Maryland Prosecutor Resigns, Citing State’s “Ultra-Progressive” Policies

Carroll County State Attorney Haven Shoemaker has announced his departure from Maryland after decades in public service, declaring the state has undergone an “insane ultra-progressive takeover” that has driven him to relocate to North Carolina.

“Maryland has become California on the Chesapeake,” Shoemaker told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. “It only gets worse. It’s not getting better. And at some point, I just had to make a personal decision that it’s time to throw in the towel and head for what I believe are greener pastures.”

Shoemaker, whose extensive career includes serving as mayor of Hampstead, Carroll County commissioner, and rising to House Minority Whip for the Maryland Republican Party, pointed to several specific policies that prompted his decision. Chief among them is legislation passed earlier this year that effectively created what he considers a “sanctuary state” for undocumented immigrants.

The measure, signed into law by Democratic Governor Wes Moore, prohibits local and state law enforcement agencies from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through the federal 287(g) program. While signing the bill, Moore emphasized that Maryland would continue cooperating with ICE to deport individuals who “pose a risk to public safety,” but maintained that “Maryland is a community of immigrants” and called this diversity a strength rather than a weakness.

For Shoemaker, this policy change was “the linchpin” in his decision to leave, though he stressed it’s “just part of the problem.” He also cited what he described as “horrendous” tax policies, noting that state leaders raised taxes by $1.6 billion last year as part of a $67 billion state budget aimed at addressing a $3.3 billion deficit.

“Maryland has one of the worst outward migration numbers of any state in the country right now,” Shoemaker claimed. “I don’t know who’s going to be the last to foot the bill for the profligate spending that Annapolis likes to engage in, but it’s not going to be me.”

Maryland’s budget is relatively large compared to other states, despite ranking 18th in population and 42nd in land size. According to Shoemaker, state leaders are “already looking at a structural deficit going into next year’s budget of another billion and a half or so,” suggesting continued financial challenges ahead.

“The handwriting is on the wall,” he said, arguing that “Maryland politicians are beholden to their ultra-progressive base.”

The prosecutor’s departure reflects a broader trend he says he observes throughout the state, with taxpayers “fleeing in droves.” He offered a warning to Governor Moore and other Maryland leaders: “If you want to staunch the bleeding that’s occurring, maybe you should rethink your policies.”

Governor Moore’s office did not respond to requests for comment on Shoemaker’s statements. Maryland House Speaker Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk and Senate President Bill Ferguson were also contacted but did not provide responses.

Shoemaker’s criticism comes at a time when Governor Moore’s national profile has been rising, with some political analysts suggesting he could be a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028. The governor, who took office in 2023, has positioned himself as a progressive leader focused on economic opportunity and inclusion.

The debate over Maryland’s policies regarding immigration, taxation, and public spending highlights the growing political polarization in states where one party holds significant control. While Democratic leaders in Maryland have defended their approach as creating a more inclusive and equitable state, critics like Shoemaker argue these policies are driving out residents and businesses who can no longer afford to remain.

As Shoemaker prepares to leave for North Carolina, he joins what he describes as a significant exodus of Maryland residents seeking lower taxes and different political environments in neighboring states and across the South.