Michael Peroutka (R), who is running for Maryland Attorney General, “believes public education is a communist plot, abortion and gay marriage violate God’s law, and the concept of separation of church and state is a ‘great lie,’” Vice News reports.
“His views are extreme even for the modern Republican Party, and once would be considered disqualifying for any major party nominee for statewide office. But his emergence as a serious candidate shows just how far the door has been thrown open to extremism in the Republican Party. The GOP base’s embrace of election falsehoods and anti-science COVID-19 conspiracy theories, and flirtation with white supremacist rhetoric has given once- fringe figures like Peroutka an opening to push into the political mainstream.”
“To be clear, Peroutka has not changed. But the party base that’s embracing him has.”
