I lived in Maryland for most of my life, but I never knew much about the politics of the Eastern Shore. We did go to Ocean City every other year for a week or weekend, but other than that, we stayed on our side of the Bay Bridge.
I have been curious about the politics of this district because it really irritates me that Andy Harris -- a congressional representative from my beloved Maryland -- is one of the republican members of the House who is holding this country hostage.
Last March the Maryland Kos group had a meetup in Columbia, Maryland. Two of the people attending -- rb608 and Uncle Cosmo live in Hartford County, which is in the first district. We spent some time discussing the possibility of a Democrat taking the district in 2014. One of them mentioned the idea that he liked the idea of Wayne Gilchrest coming back and running as a Democrat. Wayne Gilchrest is a Republican who held the seat in the district from 1991 to 2009. The republicans didn’t feel he was republican enough for them, so he was primaried in 2008 and lost to the more conservative Andy Harris who lost in the general election.
After that meetup, I looked up Wayne Gilchrest and found he was supporting John La Ferla.
Do the Democrats have any hope of winning this seat in November? This article in Seventh Stateis discouraging but intriguing:
“No one running in the Democratic Primary for Maryland’s First Congressional District has any realistic shot at beating Andy Harris. . . . The district was made even more Republican in the most recent round of gerrymandering (trading swingy Anne Arundel Precincts for dark red territory in Carroll, Baltimore and Harford Counties). “
“However two exceptionally strong candidates are duking it out for the right to be the standard bearer for the Team Blue come November.”
He goes on to discuss the two Democratic candidates, John Laferla and Bill Tilghman, both much stronger candidates than expected in this district.
He goes on to discuss the two Democratic candidates, John Laferla and Bill Tilghman, both much stronger candidates than expected in this district.
Trying to make some sense of this district, I put together a timeline below. I'd welcome input and opinions from those of you who probably know a lot more about the area.
Maryland First Congressional District
Maryland's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Maryland. The district encompasses the entire Eastern Shore of Maryland, including Salisbury, as well as parts of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford and Carroll counties.
• In the redistricting following the 2010 U.S. Census, the portion of Anne Arundel in MD-01 was eliminated.
The district is currently represented by Republican Andy Harris, who defeated Democratic incumbent Frank M. Kratovil, Jr. in 2010.
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
Timeline
1991 through 2009 - This district was held by Wayne Gilchrest, a moderate Republican, from 1991 through 2009.
2008 - Republicans considered Gilchrest too moderate, so he was was challenged in the primary in 2008, and lost to Andy Harris.
2008 - In the general election in 2008, Wayne Gilchrest endorsed Democrat Frank Kratovil. Kratovil defeated Andy Harris.
2009 – 2011 – Democrat Frank Kratovil served as the Congressional Representative for Maryland District 1.
2010 - Andy Harris defeated Frank Kratovil, 51% to 42%. As expected, voter turnout was substantially lower than in 2008, almost 25% lower. This defeat was part of the electoral bloodbath for the Democratic party, largely attributed to the continued economic recession, as well as the stimulus and health care reform bills. Also, Libertarian Richard J. Davis took 3.79% of the vote.
Results of the General Election in November, 2010
Republican Andy Harris 155,118
Democratic Frank M. Kravtovil Jr. 120,400
Libertarian Richard J. Davis 10,876
October 20. 2011 - Maryland adopted new Congressional districts reported in the 2010 U.S. Census. http://www.mdp.state.md.us/... .
2012 April Democratic Primary:
John LaFerla:10,850
Wendy Rosen:10,907
Kim Letke:3,564
2012 – In September, the Maryland Democratic Party officials learned that Rosen had voted in both Maryland and Florida in 2006 and 2008. She offered her resignation and the state party referred the allegations to law enforcement authorities.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/...
The Maryland Democratic party officially designated John LaFerla as the candidate of Maryland's Democratic Party. It was too late for Rosen’s name to be removed from the ballot. LaFerla ran as a write-in candidate. http://www.myeasternshoremd.com/...
2012 - Results of the General Election in November
Republican Andy Harris 214,204
Democratic Wendy Rosen 92,812
Democratic John La Ferla 14,858
Libertarian Muir Wayne Boda 12,857
2014 – Current candidates:
Andy Harris (R)* -
Jonathan Goff Jr. (R) - Landscaping Contractor & Ex-Steelworker
John LaFerla (D) - Physician, Ex-Kent County Democratic Chair & '12 Nominee
Bill Tilghman (D) – Businessman
http://www.politics1.com/...
Fri Mar 28, 2014 at 3:52 PM PT: Wow, 15 from Maryland-01! I didn't know there were so many here!