Michael Eckels Jr.
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?
“Maryland families and small businesses should not have to pay higher electric bills to accommodate large industrial energy users. If elected, I will work to make energy more affordable, reliable, and sustainable. I will support policies requiring data centers and other large energy users to pay the full cost of the generation, transmission, and grid upgrades they require, rather than shifting those costs to residential ratepayers and small businesses. I will also support expanding renewable energy, battery storage, geothermal, solar, and energy-efficiency programs to increase supply, strengthen reliability, and reduce long-term costs. I want to expand low-interest financing so homeowners, farmers, and businesses can invest in energy systems that reduce their dependence on the grid. Finally, I will advocate for reforms to the PJM energy market and oppose development that places unreasonable demands on Maryland’s electric grid. Economic growth should not come at the expense of Maryland families.”
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 must build an economy that is resilient, diverse, and provides opportunity for workers at every education and skill level. The loss of nearly 25,000 federal jobs in 2025 shows the danger of relying too heavily on one sector. If elected, I will support investments in small businesses, manufacturing, clean energy, healthcare, agriculture, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. I will also work to attract businesses that create good-paying jobs while strengthening Maryland-owned businesses. Workforce development must meet people where they are. I will support expanded apprenticeships, career and technical education, community-college programs, and paid job training that connect workers directly with employers. A four-year degree should not be the only path to a good career. I will also fight for fair wages, affordable housing, and access to childcare and transportation so workers can afford to live where they work. Maryland’s economy is strongest when every worker has a path to opportunity.”
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?
“Public health must be accessible to every Marylander, regardless of income, race, or where they live. If elected, I will prioritize expanding access to affordable mental and behavioral healthcare, especially in rural and underserved communities. Maryland is already investing in rural health, including expanding behavioral health services, telehealth, and the healthcare workforce. I will support integrating mental health and substance-use treatment into primary care, expanding community-based crisis services, and improving continuity of care after hospitalization. Maryland’s behavioral health strategy emphasizes evidence-based practices, improved data, and coordinated care. I will also support strengthening local health departments and community organizations that address food security, transportation, preventive care, and other social determinants of health. Finally, I will advocate for better recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals, particularly in underserved areas. Mental healthcare is essential to long-term well-being, and every Marylander deserves access to quality care when they need it.”
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?
“Maryland’s future depends on giving students meaningful opportunities to succeed in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), regardless of their zip code or family income. If elected, I will support fully implementing the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future while strengthening hands-on STEM programs, career and technical education, apprenticeships, dual enrollment, and partnerships between schools, community colleges, universities, and Maryland employers. The Blueprint already emphasizes college and career readiness and connections between students and employers. I will work to expand STEM opportunities in underserved and rural communities, invest in teachers and classroom resources, and ensure students have access to modern technology and laboratories. For community-college students, I will support clearer transfer pathways, stronger advising, and expanded transfer scholarships so students can move efficiently into four-year programs. Maryland’s 2+2 Transfer Scholarship is an important model. Finally, I will protect college affordability and expand financial-aid opportunities so a student’s financial circumstances do not determine their ability to pursue a STEM career.”
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 support protecting Maryland’s natural resources while allowing responsible growth that respects local communities. As a Sierra Club-endorsed candidate, I am committed to protecting the farmland, forests, waterways, parks, and open spaces that make District 35A special. If elected, I will support increased funding for land preservation, agricultural conservation, parks, and restoration of streams and wetlands. I will also support farmers with conservation practices that protect our soil and waterways while keeping family farms economically viable. Development must be planned responsibly, with consideration for impacts on water quality, wildlife, traffic, and surrounding communities. I support preserving connected forests and sensitive environmental areas rather than unnecessary development and habitat fragmentation. I also want residents to have greater access to parks, trails, and waterways for recreation and environmental education. Protecting the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries must remain a priority. Protecting our land and water today is an investment in the health, economy, and quality of life of future generations.”
Q6 What advisory mechanisms will you implement to ensure that evidence and scientific findings play a crucial role in your policymaking process?
“I believe good policymaking should be guided by facts, research, and the experiences of the people we serve, not ideology or political pressure. If elected, I will establish an informal advisory network of scientists, researchers, healthcare professionals, educators, environmental experts, economists, and community leaders who can provide objective expertise on major legislation. I will also regularly consult Maryland’s universities, community colleges, public agencies, and independent research organizations. Before supporting major legislation, I will seek evidence on its expected costs, benefits, environmental impacts, and effects on Maryland families and businesses. When scientific evidence is uncertain or evolving, I will acknowledge that uncertainty and support policies that can be evaluated and adjusted as new evidence becomes available. I will also hold community listening sessions and make research and supporting data accessible to constituents. My commitment is simple: listen, learn, follow the evidence, and remain accountable to the people of District 35A.”
Q7 What initiatives will you take to support investment in innovation via federal science funding?
“Government investment in science and research is an investment in Maryland’s future. If elected, I will support strong, sustained funding for research institutions, universities, community colleges, and public-private partnerships that turn scientific discoveries into jobs and economic opportunities. I will advocate for funding in areas where Maryland has a strong foundation, including biotechnology, healthcare, cybersecurity, environmental science, agriculture, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing. I will also support grants and incentives that help Maryland’s small businesses and startups bring innovative ideas from research laboratories into the marketplace. I will work to strengthen STEM education and paid research opportunities for students, particularly those from rural and underserved communities, so Maryland can develop the workforce needed for tomorrow’s economy. I will also advocate for protecting federal research funding and pursuing state-level investments when federal support is reduced. Science funding should not simply create discoveries. It should create opportunity, strengthen our economy, improve lives, and prepare Maryland for the future.”