It’s been a minute since we took a look at Maryland’s Congressional Races. Much has changed in many of the races. Let’s take a look at all eight districts.
1st District
Democrats had their best shot since 2010 to defeat Republican Andy Harris last year when they nominated former Delegate Heather Mizeur. Harris has already drawn the traditional token Republican challengers he gets almost every year who draw no more than 20% of the vote. This year, Chris Bruneau and Michael Lemon are sacrificing themselves. The Democratic primary has drawn nobody of note. Most amusingly, Blessing T. Oluwadare of Howard County filed as a Republican and withdrew a week later to refile as a Democrat. Strong commitment to a party with that one.
2nd District
With Dutch Ruppersburger finally settling the will-he-or-won’t-he question with a won’t he, the Johnny Olszewski coronation Democratic Primary can get going. Clint Spellman and Jessica Sjoberg had already filed. They were joined today by Delegate Harry Bhandari. But it’s only a matter of time before Olszewski announces and becomes the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Republicans will likely manage to nominate a candidate even worse than the self-important legend in her own mind Nicolee Ambrose. Dave Wallace is the only candidate fo file so far.
3rd District
Last time I wrote this part of the column, I wrote “With John Sarbanes not running for U.S. Senate, any potential drama in this district has gone by the wayside.”
Whoops.
SIXTEEN Democrats are currently running for the seat. Several are elected officials. Two (Delegate Mark Chang and huckster Don Quinn) are ex-Republicans. Two have failed at Congressional runs before. But State Senator Sarah Elfreth remains the overwhelming favorite to win the nomination.
No Republicans of any note are running.
4th District
Freshman Congressman Glenn Ivey certainly isn’t going anyway, but he has still drawn four primary challengers. Conspiracy theorist George McDermott is running his typical perennial challenge that will net him at best 20% of the vote if he even makes it out of the primary.
5th District
Steny Hoyer is running again and he will win. McKayla Wilkes is running another doomed primary challenge against Hoyer and she will lose again. For Wilkes, it probably beats getting a job or something.
The quality of Republican candidates will likely vary depending on whether or not Hoyer retires.
No Republicans of any note are running.
6th District
The 6th District remains the most active of all the Congressional Districts.
SIXTEEN Democrats are currently running for the seat as well. Several are elected officials. One is the wife of the former Congressman. A few others might still run. It’s hard to gauge who the prohibitive favorite is. April McClain Delaney has the money. Does she have the enthusiasm like a far-left candidate like Joe Vogel might be able to generate? Hard to see. But in a diluted primary, nearly anything can happen.
On the Republican side, it looks like the GOP’s self-destructive love affair with Dan Cox will continue. I don’t see a scenario at this point where any of the other Republican candidates can beat him in the primary. Will it lead to a resounding defeat in the general election? Of course, but GOP primary voters don’t care about winning elections anymore.
7th District
Unless Kweisi Mfume retires, this will be another snoozer.
8th District
With Jamie Raskin running for re-election and not the U.S. Senate, this too will be a drama-free election.