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

U.S. President
President Barack Obama: Maryland is a reliably Democratic state for presidential candidates. Obama held a fundraiser in Owings Mills on June 12 as well as campaigned in Baltimore with Gov. Martin O'Malley. Obama announced his support for same-sex marriage.

Mitt Romney: The former Massachusetts governor and GOP presidential nominee visited Maryland in March. Romney won the Maryland primary in April. His wife, Ann Romney, was in Linthicum in June for a local fundraiser.

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. He spoke candidly with Patch after winning the Republican primary in April.

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. Sarbanes will face Republican candidate Eric Knowles.

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.