This episode, Dori Henry sits down for a roundtable on women in Maryland politics, joined by Alex Hughes, founder and president of Blended Public Affairs and former longtime Statehouse staffer, Sophia Silbergeld, one of Maryland's top political fundraisers, and Martha McKenna, president of McKenna Media and co-founder of Emerge Maryland.
The conversation covers where Maryland actually ranks on women in office, why the fundraising grind keeps talented women off the ballot, and how a shift in multi-member district culture changed the expectation that one woman in a district was "enough." Martha shares the story of how Sarah Elfreth's 2016 wake-up call helped fuel a wave of women running in 2018, Sophia makes the case that campaigns win by connecting with voters, not by running on identity, and Alex traces how Annapolis culture has shifted since the early 2000s. Dori also revisits the moment a sitting Maryland comptroller told a young intern to "walk again," and how much the culture has, and hasn't, changed since.
In this episode:
- Where Maryland ranks nationally on women holding legislative office, and which state is ahead of us
- The "million dollar question," sustaining the pipeline of women candidates past the first wave
- How Sarah Elfreth was motivated to run, and how the 2016 election helped spark the wave of women who ran and won in 2018
- How Annapolis's culture has changed, and hasn't, since the early 2000s
- Why personal brand and storytelling matter as much as a resume, and what that means for women candidates specifically
- Advice for any woman considering running, volunteering, or getting more involved
- (00:00) - Welcome and guest introductions
- (01:11) - Where Maryland ranks on women in elected office
- (01:58) - Building a sustainable pipeline for women candidates
- (03:18) - Martha McKenna: Sarah Elfreth's story and the multi-member district culture shift
- (09:05) - The fundraising barrier
- (11:40) - Alex Hughes on culture change among Annapolis leadership
- (16:09) - County executive seats as a stepping stone to higher office
- (17:05) - Why were 2026's leading gubernatorial candidates all men?
- (19:54) - The double standard for women in executive office
- (22:50) - Is there a media coverage gap for women legislators?
- (29:28) - Personal brand versus resume on the campaign trail
- (32:19) - Balancing motherhood and public office
- (33:17) - Dori's story: William Donald Schaefer and "walk again"
- (35:44) - How Annapolis culture has and hasn't changed
- (38:43) - Advice for women considering running or getting involved
- (40:12) - Closing
What is Maryland Now?
Maryland Now is a podcast that goes beyond the headlines to explore the forces shaping Maryland’s politics, policy, and public life. Hosted by Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin — three veteran journalists and public‑affairs leaders with more than 60 years of combined experience — the show brings depth, context, and historical perspective to the issues facing Maryland today.
Each episode blends reporting, interviews, and insider knowledge. You’ll hear directly from the people driving decisions in Annapolis and across the state: agency heads, lawmakers, advocates, strategists, and longtime policy experts. The hosts draw on their decades covering and working in Maryland government to connect past decisions to current debates — revealing how we got here, what’s been tried before, and what’s at stake now.
Season One follows the 2026 General Assembly session and election cycle, with deep dives into housing, energy, the state budget, public health, and more. The conversations are smart, candid, and grounded in real reporting — not hot takes.
If you want to understand Maryland — its politics, its communities, and its future — Maryland Now is for YOU