Stephen Hershey Will Seek Maryland Senate Reelection

The incumbent senator for District 36 is campaigning on fiscal reforms ahead of the November 2, 2026, election.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Data Centers

Bold flat-color editorial illustration in navy, cream, and red, depicting a stylized industrial transformer as a symbol of power infrastructure. — Maryland State Senator Stephen Hershey announced his reelection bid, focusing his platform on structural budget reforms and new infrastructure power mandates. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should the state of Maryland prioritize reducing government spending and taxes over expanding public services?

Senator Stephen Hershey is seeking reelection to the Maryland Senate for District 36. He aims to address the state's rising cost of living and recurring structural budget deficits ahead of the November 2, 2026, election.

Why it matters

Hershey intends to tackle Maryland's projected fiscal instability through state program cuts and new infrastructure mandates. His platform focuses on managing the government's growth to combat long-term structural budget shortfalls.

Legislative projections indicate a $2.8 billion budget shortfall for fiscal year 2028, growing to $3.4 billion by fiscal year 2030. Hershey proposes requiring large data centers to fund their own power and infrastructure.

The players

Stephen Hershey

He is the incumbent Republican senator representing District 36 on the Eastern Shore.

The details

Hershey plans to control government growth by eliminating ineffective programs and reining in state spending. He advocates for shifting infrastructure burdens away from the state by forcing large data center operators to provide their own independent power and infrastructure capabilities.

November 2, 2026: The Maryland Senate election will occur.
Fiscal Year 2028: The state faces a projected $2.8 billion budget shortfall.
Fiscal Year 2030: The state faces a projected $3.4 billion budget shortfall.

The Tech Race

Hershey's proposal reflects a growing trend of states reevaluating the infrastructure costs associated with high-demand tech facilities. This marks a shift from state-subsidized growth toward placing the financial burden of power generation directly on the tech sector.

The proposal could influence local electricity reliability and utility costs for residents living near high-density technology zones. Taxpayers may see changes in state services if government programs are cut to address the multi-billion dollar budget deficit.

The takeaway

Hershey's campaign highlights the increasing pressure state legislators face regarding the environmental and financial impacts of tech infrastructure. Voters will decide on these fiscal and regulatory priorities in the upcoming November election.