We're Probably Stuck with the Maryland Freedom Caucus
It's very likely that the seven members of the Caucus will be back in 2027
Last night, I posted a video on Instagram talking about the latest dumbass moment from members of the Maryland Freedom Caucus:
Let’s face it, since Day One, I have pegged the Maryland Freedom Caucus for what it is. As I wrote at the time:
Of course, the French Resistance actually accomplished something. Being rhetorically provocative and pugilistic is great if it is accompanied by meaningful results. Even amending something to be less bad is an improvement over being a minor annoyance to Maryland’s left-wing steamroller. But the fact is that the members of this House Freedom Caucus have not proven useful in accomplishing that one minor accomplishment that one could do as a Republican Delegate. And I say that as somebody who really likes some of these folks.
Those I do like I’m starting to like less and less by the day as they continue to focus on antics instead of action. Ironically, as antics like Chisholm’s and Fisher’s gain publicity, the second part of my prediction may come true for Mayland Republicans:
It does not bode well for the Maryland Freedom Caucus to accomplish much in the General Assembly. But what should concern Maryland Republicans more is the ability of the Freedom Caucus to blow up potential electoral victories in 2026. As we saw in 2022, Republican voters are quite happy to fumble the bag on winnable electoral opportunities if enough loud, nutty people scream “RINO!” and “ESTABLISHMENT!” loud enough.
Unfortunately for Maryland conservatives, these careerists don’t look like they’re going anywhere this year. All of the Freedom Caucus members except for one are running unopposed in their Republican primaries.1 All of the Caucus members are running in relatively safe districts in the General Election.2 That means, more than likely, you will see the same seven members back in Annapolis to gum up the works for everybody come January of 2027.
Notice, though, that six weeks before the primary election, they have not gotten any viable candidates I am aware of to pledge to become members of the Caucus once elected.3
Robin Grammar is facing a contested primary in District 6, with two challengers to the incumbent Republicans. No doubt a continuation of the intercine Republican battles in Southeast Baltimore County, where two groups of Republicans are fighting each other even though neither side can actually accomplish anything.
Always an outside chance that a Democrat sneaks through in District 6 and District 31, but neither district has elected a Democrat in 20 years.
Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.