Bullet Dodged: How Maryland Voters Saved Themselves From the Jealous Experiment

Let’s take a moment to say thank you to the collective wisdom of Maryland voters in 2018. No, seriously. Stand up. Applaud. Because when faced with a choice between steady leadership and an experiment in vanity progressivism, the Free State wisely said “nah, we’re good” and denied Ben Jealous the keys to Government House.

Now, in 2025, that decision looks less like cautious moderation and more like full-on clairvoyance.

Earlier this week, Ben Jealous—the one-time Democratic gubernatorial nominee, darling of the far left, and current executive director (or now… ex-executive director?) of the Sierra Club—announced he was taking a “leave of absence.” This, of course, comes after months of internal chaos: massive layoffs, staff revolts, no-confidence votes, and complaints from the Sierra Club’s union about Jealous’s management style, diversity failures, and lack of transparency.

And to think—this is the guy who wanted to run a $60 billion state government.

Let’s rewind.

Back in 2018, Jealous swept into Maryland politics like a gust of hot air at a Whole Foods rally. With the backing of Bernie Sanders, progressive PACs, and more platitudes than an Instagram motivational account, Jealous promised everything to everyone. Medicare for All. Legalized marijuana. Tuition-free college. Unicorns on every corner. His campaign platform was essentially a progressive Amazon wish list with no regard for cost, implementation, or feasibility.

It sounded great at rallies, sure. But then came the reckoning.

Voters—bless their pragmatic, deeply skeptical hearts—looked past the slogans. They saw through the activist sheen and understood something the Twitterati didn’t: government isn’t a seminar. It’s not a TED Talk. It’s management. It’s budgeting. It’s leading people—especially those who disagree with you.

And Ben Jealous? He had no experience in elected office, never managed a government agency, and showed a knack for telling people what they wanted to hear without offering much substance. His time as president of the NAACP was… let’s say “mixed.” Fundraising surged, but internal cohesion? Not so much. Many described his tenure as top-down, improvisational, and at times, combative.

Fast forward to 2023, when Jealous is tapped to lead the Sierra Club. On paper, it’s a great match: storied activist meets storied environmental organization. But here’s the thing about paper matches—they burn easily.

Under Jealous’s watch, the Sierra Club didn’t exactly blossom. Instead, it imploded. In the past year alone, the organization has shed nearly 25% of its staff through two brutal rounds of layoffs—first 100, then another 140. Union leaders allege Jealous’s management decisions disproportionately impacted employees of color, and they accuse him of ignoring DEI commitments. The internal culture turned toxic. One anonymous staffer reportedly said, “Every day felt like a meeting about layoffs.” Another said, “We had a movement culture—and Jealous turned it into a tech startup downsizing exercise.”

And now? Jealous has stepped away from leadership, in the most polite terms imaginable: a “leave of absence.” Translation: you’re out, and we’re giving you time to find a dignified exit.

For those of us watching from Maryland, it’s like the ghost of 2018 tapped us on the shoulder and whispered, “Told you so.”

Because what’s happening now at the Sierra Club is exactly what would’ve happened in Annapolis. Imagine this guy trying to negotiate with the General Assembly. Picture him balancing a state budget. Envision the civil service under his direction. The endless purging of middle managers, the disruption of longstanding programs, the union fights, the ideological rigidity—it would’ve been a disaster. And worse, we’d be paying for it.

And remember, it’s not like Larry Hogan was some Republican juggernaut in 2018. Sure, he was popular, but Jealous was handed every tool a Democratic challenger could ask for. National press coverage. Celebrity endorsements. A Democratic voter registration advantage of more than 2 to 1. A sitting Republican president (Trump) loathed by Maryland’s Democratic base. And still, Jealous lost by 12 points.

Why? Because Maryland voters—progressive, moderate, suburban, urban, rural—looked at Jealous and saw someone who wanted to play governor but had no idea how to be governor.

The Jealous fan club never forgave the electorate. For years, they muttered that Maryland “wasn’t ready,” or that Jealous had been “sabotaged” by centrist Democrats. But now, in 2025, we can toss those conspiracy theories in the same pile as Jealous’s abandoned Sierra Club HR manual.

The truth is simple: Jealous had a chance. He had the platform, the spotlight, the resources. And now, twice—in politics and in nonprofit leadership—he’s demonstrated that style doesn’t always translate to substance.

It’s not schadenfreude to say this. It’s accountability.

The progressive movement—at its best—is about bold ideas and effective execution. It’s not about branding yourself as a moral authority while laying off hundreds and bungling internal operations. It’s not about climbing ladders of influence and leaving chaos behind you.

Ben Jealous isn’t a bad guy. But he’s not a good manager. And leadership—real, grown-up, table-balancing leadership—requires more than passion. It requires competence.

So thank you, Maryland voters of 2018, for seeing that. For resisting the national media hype. For saying no to a candidate who clearly wasn’t ready. And for sparing this state from four years of exactly the kind of drama the Sierra Club is living through now.

Ben Jealous said he wanted to “transform” Maryland. Turns out, he can’t even stabilize a nonprofit. And that’s not a dunk—it’s a warning.

We dodged a bullet. And for once, the voters were the grown-ups in the room.

---

Endnotes

1. Maryland Matters, “Ben Jealous to Take Leave of Absence from Sierra Club Amid Turmoil,” July 15, 2025.
2. Maryland State Board of Elections, Certified 2018 General Election Results.
3. Washington Post, “Sierra Club Staff Allege Layoffs Disproportionately Affected People of Color,” April 2025.
4. Politico, “Ben Jealous Faces No Confidence Vote at Sierra Club,” March 2025.
5. NAACP Financial and Organizational Review, 2010–2014.

---

Ian Schwartz is a contributor to Direct Line News.   Contact Ian at Ian.Schwartz@mcgopclub.com

About The Author