Today we have the second installment in our profiles of our favorite Progressive candidates who are running to represent their communities at the state and federal levels, and move the country forward, to continue to ensure that all Americans are equally represented in government.

This week we are profiling Heather Mizeur (she/her/hers). Heather is a health policy expert, nonprofit leader, and former state legislator currently running for the US House of Representatives in Maryland's First District. She and her wife Deborah live on a 34-acre organic farm in Chestertown, Maryland. During her time in the Maryland House of Delegates, and as a candidate for governor in 2014, Mizeur (pronounced Miz-EER, rhymes with "beer") focused on environmental protection, government transparency, healthcare, jobs creation, marriage equality, and the legalization of marijuana as signature issues.

Where are you based?
Kent County, Maryland.

What is your position/what position are you running for?
I am the Democratic nominee for Maryland’s First Congressional District, which encompasses all of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, plus Harford County and part of Baltimore County. I was formerly an eight-year member of the Maryland House of Delegates.

Why did you choose this seat?
This is my home and my district. I feel a deep attachment to this vibrant community and this beautiful land, especially the farm that I share with my wife, Deborah.

How would you briefly summarize your platform?
My goal is to turn down the partisan rhetoric and turn up the problem solving, because polarization is ripping the fabric of our nation. We have big challenges to address, like prices that are too high and an economy that’s leaving too many of our neighbors behind. There is too much to do to waste time playing political games.

What inspired you to run?
After my campaign for governor of Maryland in 2014, I considered myself retired from politics. But when I watched the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 – and then saw my own congressman, Andy Harris, defend and support those who would tear the country apart – I felt called back into public service, though it meant giving up my idyllic life on the farm. I realized I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t take action to try to protect our democracy, and I knew I could bring dignified and competent leadership back to this district that so deserves it. When the Congressional committee investigating the January 6 attack exposed that Andy Harris was one of the 10 Members of Congress at the White House planning the entire strategy to steal the election and incite violence that day, I was deeply grateful that my instincts had already drawn me into this race to hold him accountable.

What change are you hoping to bring to your district, state, and country?
The change that will occur when I replace Andy Harris in this election will be profound. He is a far-right extremist and lazy representative who neglects his constituents and during 12 years in Congress has passed one piece of legislation: to rename a post office. I am a tireless problem-solver who puts people ahead of party and will come to work every day fired up to make our district the best it can be. Because I listen to folks from all walks of life and political perspectives, I am in touch with people’s real-life concerns and open to a wide variety of ideas for solving our problems.

How long have you been in office? What do you consider to be your major accomplishments so far?
During my eight years in the Maryland General Assembly, I was a leader on a wide range of issues. I passed legislation to enroll tens of thousands of eligible kids in health care and to let young people stay on their parents’ insurance until age 26. I led the fight to ban fracking, eventually persuading the Republican governor that the risk to our environment was too great. And I led a successful effort to pass a marriage equality law in Maryland, which became the first state where marriage rights were extended to same-sex couples by popular vote. I also served as the principal architect of John Kerry’s health care platform when he was the Democratic nominee for president in 2004.

What do you feel are the most important issues right now, why, and how do you plan to tackle them?
The paramount issue here is an economy that is not working for too many of our neighbors. After I got in the race, I spent a year traveling the district, meeting people and listening to their concerns. That led me to write a comprehensive 35-page, 10-part economic plan offering solutions for fighting inflation, boosting manufacturing, increasing affordable housing, shoring up our infrastructure, and more. Other critical issues include expanding access to health care, addressing climate change in a way that centers people who work the land and water, and defending our fundamental rights and freedoms that are under attack, including abortion care and voting rights.

America is extremely divided these days. How would you hope to bridge that divide with your constituents to better unite Americans?
Political polarization is the greatest single threat to our national security and has been a major motivator for me, because our incumbent congressman is an extremist whose divisiveness makes things far worse. By contrast, my instincts are to bring people together, reaching across the aisle to build coalitions for change. For example, as a legislator I worked with a right-wing colleague who even opposed my right to marry my wife, yet we were able to come together on the issue of expanding family planning services for low-income women in Maryland. In conversations with voters in my district, I always offer that we can disagree without being disagreeable. I want to build communities where everyone belongs and feels honored and respected, even if we have different opinions – that means engaging in dialogue that is full of compassion, connection, and curiosity. Democracy is a contest of ideas and we cannot be complacent; we must all engage to forge the best solutions.

How would you foresee your unique identity and background to be an asset to you in office?
I grew up in a small agricultural town, the daughter of a union welder, in a community where faith and family were deeply ingrained. These values have shaped me throughout my life. I understand folks who work in farms and factories because they are my family. I’m also a lesbian who has had to struggle for the right to marry the person I love, so I know something about being marginalized and overcoming the odds. Representation matters; right now Maryland has no female or openly gay member of Congress, so I would bring a distinct perspective that is currently lacking.

What is your motto in life?
The motto that best sums up my campaign and my philosophy of life is “We Are One.” I love it because it’s simple yet profound. We are one district, one state, one nation, and one world. When we see ourselves as all being interconnected, we are more likely to look past our differences and work together, because my success is bound up with yours, and your concerns are also mine. “We Are One” is also a bit of a play on words, because I am running to represent District 1 here in Maryland.

Where can we find out more about you?
So glad you asked! There’s lots of information on my website: heathermizeur.com. You can also follow me on Facebook at Facebook.com/HeatherMizeur, on Twitter @heathermizeur, and on Instagram @heathermizeur.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2022 - Heather Mizeur, Maryland's 1st Congressional District