WYPR Baltimore Mayoral Interviews

WYPR Baltimore Mayoral Interviews

While there are more than 20 candidates running to be mayor, a Democrat is expected to win the election to lead historically blue Baltimore. The six Democrats considered leaders in the race are former Mayor Sheila Dixon; Mary Miller, a treasury official in the Obama administration; Baltimore City Council President Brandon Scott; former city police spokesman T.J. Smith; Thiru Vignarajah, a former city and federal prosecutor, and incumbent Mayor Jack Young.

On the Recordhost Sheilah Kast and Middayhost Tom Hall have interviewed the front-runners. Find Q & As below.

How to vote:

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the presidential primary was moved from April 28 to June 2. (That’s why mailed ballots have an April date. You can ignore the date and mail your ballot in as usual.)

The primary will be conducted mainly through mail-in ballots, although there will be a small number of polling centers open for those unable to vote by mail. Voters can also return ballots to drop-off boxes around the city. Eligible voters should’ve received a ballot in the mail by May 23. Any eligible voter that did not receive a ballot should submit a ballot request to [email protected] or call 1-800-222-8683.

Mailed ballots include a return envelope and prepaid postage. Ballots must be postmarked on or before June 2.

To register to vote or request an absentee ballot, click here. Look up your voter information here.

Programs

WYPR Mayoral Interviews: Jack Young

Tom Hall

Incumbent Mayor Jack Young represented a Northeast Baltimore District on the City Council for 14 years before becoming City Council president in 2010. He…
Programs

WYPR Mayoral Interviews: Thiru Vignarajah

Tom Hall

Thiru Vignarajah attended Yale University and Harvard Law School, where he served as president of the Harvard Law Review. He went on to clerk for Supreme…
Programs

WYPR Mayoral Interviews: T.J. Smith

Sheilah Kast

T.J. Smith grew up in Northwest Baltimore. He spent two decades in law enforcement, first as a police officer in Anne Arundel County, then later as…
Programs

WYPR Mayoral Interviews: Brandon Scott

Sheilah Kast

Brandon Scott was raised in Baltimore’s Park Heights neighborhood. He was elected in 2011 to represent the city's second district in Northeast Baltimore…
Programs

WYPR Mayoral Interviews: Mary Miller

Tom Hall

After a long career at T. Rowe Price, Mary Miller was appointed by President Obama to top jobs at the Treasury Department. She was the first woman to…
Programs

WYPR Mayoral Interviews: Shelia Dixon

Sheilah Kast

Sheila Dixon is a former Baltimore City council member and city council president. She became mayor in January 2007 when then-mayor Martin O’Malley was…