In this episode of Across the Aisle, former Maryland State Senator Bobby Zirkin speaks with former Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford about political independence, election reform and the growing influence of the two major parties.

Rutherford reflects on his unexpected entry into electoral politics as Larry Hogan’s running mate and their underdog victory in the 2014 governor’s race. He and Zirkin discuss the importance of campaigning beyond party lines, listening to voters with different political views and governing through compromise.

Much of the conversation focuses on Rutherford’s lawsuit challenging Maryland’s closed-primary system, which prevents nearly one-quarter of the state’s registered voters from participating because they are unaffiliated with a political party. Rutherford argues that taxpayers should not finance elections that exclude eligible voters, particularly in districts where the primary effectively determines the winner.

In this episode of Across the Aisle, former Maryland State Senator Bobby Zirkin speaks with Anne Arundel County Executive and Maryland Democratic Party Chair Steuart Pittman about his unconventional path from community organizer and horse trainer to elected office and party leadership.

Pittman explains what he believes the Democratic Party should represent, including justice, the rule of law, affordable health care, education and housing, government efficiency, fiscal discipline and rebuilding the middle class.

Zirkin and Pittman also debate open primaries, ranked-choice voting, partisan redistricting, campaign financing and the influence of wealthy donors. The conversation turns to political extremism and antisemitism as Zirkin questions whether the Democratic Party has done enough to reject candidates whose views conflict with its stated values.

In this episode of Across the Aisle, former Maryland State Senator Bobby Zirkin speaks with U.S. Rep. Johnny Olszewski Jr. about bipartisanship, election reform, political extremism and the rising cost of living.

Olszewski discusses the challenges of working in a deeply divided Congress and his efforts to build relationships between Democratic and Republican lawmakers.