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Brenda Wintrode

Brenda

Brenda Wintrode covers Maryland politics and government, focusing on Maryland's congressional delegation. She has been with The Baltimore Banner since its launch in 2022 and has taken on a wide range of topics, including the governor, the state legislature, elections, cannabis policy and the youth legal system. Before coming to The Banner, she completed a fellowship with Wisconsin Watch, writing a series of investigations into wrongful child abuse allegations made in multiple states by the same pediatrician. Wintrode has a bachelor's of science in business administration from Bryant University in Rhode Island. After a career switch, she earned a graduate degree from the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism where she was named outstanding master’s student in December 2020.

The latest from Brenda Wintrode

‘I love this House’: U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer yields the floor, plans to retire from Congress
An emotional Hoyer took the podium on the floor of the U.S. House to make his announcement, saying his long career has had more good times than bad.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore, second to left, reacts to a comment made by Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) during a press conference on the Selection of Greenbelt for the FBI's New Headquarters in Greenbelt, Maryland, on Friday, November 10, 2023.
Rubio says US won’t govern Venezuela but will press for changes through oil blockade
The dramatic action capped an intensive Trump administration pressure campaign on Venezuela’s autocratic leader and months of secret planning, resulting in the most assertive American action to achieve regime change since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Men watch smoke rising from a dock after explosions were heard at La Guaira port, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
McClain Delaney regrets voting ‘yes’ for Trump-backed Laken Riley Act
Rep. April McClain Delaney is disavowing her January vote in support of a law that requires federal law enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants accused — but not convicted — of certain crimes.
U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney, who represents several Western Maryland counties and upper Montgomery County, was one of 46 House Democrats, some in swing districts like hers, who voted in favor of the Laken Riley Act.
Moore says staff understands his ‘demand’ for transparency in government
The governor’s comments come after reporting revealed staff set internal chat messages to auto-delete after 24 hours, leaving no trace of the government business discussed.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore delivers remarks to lawmakers and members of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington in Rockville, MD on December 3, 2025.  At the annual JCRC Legislators and Lox breakfast, Moore and other lawmakers attended and gave support to Jewish community members worried about rising anti-semitism.
‘History is off’: Moore administration deletes internal messages after 24 hours
Open government experts and archivists say setting messages to vanish could hinder accountability, dash the public’s right to inspection and keep archivists from reviewing documents for historical value.
Maryland lawmakers reverse Gov. Moore’s veto of reparations study
The bill to study the lingering harms of slavery and state-sanctioned discrimination became a friction point between Wes Moore and the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.
Maryland lawmakers returned to Annapolis for a one-day special session that included overriding 18 of Gov. Wes Moore’s vetoes.
David Trone will challenge Rep. McClain Delaney for U.S. House seat
Trone represented Maryland’s 6th District starting in 2019, but stepped down in 2024 to run for an open U.S. Senate seat.
David Trone, entrepreneur and co-owner of Total Wine & More, will run in the 2026 Democratic primary for the U.S. House seat now occupied by U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney.
Gov. Wes Moore calls special legislative session to choose new House speaker
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is calling a special session of the General Assembly to allow the House of Delegates to elect and swear in a new speaker.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is calling a special session of the General Assembly, which will begin on Dec. 16.
Peña-Melnyk emerges as favorite to become next House of Delegates speaker
The 102-member House Democratic caucus is planning to meet Dec. 16 to vote on a speaker to succeed Adrienne A. Jones.
Delegate Joseline Pena-Melnyk speaks at the Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library announcing the county's pursuit of a Certified Welcoming designation from Welcoming America.
U.S. Rep. Andy Harris leaving hospital after ‘episode of dizziness’
Andy Harris, Maryland’s sole Republican in Congress, was selected to lead the influential House Freedom Caucus last year.
U.S. Rep. Andy Harris was taken to a hospital Friday evening, according to a spokesperson.
Republican lawsuit challenges Maryland voter roll maintenance
The suit argues the state has failed to remove the names of deceased voters or people who have moved and are no longer eligible to vote in Maryland.
A woman votes at a polling booth at Deer Park Elementary School in Owings Mills on Maryland’s Primary Election Day on May 14, 2024.
Meet the beetle brigade saving East Coast evergreens
Hemlock woolly adelgids can slowly bleed a grove of the flat-needled evergreens dry, wiping out the mini ecosystem that relies on the tree.
Laricobius nigrinus beetles, natural predators of the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid, are seen in a container after being collected in Rocky Gap State Park.
Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones stepping down
Jones, 71, has been a member of the legislature since 1997 and ascended to the top position in 2019 following the death of longtime House Speaker Michael E. Busch.
House of Delegates Speaker Adrienne A. Jones moderates floor debate on crossover day at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Md. on Monday, March 17, 2025. Any bill not passed by either the House or Senate by midnight on crossover day is likely defeated for the 2025 session.
The Trump administration wants Maryland’s voter rolls
Attorney General Pam Bondi is suing Maryland Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis to get the state’s voter rolls.
Voters cast their ballots for the 2024 general election at Wise High School in Upper Marlboro.
Baltimore influencer ‘Sail Local Guy’ to challenge Sen. Bill Ferguson in primary election
Baltimore social media influencer and small-business owner Bobby LaPin will challenge Senate President Bill Ferguson in the Democratic primary in June.
Sailor Bobby LaPin on his boat near the Key Bridge.
Maryland GOP aims to ban midcycle redistricting amid Democratic push
Republicans, in the minority in Maryland’s Senate and House of Delegates, say their plan will codify congressional map-making rules in state law.
Maryland Del. Jesse Pippy speaks during a press conference outlining Republican lawmakers' proposals on criminal justice for the 2024 General Assembly session. The press conference was held at the Miller Senate Office Building in Annapolis on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023.
Gov. Moore to critic of redistricting push: ‘IDGAF’
Gov. Wes Moore’s high-profile attempt to push Maryland into the national fray of redistricting got off to a low-profile start on Tuesday.
Gov. Wes Moore dismissed criticism of his push to study new congressional districts in Maryland with a coarse acronym.
Maryland’s House Democrats criticize deal to reopen government
Budget bill to reopen the federal government criticized as ‘woefully insufficient’ by Maryland House Democrats.
Rep. Johnny Olszewski, who represents portions of Baltimore and Carroll counties and a piece of Baltimore City, told reporters he still hopes there’s room to negotiate in the GOP-majority House.
Senate president’s redistricting stand has started a Democratic family feud
Party leaders, rank and file want an opportunity to fight back against President Donald Trump
Senate President Bill Ferguson makes statements about the session prior to a bill signing at the Maryland Statehouse on April 8, 2025.
Could Maryland tap its ‘rainy day’ reserves to fund SNAP?
Maryland has more than $2 billion in a Rainy Day Fund that’s been tapped before for emergencies like the Key Bridge collapse and the coronavirus pandemic.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, left, talks with Bowie Food Pantry volunteer Janice Stritzinger, at left, on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. In the center are pantry volunteer and treasurer Lorri Meadows and Prince George's County Executive Aisha Braveboy.
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