State government and politics reporter

Sam Janesch

Sam Janesch is The Baltimore Sun's state government and politics reporter. Before joining The Sun in 2022, he worked as an investigative reporter at The Caucus in Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland and Penn State University.

The Baltimore Sun explores lobbying in Maryland. Here are the key findings.

July 9, 2025 at 5:01 a.m.

How special interests make their mark on Maryland politics and governing can be difficult to track. Here's what we learned.

The last Saturday House session of the Maryland General Assembly before Sine Die at midnight on Monday. (Kim Hairston/Staff)

Lobbyists increase donations to Maryland politicians by 75% since last election

July 7, 2025 at 6:07 a.m.

Lobbyists seeking to influence Maryland officials donated about $2.6 million to the campaigns of those officials since the last statewide election in 2022 — a nearly 75% increase. Gov. Wes...

Maryland State House in Annapolis where a projected $3.3 billion budget deficit became a central issue during the 2025 legislative session.

Search companies that lobby the most in Maryland

July 8, 2025 at 12:36 p.m.

Search our tables showing the top-spending companies seeking to influence Maryland decision-makers.

Search Maryland politicians who receive lobbyists’ campaign donations

July 8, 2025 at 12:40 p.m.

Search our tables that show the Maryland politicians who received the most campaign contributions from registered lobbyists.

Wes Moore, governor of Maryland is reflected in a glass topped table while signing SB 848 and HB 930, establishing the Public Health Abortion Grant Program to provide grants to improve access to abortion care clinical services for individuals in the state into law as elected legislative leaders sign passed bills into law at the Maryland State House. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

Maryland taxes increase Tuesday on high incomes, cannabis, sports betting

July 1, 2025 at 7:08 a.m.

Maryland’s wealthiest earners, businesses that use digital services and individuals who partake in recreational cannabis or sports betting will pay more in state taxes starting Tuesday.

Kathy Painter at a rally opposing new taxes put on by the Maryland Freedom Caucus outside the State House. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)

Maryland’s ‘tech tax’ starts Tuesday. Here’s how it will work.

June 27, 2025 at 5:01 a.m.

Maryland's new tech tax is the largest source of new, recurring revenue that lawmakers have passed in years. It takes effect July 1.

The State House as seen from the walkway around the top of the dome of the United States Naval Academy Chapel.

How Maryland’s state worker buyout program might work

June 26, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Maryland state government will enter what could become a year-long hiring freeze on Tuesday. A round of buyouts and the elimination of vacant positions will take longer to sort out.

Secretary of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services Vincent Schiraldi answers questions at a Judicial Proceedings Committee briefing on the Department of Juvenile Services Evaluation by the Department of Legislative Services Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability. (Kim Hairston/Staff)

Vincent Schiraldi says he left DJS due to ‘human rights abuses’ in juvenile justice system

June 26, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

The “main reason,” Schiraldi describes leaving DJS is he no longer wanted to be associated with Maryland’s habit of incarcerating young people in adult corrections facilities.

Wes Moore, governor of Maryland speaks before joining other elected officials to sign passed legislation into law at the Maryland State House.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to offer buyouts, implement hiring freeze for state employees

June 24, 2025 at 6:07 p.m.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore will offer a voluntary buyout program and implement a hiring freeze for state employees, according to an internal letter.

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, right, speaks on a panel with former Montana Gov. Steve Bullock at the Pew Charitable Trusts in Washington, D.C. (Sam Janesch/Staff)

Larry Hogan mum on political future as he talks states’ response to Trump

June 24, 2025 at 2:26 p.m.

Former Maryland governor Larry Hogan declined Tuesday to discuss whether he'll consider another campaign after speaking on a panel about how states should respond to President Donald Trump’s actions.

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