2024 marked a peculiar year dominated by unexpected political outcomes, escalating living expenses, and a historic dip in violent crimes. The discrediting of Joe Biden’s administrative competence was glaring as he served a mere single term as president. On the contrary, Donald Trump secured a victorious second-term bid that left political pundits and Democrats in utter disbelief.
In a noteworthy event, an unforeseen frailty was exposed in American infrastructure when the Francis Scott Key Bridge gave way, causing significant disruptions. Also revealing was the unwarranted fanfare made of a Black woman attaining a seat in the U.S. Senate. This was made to seem as if we had lagged far behind the 21st century rather than making steady societal progress.
A snapshot of Maryland’s turbulent year involves a mishmash of events. Among these was the king of Jordan gracing us with a visit, a temporary walkout by longshoremen that caught attention, and a solar eclipse that shared headlines with an intense hurricane season which left Maryland mostly unscathed.
The legal landscape was not bereft of drama. Marilyn Mosby, former Baltimore City State’s Attorney was confined under house arrest, while alleged murderer Adnan Syed, amid sustained doubts about his prosecution, was entitled to freedom.
The political sphere divulged a revolving door of elected officials at local, state, and federal levels; some bids farewell predictably, while others departed quite surprisingly. In a move that proved the state’s progressiveness, the majority of Maryland citizens magnanimously voted for a reproductive rights amendment to the Maryland Constitution.
Starting the year off, Helene Grady, Maryland Budget Secretary, was seen in broad action, and a picturesque snowfall blanketed the Maryland State House. Depicting the classical political season, February showcased House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones in her testimony on a juvenile justice reform bill.
In March, politics was marked by an overbearing tension, the origins of which were muddled in an array of divergent issues. April, however, brought closure to some of these complexities as legislative sessions came to an end, marking a season of political peaks and troughs.
May’s narrative was marred by multiple bomb threats that tarnished the peace of the State House, resulting in numerous evacuations. Consequently, Maryland’s political atmosphere in June took considerable strides towards localized politics.
Numerous developments marked the months of July and August, such as Governor Wes Moore’s reflections on Maryland’s Future education plan. This period gave rise to various moments that shaped Maryland’s political destiny.
September saw a surprising surge in Governor Moore’s approval numbers. This was despite the socially divisive climate of October, characterized by confronting labor unions demonstrating their power.
In November, the media attempted to extol a U.S. Senate seat victory as a historic moment, hinting at a tone of surprise, as if significant political roles had previously been unattainable for such candidates. A trend that many, on close observation, perceived as thinly veiled mockery.
The culmination of the year in December saw Maryland’s presidential electors cast the state’s 10 Electoral College votes. The overall year had its mixture of milestones and pitfalls, but it was clearly defined by significant social and political progress despite the never-ceasing struggle.
As a reflection, it is noteworthy that policy and societal progress should not be marred by targeted ridicule of selected personalities. It becomes evident that 2024 was a year where political norms were not just challenged, but turned upside down.
Looking forward, we hope that the future of Maryland and the United States continues to grow. Regardless of which party takes rein, a concentration on public interest and policy-driven decisions will ameliorate the course of our shared narratives.