Jason Jobe
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?
“My position is a firm ““No”” on new data centers and similar projects until developers are open and transparent with the communities and can provide compelling, independently reviewed evidence that they can—and will—take responsibility for their impact. That means binding plans to pay for power-grid and water-system upgrades, protect local water supplies, and cover long-term environmental costs. Communities and local businesses should not subsidize private data centers through higher utility bills or public incentives. I will oppose state support for projects that cannot meet those standards. If developers want Maryland communities to accept the risks, they must prove the public will receive clear, lasting benefits.”
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?
“Maryland’s greatest economic asset is its people: their knowledge, practical skills, experience, and ability to work together. We should protect federal research jobs while building an economy that can survive changes in Washington. I support apprenticeships, community-college programs, help for small businesses, manufacturers and contractors, and turning Maryland research into Maryland businesses. Remote work can unlock significant opportunities in Western Maryland. With dependable broadband, shared workspaces, and sensible state-employment policies, residents can compete for technology, research, and other well-paying jobs without leaving their communities. Not every job can be remote, but many can. In addition to expanding the labor pool, state employees can better connect with and serve the communities they represent by living there, if they so choose.”
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?
“Rural residents should not have to travel hours or wait months for basic care. We have to stop undercutting the services and programs that provide funding for our rural hospitals, clinics and medical organizations. I also support mobile clinics, school-based services, telehealth, stronger behavioral-health crisis response, and incentives for medical and mental-health professionals to practice in underserved areas. Opioid-settlement money should fund prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and long-term recovery programs with publicly reported results. Maryland should also support responsible medical AI that helps clinicians detect illness earlier, reach rural patients, and reduce paperwork. Technology should support medical judgment—not replace doctors or weaken patient privacy.”
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?
“For over 20 years, Garrett County has been demonstrating a model worth building on. Local FIRST LEGO League programs connect elementary education, mentoring, robotics, and real achievement under the goal “All Kids—STEM Ready.” The sponsorship of local schools and businesses has funded much of the program but more importantly, it has and continues to strengthen and encourage social engagement, connections and lasting relationships. We should recognize, encourage and support this relationship. Maryland should support that kind of hands-on learning with teacher training, equipment, transportation, summer programs, and paid work experience. We must also bring Garrett College, Allegany College of Maryland, Frostburg State University, and other Western Maryland institutions fully into statewide academic and research partnerships. Students should be able to share courses, join research projects, transfer credits cleanly, and reach a bachelor’s degree without wasting time or money.”
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)?
“Western Maryland’s water, forests, farms, parks, and open spaces are part of our identity and our economy. Communities have the right to voice and vote on proposals that impact them and their way of life. I support protecting drinking water and watersheds, maintaining parks and trails, conserving important habitat, and keeping farms and working forests economically productive. Decisions should use sound science while respecting property rights and local knowledge. Residents, farmers, businesses, and local governments and nature lovers of every variety need a real voice early in the process—not after decisions have already been made. We need to be responsible stewards, working to conserve and protect our natural resources while supporting recreation, tourism, agriculture, and the people who care for the land.”
Q6 What advisory mechanisms will you implement to ensure that evidence and scientific findings play a crucial role in your policymaking process?
“I earned an M.S. in Computer Science and spent 20 years working as a software engineer in Northern Virginia’s defense industry. That experience taught me to ask direct questions: What does the evidence show? What assumptions are being made? What can fail? How will we measure results? For major technical issues, I will seek input from universities, community colleges, agencies, local professionals, and affected residents. I will also explain the evidence and reasoning behind my positions whenever possible. Expert knowledge matters, but so does local experience. Good policy needs both.”
Q7 What initiatives will you take to support investment in innovation via federal science funding?
“Federal science funding supports far more than scientists. It supports technicians, tradespeople, teachers, suppliers, startups, and entire communities. I will work with Maryland’s congressional delegation, universities, federal facilities, and employers to defend stable research funding. At the state level, I support matching funds, partnerships with small businesses, and programs that turn publicly funded discoveries into Maryland businesses and jobs. Johns Hopkins is already doing serious work in medical AI and precision medicine. Maryland should consider a collaborative model similar to Mayo Clinic’s—connecting clinical expertise, protected data, researchers, and technology partners. Western Maryland colleges, healthcare providers, students, and patients must be part of that network, not an afterthought.”