Juan the Road Again to Meet the People of Maryland
In order to win the race for United States Senate, I know it’s imperative to connect with people in our communities, understand their concerns, and earn their trust. You may have heard by now that one way we’re achieving this is by traveling in an RV to meet voters in every corner of Maryland.
Last week I drove out to Western Maryland, also known as the Maryland Panhandle, for visits in Garrett County, Allegany County, and Washington County. The name Allegany means ‘best flowing river of the hills’ or ‘beautiful stream’ which is suitable given all its natural beauty and rich history.
On this trip, my time included visits with the Garrett County Teachers Association and the Allegany County Teachers Association to understand the challenges and needs of our teachers, students, and families, as well as The American Legion in Oakland to hear about the most pressing concerns of our veterans and military families.
I also spent time with residents at the 56th Annual Autumn Glory Festival — a multi-day carnival and parade in downtown Oakland. I enjoyed breakfast with supporters at Cafe Mark in Cumberland (I recommend the “Scrambowl”). I walked the picket lines with hardworking men and women of United Auto Workers in Hagerstown. I also walked through central business districts talking with small business owners and went door-to-door to meet residents.
Everywhere I went, I was greeted with warm smiles and handshakes. The locals were eager to share their concerns, especially their economic struggles — which I have vowed to make a top priority during my time in office. These visits not only give me more perspective, but have truly energized me to help create solutions and help make people’s lives better. Some of these solutions include making good on a right to a living wage, healthcare access for all, and providing educational and job training opportunities for all Marylanders.
On my final evening, after sunset, I was too tired to make the 3.5 hour drive home. With no campsite reservation, I parked the RV and stayed overnight at a Walmart parking lot, nestled between two 18-wheelers. The temperature outside dropped, and with no electrical hookups, I had to power up the generator (rather loud for my sleeping neighbors) for a few minutes of heat in the middle of the night (I think it was around 1am, and again at 5am).
Despite the cold, the trip was more than worth it. I woke up feeling energized to get to work for Jeremy, Don, Kim, Ken, Bobby, Jeff, and Dan — these are just a few of the many good people I had the chance to meet.
As I reflect on this RV trip to Western Maryland, I am reminded how sometimes the road less traveled is the one that leads to victory. I believe this to be true in our case. Rest assured I’ll be hitting the road again soon and I’ll keep you updated.
Check out our events page to learn more about where I will be heading next and hope you can join me along the way: https://juanformaryland.com/events/.
