea ... and tomorrow morning, I should be able to go to the church of my choice and worship the way I choose." - "MARYLAND'S REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR DISMISSES 'CRAZY THINGS' SAID BY GOP REPRESENTATIVE AT ANTI-LOCKDOWN PROTEST IN HIS STATE," May 3, 2020.

  • Republican State Delegates' letter to Gov. Larry Hogan (Capital Gazette): A group of Republican delegates sent a letter to Larry Hogan arguing that a regional approach to reopening where certain parts of the state could reopen before others would help minimize the economic impact of the shutdown.

    "We fundamentally believe that what works in one region of the state may not be applicable to others" - "Streets of Annapolis filled with cars in protest against Maryland coronavirus restrictions," April 18, 2020.

  • Governor Larry Hogan (R) (Capital Gazette): In response to protests, Governor Larry Hogan said Maryland's shutdown measures were necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19.

    "I completely understand why people are anxious to get things going. I want to get our economy back and get things opened up as quickly as possible just as much as anybody does. But we’re also going to have to do that in a safe manner." - "Streets of Annapolis filled with cars in protest against Maryland coronavirus restrictions," April 18, 2020.

  • Congressman Andy Harris (R) (Newsweek): "Defending freedom of religion is not crazy to many people. There were hundreds of people in Salisbury yesterday (factually many more protested than those who died in Maryland yesterday, each of which, of course, is a tragedy) who want a common sense approach to re-opening our churches and businesses that so many other governors have taken. The governor says he's not denying the right to protest, but his spokesperson's remarks and his administration's actions following the protest indicate otherwise." - "MARYLAND'S REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR DISMISSES 'CRAZY THINGS' SAID BY GOP REPRESENTATIVE AT ANTI-LOCKDOWN PROTEST IN HIS STATE," May 3, 2020.

  • Reopen Maryland Protest Organizer Paul Brockman (Capital Gazette): "This shutdown is devastating the economy, especially our small businesses and restaurants, and there’s no reason why the most powerful nation on Earth can’t protect the elderly and vulnerable at the same time we stand our economy back up" - "Streets of Annapolis filled with cars in protest against Maryland coronavirus restrictions," April 18, 2020.


Debate over school closures in Maryland

See also: Debate over school closures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on school closures in Maryland.


Debate over religious service restrictions in Maryland

See also: Debate over religious service restrictions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on religious service restrictions in Maryland.

  • Governor Larry Hogan (R) (Newsweek): Governor Larry Hogan responded to comments made by Congressman Andy Harris (R) at a ReOpen Maryland protest.

    "First of all, look, I think everybody has a right to protest and express their feelings. A couple of dozen people did so yesterday and they have every right to do that. Sadly, we had far more people die yesterday in Maryland than we had protesters. ... Congressman Harris, I'm not sure where he woke up yesterday morning, but maybe he confused North Korea and South Korea. South Korea's doing a great job on testing and we just saved the lives of thousands of Marylanders by getting those half million tests from [South] Korea. But I really don't have any further comment. He's obviously got the right to say whatever crazy things he wants to say but, you know, I don't really need to respond to them." - "MARYLAND'S REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR DISMISSES 'CRAZY THINGS' SAID BY GOP REPRESENTATIVE AT ANTI-LOCKDOWN PROTEST IN HIS STATE," May 3, 2020.

  • Congressman Andy Harris (R) (Newsweek): At a protest over Maryland's stay-at-home order, Congressman Andy Harris said the government should not be able to decide whether religious gatherings were essential.

    "Unbelievably, in America, I have been told that you can't practice your religion and the state has decided that my religion is essential or nonessential. I didn't wake up in Communist China and I didn't wake up in North Korea ... and tomorrow morning, I should be able to go to the church of my choice and worship the way I choose." - "MARYLAND'S REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR DISMISSES 'CRAZY THINGS' SAID BY GOP REPRESENTATIVE AT ANTI-LOCKDOWN PROTEST IN HIS STATE," May 3, 2020.

  • Congressman Andy Harris (R) (Newsweek): "Defending freedom of religion is not crazy to many people. There were hundreds of people in Salisbury yesterday (factually many more protested than those who died in Maryland yesterday, each of which, of course, is a tragedy) who want a common sense approach to re-opening our churches and businesses that so many other governors have taken. The governor says he's not denying the right to protest, but his spokesperson's remarks and his administration's actions following the protest indicate otherwise." - "MARYLAND'S REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR DISMISSES 'CRAZY THINGS' SAID BY GOP REPRESENTATIVE AT ANTI-LOCKDOWN PROTEST IN HIS STATE," May 3, 2020.


Debate over election policy in Maryland

See also: Debate over election policies and procedures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on election policies in Maryland.

  • Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D) (MarylandReporter.com): "Given the health crisis we are in and have been under, I believe the governor did the correct thing in making sure that this election took place and that it took place by mail and ballot and that it gave an option to people who for whatever circumstance might need a walk-in facility. So, the governor’s decision, in my opinion, was absolutely the correct thing to do. Now, we’ve never done it before so it required a rather huge learning curve, both in terms of the Board of Elections, but also in terms of candidates. And, so, all things considered, we’re just about at the end of that process and I would hope to think that this at least serves as a valid precursor for the next election in the state of Maryland." - "MFUME PRAISES HOGAN’S VOTE-BY-MAIL DECISION AHEAD OF SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION," April 27, 2020.

  • Kimberly Klacik (R) (MarylandReporter.com): "I’m a little skeptical that this will go off without a hitch. We’ve received many messages from many individuals in District Seven that have not received their ballots. We have asked them to reach out to the Maryland State Board of Elections. As far as we know they are emailing people ballots so they can actually drop them in the mailbox or drop them at a drop-off bin at one of the three locations tomorrow. ... Obviously this is the best idea considering the pandemic. We don’t want people at the polls possibly getting infected. So I totally understand it." - "MFUME PRAISES HOGAN’S VOTE-BY-MAIL DECISION AHEAD OF SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION," April 27, 2020.


Responses to the coronavirus in Maryland

See also: Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (Maryland)

Click the links below for more on responses to the coronavirus pandemic in Maryland.

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.


See also

Footnotes

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Political responses to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020-2021
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Federal policy responses • State government responses • Local government responses • Diagnosed or quarantined incumbents, candidates, and officials • State legislative session changes • State legislative responses • State executive orders • Eviction and foreclosure policies • Travel restrictions • School responses (2021-2022) • School responses (2020-2021) • School responses (2019-2020) • State court closures • Stay-at-home order status • States that issued stay-at-home orders • States that did not issue stay-at-home orders • Changes to ballot measure campaigns and policies • Changes to vote-by-mail and absentee voting procedures • Initial key federal official responses • Arguments in support of and opposition to government responses • Lawsuits • Multistate agreements • Non-governmental plans to reopen • Unemployment filings • Analysis articles • Paycheck Protection Program • Mask requirements • School budget changes • State budgets • Federal definitions of essential and nonessential businesses • Federal aid to states • Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program • State emergency power authority • Changes to state emergency power authority • Municipal emergency power authority • Halloween guidelines • Vaccine distribution plans • State plans to end federal unemployment • Changes to emergency power laws • Active COVID-19 emergency orders • State vaccine requirement (vaccine passport) policies • Recalls related to the pandemic • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on school responses to the coronavirus • State employee vaccine requirements • Healthcare worker vaccine requirements
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