Sanders endorses labor lawyer Morse
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is endorsing John Morse for Maryland’s open 3rd Congressional District seat, he announced on social media last week.
Morse, a labor lawyer from Annapolis, is one of 22 Democrats seeking to represent the district, which includes all of Howard County, a large portion of Anne Arundel County, and part of Carroll County. Nine Republicans are also in the race.
“I am proud to endorse @Morse4Maryland [John Morse] today,” Sanders, whose party affiliation is Independent but caucuses with Senate Democrats, wrote March 12 on the social media platform X. “John is standing up for a sustainable economy that is focused on everyday people, not the corporate special interests or the billionaire
class. I hope Maryland’s 3rd District will support his grassroots campaign.”
Morse also has been endorsed by the United Auto Workers union, the Association of Flight Attendants, for which he once worked, the Communication Workers of America union and others.
“It means so much to have Senator Sanders’ endorsement,” Morse said in a statement Monday. “I hear from people every day in this district that they are looking for the big, progressive change that I bring to the table with more than a decade of experience fighting for working people in court and in the U.S. Congress.”
Morse said he believes he brings something different to the District 3 race, focusing on the fact that families shouldn’t have to pay almost a third of their income on childcare or pay more for less of the same products.
“Senator Sanders started this movement that puts people first and not corporations or the billionaire class and that’s exactly the fight that I bring to this race,” he said.
Morse specializes in labor issues and plans to advocate for workers’ rights if he is elected. Additionally, Morse has said he will seek stricter regulations on big business and hedge funds; increased voters’ rights and an end to gerrymandering, or the strategic drawing of legislative maps to benefit one party; and more protections for women’s reproductive rights, according to his campaign website.
Maryland’s District 3 representative is Democrat John Sarbanes, who has served since January 2007. Last October, he announced that he would not seek reelection.
The candidate pool to replace Sarbanes includes state senators and delegates, small-business owners and veterans.
Most candidates live in or near the district, with a few living farther away. Congressional candidates are not required to live in the district they are seeking to represent as long as they live in the state.
Maryland’s primary election will be held May 14. The general election is Nov. 5.