politics does not work for the people of Maryland!
Maryland’s biggest political crisis isn't about policy disagreements or partisan divides—it’s about a state government that has stopped listening to voters altogether.
Right now, decisions in Annapolis aren’t driven by the concerns of everyday Marylanders. Instead, our politics are shaped by wealthy donors, powerful special interests, entrenched party leaders, and national agendas dictated by billionaires who own both major national parties. The result? An electoral system where the voices of ordinary voters become increasingly irrelevant, and where elections are rarely contested and almost never lead to meaningful change.
This isn’t just dysfunction—it's deliberate. The so-called “two-party system” thrives on limiting our choices and silencing alternative visions for Maryland’s future. Campaign finance rules, ballot access barriers, and exclusion from debates all serve to keep power concentrated in the hands of those who already wield it. This rigged system ensures that no matter who wins, things stay the same, and the people of Maryland lose.
Grassroots democracy means rejecting this broken system. It means building political power from the ground up, organizing around communities rather than corporate interests, and making our government accountable to voters—not donors, party bosses, and national media agendas.
So what do we do now?
The Green Party is committed to restoring genuine democracy by pushing for public campaign financing, transparent and accessible elections, ranked-choice voting, proportional representation, and meaningful political reforms that give power back to voters.
Together, we can break the two-party trap, reclaim our democracy, and ensure Maryland’s government reflects the will of the people—not the whims of the powerful.
Join us in building a democracy that actually works for you!
The National Green Party’s Commitment to Grassroots Democracy
Grassroots democracy is at the heart of the Green Party’s identity nationwide. Since its founding, the Green Party of the United States has consistently prioritized democratic reforms aimed at empowering voters and eliminating corporate influence in politics. Nationally, Greens have championed clean elections, strict limits on corporate campaign contributions, ranked-choice voting, proportional representation, and meaningful electoral reform to ensure voters' voices are not drowned out by wealthy special interests. By refusing corporate donations and rejecting Super PACs, the Green Party has set a high standard for integrity and transparency, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to genuine democratic governance.
Across the country, Green candidates and activists have led the fight against restrictive ballot access laws designed to silence independent voices. Greens have also been at the forefront of movements to protect voting rights, combat gerrymandering, and ensure fair and open elections. Whether by running candidates at every level of government or organizing in local communities, the Green Party has consistently acted to build political power from the grassroots up, ensuring politics remain responsive to people rather than profit.
Maryland Greens Lead the Way in Democratic Reform
In Maryland, the Green Party has been instrumental in advocating for real democratic reform for more than two decades. Greens in Takoma Park successfully worked to adopt ranked-choice voting in municipal elections, creating fairer, more representative outcomes. In Baltimore City, Green activists pushed to make City Council districts smaller in 2003, giving neighborhoods stronger local representation—and then mobilized again in 2024 to defend these reforms from being rolled back.
Statewide, Maryland Greens have built a powerful case for publicly financed elections, highlighting the urgent need to remove corporate money from politics and restore voter trust. For decades, Greens have tirelessly challenged Maryland’s restrictive ballot access laws, winning significant improvements that have made elections more accessible for all independent and third-party candidates. From local city councils to state legislative battles, Maryland Greens continue to push forward meaningful democratic reforms to ensure government is accountable to voters, not wealthy donors and party insiders.
Our commitment remains strong: together, we can build a Maryland where grassroots democracy isn’t just a slogan—it's how we govern.
our plan for grass roots democracyin maryland
Our plan for grassroots democracy in Maryland is clear and evolving. We believe in continuous dialogue, constantly engaging communities across the state to deepen our understanding and refine our approach. Every conversation we have with voters, organizers, and community leaders helps shape and expand our vision, ensuring that our policies are responsive, inclusive, and reflective of Maryland’s true political diversity.
Ultimately, our goal is to build a vibrant multiparty democracy in Maryland—one where five or six parties have the opportunity to represent the varied voices and communities that make up our state. We reject the false binary imposed by the two-party system and envision a political landscape where voters have real choices, meaningful representation, and elected officials who are accountable to people, not just powerful interests. With genuine electoral reform, public financing, and expanded voter access, we can create a political system in Maryland where democracy truly thrives.
By the end of the summer, we plan to expand this section into a comprehensive grassroots democracy platform, informed by conversations and community input gathered from across Maryland. While we continue refining the details, we felt it was important to share our initial vision and core ideas now, inviting your feedback and participation in shaping a multiparty democracy. This is the beginning of a vital discussion—one we hope you'll join as we work together to reclaim our electoral system and make democracy in Maryland truly representative of all its people.
This policy is a work in progress and is consistently evolving That’s why we’re asking for your ideas. Join us in shaping a bold, community-driven path forward. Share your ideas at ideas@gogreen2026.com.
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Voter-Driven Constitutional Amendments give Maryland voters direct power to propose and enact amendments to the state constitution through grassroots petition drives. This empowers communities to address critical issues that entrenched politicians and special interests often avoid. By placing amendment decisions directly in voters' hands, we strengthen democracy and ensure government accountability.
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Expand and Protect Voting Rights means ensuring that every person living in Maryland has a voice in our democracy—including incarcerated people, young people, and immigrants. We believe in universal access to the ballot, where every voter in every election can participate fully, freely, and without barriers. Expanding voting rights is essential to building a just and inclusive democracy that truly represents all of us.
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Public Campaign Financing ensures elections in Maryland are funded by voters, not wealthy special interests. By establishing publicly financed campaigns for the General Assembly and statewide offices. and expanding public financing to counties across Maryland we can help counter corporate influence, empower grassroots candidates, and strengthen accountability to voters.
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Ranked-Choice Voting and Proportional Representation give voters more choice and power, ensuring that elected officials genuinely represent the diverse views of Marylanders. Ranked-choice voting allows voters to rank candidates by preference, eliminating the "spoiler" effect, while proportional representation ensures seats reflect the true distribution of voter preferences. Together, these reforms create fairer, more representative, and accountable elections.
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Ballot Petition Modernization will simplify and streamline the petition process by allowing electronic signatures and implementing voter-friendly validation methods. By moving away from outdated, restrictive rules, we ensure voters can more easily support candidates, parties, and initiatives that reflect their values. These reforms expand democratic participation, enhance accessibility, and make our elections fairer and more responsive to Marylanders.
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Political Debates on Maryland Public Television for ballot qualified candidates will give voters direct access to the full range of candidates and ideas in every election cycle. By requiring Maryland Public Television (MPT) to host inclusive, publicly broadcast debates for statewide and legislative races, we ensure accountability and transparency from those seeking office. This promotes informed participation, breaks down the two-party monopoly, and strengthens Maryland’s democracy.
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Municipal Reform means empowering communities by making it easier to form municipalities that prioritize grassroots, people-driven governance. We support policies to simplify the incorporation process, expand local democracy, and ensure municipal governments actively protect and enhance voting rights. These reforms create stronger, more responsive local governments that truly represent their residents.
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Democratizing the General Assembly means restructuring Maryland’s legislature to make it fully responsive to voters—not powerful insiders or corporate lobbyists. This includes reforms such as strengthening ethics rules, making legislative sessions and processes transparent and accessible, and ensuring meaningful public participation. Democratizing the General Assembly empowers communities, reduces the influence of money and special interests, and restores genuine accountability.
