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State · Congress and state, with local votes in 2 places

Maryland

Who represents Maryland in Congress and how to reach them, the Black community by the numbers, the national stories told with Maryland’s own figures, and what Black newspapers here are reporting. Each figure names its official source.

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Coming to your state

Who approved $215 million in bonds for the Sphere in Prince George's?

On October 27, the Prince George's County Council voted 8 to 0 to authorize up to $215 million in special obligation bonds for a 6,000 seat Sphere venue at National Harbor. The county would build a $40 million parking garage and provide up to $130 million in bond financing, repaid from taxes the venue generates once built. County Executive Aisha Braveboy says it will bring in tax revenue the county now loses; a Fort Washington resident told the council the job figures are overstated. (WJLA, October 27, 2026)

Your numbers

About 91,000 Black Marylanders said they were registered but did not vote in 2024, compared with about 51,000 in 2020. (Census Bureau survey estimate)

Who pays

Bonds issued by the county, which Sphere repays over time, with part repaid from taxes the venue produces. Residents weigh the promised revenue and jobs against the county's risk; SourceLine takes no side.

Who decides

The Prince George's County Council, with County Executive Braveboy. More approvals are still needed.

What is coming to Maryland

When SourceLine is complete here, you will see every County Council vote, by name, at your address.

Read the WJLA story · The story and its reporting belong to the outlet that published it. Survey figures are estimates with wider ranges in smaller states.

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About these figures

Every figure on this page shows the year it describes. Public agencies release their numbers on their own schedules, often a year or more after the work of counting is done. The Census Bureau, for example, publishes its five year community survey each December, and the national reading test is given every two years. That is why some figures are not from this year. SourceLine updates each one as soon as the agency publishes it.

For some counties and small towns, SourceLine has not found meeting records online. Where it has not, we add them as they become available. A page that says SourceLine hasn’t updated a record yet means exactly that.