State Of The State Makes Odd Bedfellows, GPS For Senators, Bringing You The Naked Truth, In Notes

By Bryan P. Sears and William J. Ford, Maryland Matters

February 13, 2026

Whoever said politics makes strange bedfellows must have been listening in Thurday as Senate Republicans talked about Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) State of the State Address a day earlier.

The GOP lawmakers expressed disappointment that Moore used the opening of his speech to prod Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) over a stalled congressional redistricting bill. The inclusion of the issue early in the speech was a pivot from Tuesday, when the governor suggested the issue, and Ferguson would not be fodder for the address.

Senate Minority Leader Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (R-Upper Shore) said Senate Republicans have honest policy disagreements with Ferguson, but he and other senators said they saw Moore’s approach in the speech as a criticism of Ferguson and the institution of the Senate.

“I think the comments that the Governor made last night to our Senate president were inappropriate, and I don’t think that Senate President Ferguson deserved that,” Hershey told reporters Thursday.

Sen. J.B. Jennings (R-Baltimore and Harford) said Moore may be changing the usual Democrat versus Republican dynamic.

“What I’m noticing now is he is changing the dynamic to the Senate versus Moore,” Jennings said. “He is kind of bringing us together as a Senate against him. And should he get another four years — I think he’s going to make his term, the next four years, much harder for working with the Senate, with the way he’s handling this, in my opinion.”

Hershey said the result is a “coalescing of the people around the Senate president to, you know, I don’t want to say protect him, but just to show that they’re supportive of him.”

A little help?

Thursday’s visit to Annapolis by Theravada Buddhist monks who have walked across the country on a peace march caused a number of logistical snarls for Annapolis regulars, who were warned of potential traffic troubles.

Rowe Boulevard was closed to allow the monks to walk from the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium to the State House, pushing traffic onto other streets. At the same time, the event drew thousands of visitors who lined the streets and jammed Lawyers’ Mall outside the State House to hear the monks.

It was suggested that lawmakers might want to get around the crowds by using the tunnel system that connects the State House to the Department of Legislative Services and the House and Senate office buildings. That posed a navigational challenge for Sen. C. Anthony Muse (D-Prince George’s), who asked for directions.

“The officers asked if we would go through the tunnel rather than outside,” said Muse, who was first elected to the General Assembly in 2006, “and I don’t know the way, so if anyone knows the way to the tunnel, let me know, please.”

‘Keep it on’

A few minutes before the House adjourned Thursday, Del. Terri Hill (D-Howard) mentioned that the Maryland Dermatology Association was visiting Annapolis and offering checkups for lawmakers. As she has done before, she urged her fellow delegates to “bring your skin” for a checkup.

“We are approaching Valentine’s Day. Love yourself so you can love others,” Hill said. “Show it off. Take it off. Show off your skin and let’s all be healthy.”

That invitation prompted an unsolicited, “Oh my goodness. I’m not even going to go there,” from House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D-Prince George’s and Anne Arundel). And, a few minutes later, it brought something of a public service announcement for lawmakers from Del. Chris Tomlinson (D-Frederick and Carroll).

“I want to encourage the body, unless you want to end up on Maryland Matters, you probably do want to keep it on,” he said to a few laughs in the chamber. “Let’s not get in trouble now.”