Sanders Campaign Boosts Profile in Maryland Ahead of Primary

BALTIMORE, MD — In yet another sign that the Democratic presidential contest in Maryland will be a close-fought primary, Sen. Bernie Sanders opened a Baltimore field office on Wednesday.

This is the campaign's second office in the state. Former NAACP President Ben Jealous is the steering committee chairman for the Sanders camp.

Maryland holds its presidential primary -- along with primary contests for U.S. Senate, Congressional seats and statehouse races -- on April 26.

SEE ALSO: When Does Early Voting Begin for Maryland's Presidential Primary 2016?

The Baltimore campaign office is located in the Freddie Gray Empowerment Center, 1505 Eutaw Place.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has a 30-point lead over the Vermont senator in the latest Maryland polls.

"So it'll be an uphill climb, but our campaign has a history of coming from behind, closing gaps, and that's what we plan to do in Maryland," Symone Sanders, of the Sanders campaign, told WTOP.

During a December visit to West Baltimore, Sanders called for a change in national priorities to focus on jobs, free tuition at public colleges, rebuilding neglected urban areas, and an overhaul of the criminal justice system.

“You would think that you’re in a third-world country,” Sanders said of the Sandtown-Winchester community.

Related: Bernie Sanders Visits West Baltimore

“Half of the people don’t have jobs. There are hundreds of buildings that are uninhabitable...” the Vermont senator said, noting the lack of banks and grocery stores.

Look Ahead to Maryland’s Primary

Maryland’s primary election will be held April 26; polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day.

Early voting in Maryland begins Thursday, April 14, and runs through Thursday, April 21. Polling places are open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. those days.

With Texas Sen. Ted Cruz scrambling to edge out New York businessman Donald Trump in a nasty contest that has sunk to the depths of name-calling and slurs against their opponent's wives, the GOP contest is a free-for-all.

On the Democrats side, conventional wisdom had the nomination sewn up for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. But Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' anti-establishment message continues to gain traction, especially with young voters. So a Maryland win for Clinton is seen as part of the key to putting the brakes on Sanders' momentum.

Last weekend, Sanders made it three for three on Saturday, rolling to a big win over Clinton in Hawaii after already winning in Washington and Alaska in their Democratic presidential caucuses.

To clinch the nomination, a candidate needs 2,383 delegates. Clinton had 1,234 pledged delegates, and Sanders had 97, reports The Associated Press.

Crucial contests for Clinton are April 19 in New York, as well as primaries in Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island on April 26, says The Baltimore Sun.

Where to Vote, Ballot Preview

You can vote in an early voting center in the Maryland county where you live. See a list of the 2016 Primary early voting sites (PDF).

The ballots vary by county and can be viewed ahead of time on the Maryland State Board of Elections website.

Besides voting for Democratic and Republican presidential candidates, Maryland residents will select Congressional nominees, U.S. Senate candidates for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Barbara Mikulski, Congressional candidates, and delegates to the national political conventions, among other races.

To vote in Maryland, you must register to vote. Your local board of elections can answer questions on how and where to do that. Online Voter Registration also is available.