Bryan Sears

Bryan P. Sears

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Bryan Sears covers the governor and General Assembly, state politics and transportation for Maryland Matters. He has covered the Maryland State House for the last two decades at the Baltimore Sun Media Group, Patch.com and most recently, The Daily Record. Sears has won multiple state and national awards for police and crime reporting, local and state government coverage and investigative reporting that resulted in a guilty plea by a government official for stealing from his own campaign account. He’s a frequent radio and television contributor.

Maryland environment secretary to step down, in latest shakeup to Moore’s Cabinet
Maryland

Maryland environment secretary to step down, in latest shakeup to Moore’s Cabinet

10:22am ET
Christine Condon Bryan P. Sears
Serena McIlwain, who has led Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) environmental department since shortly after his inauguration in 2023, will step down at the end of this year, she announced Thursday. McIlwain, who came to the department from the California Environmental...
The author Wes Moore: Book on ‘healing a divided nation’ set for March release
Maryland

The author Wes Moore: Book on ‘healing a divided nation’ set for March release

1:00am ET
Bryan P. Sears
Fresh off a second thumping of Republican Dan Cox to win reelection to a second term as governor a week ago, Gov. Wes Moore (D) turned his attention this week to fixing the nation. At least that’s the thrust of...
Moore talks military service, staffs up; poll is good news for city hall, in political notes
Maryland

Moore talks military service, staffs up; poll is good news for city hall, in political notes

12:01am ET
Bryan P. Sears
Gov. Wes Moore continues to face scrutiny over his service record and a Bronze Star. The latest round comes from Chuck Todd in an interview that will air on Noosphere on Sunday. In that interview, Todd asks Moore about a...
High court says Penman cannot serve on Harford Council and work as a deputy
Maryland

High court says Penman cannot serve on Harford Council and work as a deputy

Nov 10, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
A Harford County council member will leave office weeks sooner than expected, after the state’s highest court ruled Tuesday he cannot simultaneously be on the council while employed as a sheriff’s deputy. The brief ruling from the Supreme Court of...
High court considers sovereign immunity claim for some sex abuse lawsuits
Maryland

High court considers sovereign immunity claim for some sex abuse lawsuits

Nov 10, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
Maryland’s highest court heard arguments on an appeal Monday that will affect 1,300 lawsuits filed under the Child Victims Act. The 2023 law effectively eliminated time barriers for someone to file a court claim of institutional sex abuse. At issue...
Political notes: Moore and ‘the question,’ Donofrio heads to LCV, and eyeing AI
Maryland

Political notes: Moore and ‘the question,’ Donofrio heads to LCV, and eyeing AI

Nov 09, 2026
Bryan P. Sears Christine Condon William J. Ford
Fresh off his reelection, Gov. Wes Moore (D) appeared Monday on MS NOW’s “State of Play with Peter Alexander,” fielding questions on a number of national political issues. including midcycle redistricting and the potential for a government shutdown in December...
Lee, Scruggs, Rothstein depart Moore’s Cabinet
Maryland

Lee, Scruggs, Rothstein depart Moore’s Cabinet

Nov 06, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
More changes are coming to Gov. Wes Moore’s Cabinet as the administration prepares to enter a second term in January. Moore, a Democrat, announced the departures Friday, a day after announcing a new chief of staff and three days after...
Ex-campaign treasurer for Luke Clippinger faces embezzlement, theft charges
Maryland

Ex-campaign treasurer for Luke Clippinger faces embezzlement, theft charges

Nov 05, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
A former campaign treasurer for a top Democratic lawmaker faces embezzlement charges, prosecutors announced Thursday. Melissa Ann Smith, who served for more than a decade as the treasurer of Friend of Luke Clippinger, is accused of stealing more than $87,000...
Fresh off reelection win, Moore names new chief of staff
Maryland

Fresh off reelection win, Moore names new chief of staff

Nov 05, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
Fresh off his reelection victory Tuesday, Gov. Wes Moore on Thursday announced the departure of chief of staff Lester Davis and named Emmanuel “Manny” Welsh to replace him. Davis, who was named Moore’s top aide in September 2025, leaves after...
Harford County pursues Penman in court, even as councilman prepares to exit job
Maryland

Harford County pursues Penman in court, even as councilman prepares to exit job

Nov 05, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
Aaron Penman’s days as Harford County councilman are numbered, but that isn’t stopping Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly from trying to reverse the ruling that restored his fellow Republican to the council this year. The county Wednesday asked the Supreme...
Months of congressional redistricting fights end with apparent Question 3 win
Maryland

Months of congressional redistricting fights end with win for Question 3

Nov 03, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
A Democrat-backed proposal in a Democratic state that was framed as a rebuke to President Donald Trump should have been a slam-dunk, but the fate of Question 3 was still up in the air when polls opened Tuesday. As returns...
Heavy Election Day turnout follows heavy early voting; no major problems reported
Maryland

Advocates go to court over hourslong delay at Prince George’s County polling place

Nov 03, 2026
Bryan P. Sears Pera Onal
A Prince George’s County circuit judge rejected an emergency request Tuesday by the NAACP and the League of Women Voters of Maryland that she extend voting in a Laurel precinct until midnight, after hourslong delays in voting earlier in the...