Meet The Candidate: John Sarbanes Runs For U.S. House

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The presidential race gets the most attention, but Maryland has several Congressional contests as well. The state's eight seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are also up for grabs in this year's election.

It's time to get to know one of the candidates. Meet John P. Sarbanes. He is running in Maryland's 3rd Congressional District.

Sarbanes is running against Charles Anthony. More information about Anthony is available here.

Before we meet Sarbanes, you have to know what district you live in. Follow the instructions below to see if Sarbanes is on the ballot in your town.

What District Am I In?

Unlike the Senate, each Marylander only has one delegate in the United States House of Representatives. To determine which congressional district you are a part of, enter your ZIP code at this link.

Candidate:

John Sarbanes

Where you live:

Towson

Date of birth:

5/22/62

Current occupation and employer:

Member of Congress. Previously an attorney.

Political experience:

Member of Congress representing Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District since 2007.

Campaign information:

• email: info@johnsarbanes.com
• website: johnsarbanes.com
• Facebook: jsarbanes
• Twitter: @JohnSarbanes

Why are you running for this office?

I’m running because I believe that my experience and my committee assignments — in particular, serving as a senior member on the House Subcommittee on Health and as a member of the House Oversight and Reform Committee — position me well to assist Marylanders in the current battle to overcome the coronavirus and respond to the tremendous economic dislocation that has been visited upon millions of American families.

What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?

Every major issue we face — whether it’s protecting the Bay or reducing prescription drug costs — is distorted by well-connected special interests, who block progress at every turn. If we can reduce the undue influence of wealthy donors and corporate special interests, then we can deliver on the kind of positive and empowering change that the American people want to see. That’s why I authored H.R. 1, the For the People Act — a transformative anti-corruption bill that will reduce political money in our politics, protect and expand the right to vote and strengthen ethics laws for public servants.

What is one major issue the current Congress has handled poorly and what would you have done differently?

Since assuming the majority, House Democrats have passed bills to clean up corruption in Washington; protect elections; reduce prescription drug costs; combat climate change; reduce gun violence; expand civil rights for LGBTQ individuals; ensure equal pay for equal work; protect DREAMers; and strengthen workers’ rights. Unfortunately, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans have blocked all of these widely supported bills — many of which are bipartisan. Blocking these key priorities grossly disserves the American people, especially now as we respond to a global pandemic.

What changes, if any, would you make to the U.S. health care system?

Congress must ensure we are not only better prepared to manage this and future epidemics but also reform our nation’s health care system to provide equitable access, improve quality of care and reduce glaring health disparities. We must make investments in research for treatments and vaccines as well as in our public health infrastructure. Even as we build on that broad foundation and take critical steps to strengthen the Affordable Care Act, we must accelerate our push towards a single-payer universal health care system that will guarantee coverage for all Americans.

What experience has prepared you to hold this office?

Before coming to Congress, I worked with health care providers to improve care for Marylanders; I spent time at the Maryland State Department of Education to strengthen our public schools; and I worked with the Public Justice Center to protect consumers, employees and tenants. In Congress, I’ve seen — time and again — how political money corrupts public policy in Washington. And I’ve advanced historic solutions to fix it. Throughout my career, I have worked to make life better for all Marylanders — in every community. That’s the experience I draw upon to serve Marylanders in the Third District.

How have the president and Congress responded to COVID-19? What, if anything, would you have done differently?

I have worked in a bipartisan fashion with my colleagues to deliver needed resources to Marylanders – including more than $1 billion in dedicated relief funding. However, more resources are needed for our nation to recover. While Democrats have consistently proposed significant relief packages that meet the current crisis head on, the President and Senate Republicans are turning away from their responsibility to address the full scope of this pandemic and the resulting economic downturn. We must provide direct assistance to individuals, help small businesses, support our healthcare professionals and provide oversight over the use of federal funding.

How should Congress work to rebuild the economy?

The coronavirus outbreak has laid bare the blistering inequities that exist in nearly every facet of American life. As our nation recovers, we have an obligation to rectify these structural disparities. I strongly believe that when our government puts the priorities of the American people first, we can make progress on a host of issues and build a more equitable country – including addressing the climate crisis, reducing the cost of health care, boosting wages, securing equal pay for equal work, protecting DREAMers and expanding civil rights for all Americans.

RELATED:

• Anne Arundel Voter Guide 2020: Candidates, How To Vote, Deadlines
• Prince George's Voter Guide 2020: Candidates, How To Vote, Dates

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