ABERDEEN, Md. (WBFF) — A Maryland teachers’ union is publicly encouraging its members to switch political parties to impact the Republican primary election results. How does that benefit students? The teachers’ union is still not saying.
Now, a former county executive says a similar strategy was used against her in 2024, and voter registration numbers appear to support her claim.
Danielle Robinson is the former Cecil County Executive. A position she held from 2020 to 2024. At the time, her name was Danielle Hornberger, she has since married.
Robinson said she was specifically targeted by the teachers’ union in Cecil County.
“Oh, absolutely,” Robinson told Project Baltimore.
ALSO READ | Maryland teachers union urges Democratic members ‘flip’ to Republican to ‘impact’ election
Robinson has watched Project Baltimore’s recent reporting on the Harford County Education Association’s involvement in a video and an April newsletter – where teachers’ union President Chrystie Crawford-Smick encourages Democratic and Unaffiliated union members to switch party affiliation to Republican to impact the “upcoming elections.”
Former Cecil County Executive Danielle Robinson (WBFF)
Smick can be heard saying in the video, “Citizens can change their political affiliation in order to participate in the primary election and then change it right back after if they choose.”
HCEA’s target this year appears to be Republican Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly, who’s pictured in HCEA’s newsletter. In 2024, Robinson said she was the target in Cecil County.
“They were making a point to say, we’re going to have control one way or another,” Robinson said.
Robinson told Project Baltimore in 2024 the Cecil County teachers’ union wanted her out of office. So, Robinson said, the teachers’ union urged their Democratic members to switch to Republican for the primary election to vote her out.
“The tactic worked,” Robinson remarked. “Here I am today, not county executive.”
The numbers appear to support Robinson’s claim. In January of 2024, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections, Cecil County had 20,130 registered Democrats and 32,884 registered Republicans. But each month leading up to the primary election in May of 2024, Democrats lost registered voters and Republican gained them.
From January to April of 2024, Democrats lost 1,083 voters, while Republicans gained 1,496 registered voters. Robinson lost the primary by 907 votes.
By comparison, during the general election in November 2024, the number of registered Democratic voters in Cecil County stopped declining and began to increase.
According to the Maryland State Board of Elections, each month leading up to the primary election in May of 2024, the Democrats lost registered voters as the Republican gained them (WBFF)
“It’s manipulation,” Robinson stated. “There are lines that everyone has to or should be aware of and not cross. And I think these lines have gotten way too blurred.”
After Robinson lost the primary, the teachers’ union released a statement declaring in part, “we won.”
ALSO READ | Harford County teachers’ union urges political party flip, no mention of student benefit
Robinson said this isn’t what she thinks a nonprofit teachers’ union was intended to do.
“I would argue that a nonprofit teachers’ union is intended to support education,” Robinson said. “I’m not sure how manipulating elections falls into that category.”
In Harford County, when encouraging members to switch political parties to influence election results, the teachers’ union never explains how educators and students would benefit, which is HCEA’s stated 501(c)(5) nonprofit mission. Project Baltimore sent multiple emails to HCEA asking, “How does this approach benefit educators and students.” At the time of publishing, HCEA has not replied.
After Robinson lost the primary, the teachers’ union released a statement declaring in part, “we won”. (WBFF)
“What I believe is happening here is they’re leading by example and saying, win at all cost,” Robinson said. “Whether that’s lie, cheat, steal, pretend. That’s what we’re teaching our kids. And that’s obviously not right.”
FOX45 News emailed the U.S. Treasury Department, which oversees nonprofit filings, asking, “Can you please explain the process by which, and the circumstances under which, the IRS investigates allegations that 501(c)(5) organizations may have deviated from their core nonprofit mission?” When Project Baltimore hears back, we’ll let you know.
“Project Baltimore received this statement from Cecil County Executive Adam Streight,
The claim that Democrats somehow determined the Republican primary in deep-red Cecil County is illogical and a sour grapes attempt to explain away a loss in a high-energy election where Republican voters clearly chose new leadership. The data tells a different story:
There were 13,810 Republican votes cast for President and 13,983 votes cast for County Executive—a difference of just 173 votes.
Donald Trump received 10,859 votes (79%), while Nikki Haley received 2,951 votes (21%), closely mirroring statewide results.
Adam Streight received 7,445 votes (53%), while Danielle Hornberger received 6,538 votes (47%).
If, as claimed, 2,000 Democrats switched parties solely to vote against Hornberger, the election results would reflect it. Either there would have been a significant undervote in the presidential race, or Nikki Haley’s total would have been substantially higher—likely approaching 5,000 votes. It is not credible to suggest that 2,000 Democrats changed party affiliation and then voted for both Donald Trump and Adam Streight.
The numbers simply do not support the claim that Democratic voters determined the outcome of the Republican primary.”
Follow Project Baltimore’s Chris Papst on X and Facebook. Send news tips to cjpapst@sbgtv.com
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