As we look ahead to November’s elections, Annapolis Patch is devoted to bring you the information you need about every race in town. Here's our start on the candidates and issues we'll be covering as November draws near. Bookmark this page for updates.

The Dream Act: This legislation would allow illegal immigrant students to pay in-state tuition at institutions in the University System of Maryland if their parents filed to pay state taxes, if they attended a Maryland high school for at least three years and if they graduated. Passed by the General Assembly in 2011, opponents launched a petition effort that blocked the legislation from taking effect and landed it on the 2012 ballot as a voter referendum. Legislators from District 21 in Maryland, including Sen. Jim Rosapepe, were big proponents of the Dream Act.

Same-Sex Marriage: On March 1, Gov. Martin O’Malley signed into law a bill allowing same-sex couples to wed in Maryland. Despite celebrations from supporters, opponents in May of same-sex marriage turned in about twice the number of signatures they needed to send the law to referendum in November. Until then, supporters of same-sex marriage, such as Equality Maryland are mobilizing support, canvassing and holding public events. Groups that oppose same-sex marriage, including the Maryland Catholic Conference, are still soliciting support and fundraising.

Congressional Redistricting: Gov. Martin O'Malley and General Assembly leaders drew a new map, required each decade to reflect the census count, to reconfigure congressional districts. A petition signed by thousands asks to challenge the congressional redistricting on the November ballot, giving those directly affected an opportunity to vote on the matter.

U.S. Senate
Sen. Ben Cardin: The incumbent Democrat is seeking a second term in the U.S. Senate. He has shared many of his views in his blog on Patch.

Daniel Bongino: Cardin's Republican opponent is Daniel Bongino of Severna Park. He is a former Secret Service agent. Bongino sat down with Severna Park Patch editor Leslie Hunt in April to do a video interview about his candidacy.

3rd Congressional District
Rep. John Sarbanes: The Democrat is seeking a fourth term in Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District. If re-elected, the Towson resident will represent parts of Baltimore, Howard, Anne Arundel and Montgomery counties as well as parts of Baltimore City in the newly reconfigured district. Sarbanes made headlines in May when he announced that the majority of his campaign funds would come from small donors. In 2010, he was re-elected with 61 percent of the district’s vote.

Eric Knowles: No one is predicting a close race in Maryland's Congressional 3rd District, but if someone is going to upset Democratic incumbent Rep. John Sarbanes, it's the Republican Knowles. The son of a former Green Beret and police officer, Knowles calls himself a strict constitutionalist who says the nation's economic problems can be solved if the government prints less money.