State Races
Top of the ticket: There's no gubernatorial primary to speak of – a pity, since contested primaries are where parties sort out what they stand for, refresh policy arguments and strengthen ties with core constituencies. In 2002, one of the Democrats' strategic blunders was sparing Kathleen Kennedy a bloody primary, since whoever came out of it would have been far stronger. The GOP will run weaker this year for copying that same failed blueprint to spare Bob Ehrlich the awkward task of facing rolling out his record before the constituency that put him in the state's top office. For now the action is in other races, and we'll analyze the O'Malley v. Ehrlich race next issue.
US Senate: The battle is on to fill Sen. Sarbanes' seat as he retires, and what a contest it is! On the Dem side, the raw vote count separating winners from losers will be small since so many candidates seek the party's nod. It makes clear this is a race we can affect . That's good news, since while most contenders are known and terrible anti-gunners, we've got a friend of the issue who is also within striking distance. We endorse Dennis Rasmussen to get the Democratic nomination. His track record is that of a winner with long experience in public service. We know him. We like him. You will too. Find more about him on the web at www.rasmussenforussenate.com (Photo at left) Vote for him on September 12 !
On the GOP side, gun owners' choice is clear. Only one Republican has gone on the record in support of our Second Amendment rights, given specifics and stuck to his guns in spite of his party's advice to pander to the middle: Corrogan Vaughn . Okay, so maybe Corrogan isn't the name you hear most often in a GOP primary, but he's the principled choice of gun owners who are frustrated with the front runner's waffling at public events. Send a wakeup call to the GOP and remind them we're here. Vote Corrogan Vaughn.
Attorney General: If there is good to be done here, it isn't in the primary! The Dems fielded nobody we can hope for, and several with whom we have bad history. Whoever gets the nod faces Scott Rolle in November, and that's where our real fight will be. Rolle is a good man who faces the prospect of being outspent twenty to one. Those aren't good odds. Among Dems, Doug Gansler probably has the most baggage and least grey matter between the ears, so (and it pains us to say this) vote Gansler to send Scott the weakest opponent in November.
Comptroller: Normally this isn't a race we much care about, but when you go to the voting booth, think two words: handgun ban . In 1988 William Donald Schaefer signed into law the (poorly named) ‘Saturday night special ban' that Peter Franchot, his opponent, helped pass. Keep voting against them both. We'll be rid of them eventually.
House of Representatives: With the exception of one open seat (from Cardin trying to move up to Senate) expect no change in the delegation. Still, let's promote friends when we can. In Congressional 2, we like Dee Hodges advanced in the GOP primary. In Congressional 3, vote Bruce Altschuler in the GOP's primary. (Among Dems in 3, where we see the only real action, we honestly don't know of a decent option. That's it, plain and simple.) In Congressional 6, our very good friend, Roscoe Bartlett , actually has a primary challenger. Time for our Western Maryland friends to pour out in droves to crush any suggestion that Roscoe ought to be replaced. Come on, run up the numbers, please.
(CLICK HERE for district by district coverage of General Assembly races.)