Eric Felber
DemocraticQ1 Maryland residents are facing sharply rising electricity bills driven by a combination of power plant retirements, surging market prices, and rapidly growing demand (including from the proliferation of data centers across the region). If elected, what specific steps will you take to address the causes of high energy costs for Maryland residents and businesses, including data centers?
“The data center companies need to pay for their own development instead of the taxpayers paying. Nuclear and coal plants needs to open to keep utility prices from skyrocketing. Maryland has the highest utility costs of the country.”
Q2 Since early 2025, Maryland has lost nearly 25,000 federal jobs (more than any other state) as funding cuts to federal agencies including the NIH, NASA, and NIST take effect. How would you approach strengthening Maryland’s economy, and what steps would you take to ensure that workers across different roles and education levels benefit from those efforts?
“We must focus on expanding vocational training and supporting green energy initiatives. These efforts are essential to strengthening our workforce and creating sustainable economic opportunities across the state. We will continue to fight for all union members and the working class in Maryland.”
Q3 Maryland faces public health challenges ranging from stark socioeconomic health disparities, a behavioral health and opioid crisis that disproportionately impacts communities of color, gaps in rural mental health access, and a strained public health infrastructure. What evidence-based policies do you support to improve community health for your constituents?
“I have been a physician in Maryland for the past two decades. I spend everyday providing healthcare to my community. Medicaid needs to be expanded, the opioid, fentanyl crisis, and socioeconomic disparaties needs to be addressed. I believe in universal single-payor healthcare. Healthcare is a right, not a luxury.”
Q4 Across the state of Maryland, science and STEM education cultivate interest at a lower rate than intended, too few community-college students successfully transfer and complete bachelor’s degrees, and college affordability remains vulnerable to shifts in federal student aid and support. What evidence-based policies do you support to build a strong science and STEM pipeline from public schools and K-12 programs through colleges and universities for the next generation of Marylanders?
“I believe in free education. Every citizen deserves education and a right to train for a career to support their family. I support unions and their workers.”
Q5 What policies, if any, do you support or envision for managing land-based resources in your district (i.e. water, open-space preserves, parks)?
“I believe in cleaning the bay and protecting our environment for sustainability.”
Q6 What advisory mechanisms will you implement to ensure that evidence and scientific findings play a crucial role in your policymaking process?
“I am a physician and employ scientific findings and evidence everyday and in everything I do.”
Q7 What initiatives will you take to support investment in innovation via federal science funding?
“I support federal science funding to replace the 25000 federal jobs lost since 2025. I support innovation via local jobs and local businesses in Maryland.”