(CLICK HERE for coverage of statewide races)
Maryland General Assembly Races
Dist 1 (Allegany, Garrett and Washington Counties *) For Senate we endorse our friend George Edwards to move up from the House where he has served for years. There's a scramble to fill the resulting 1A House open seat, and in truth, right now there's a decent basis to believe we could work with any of the GOP candidates. There's no primary action in 1B but plan on being there for our good friend Kevin Kelly in the general. In 1C we have no good options in the 1C Dem primary, but no matter, we'll back our friend Leroy Myers in the general regardless.
Friends for George Edwards, PO Box 658 Grantsville MD 21536
Kevin Kelly Cmte, 12605 Bedford Road NE, Cumberland MD 21502
Citizens for Leroy Myers, 13000 St. Paul Rd, Clear Spring MD 21722
Dist 2 (Washington County *) The only action here is for the 2C House seat. In the GOP primary, Paul Muldowney is a good choice over Scott Hesse. On the Dem side, incumbent John Donoghue has been good for us on our issue and clearly deserves our nod over the challenger James Devine.
Friends of John Donoghue, 836 Oak Hill Ave, Hagerstown, MD 21742
Dist 3 (Frederick & Washington Counties) Senator Alex Mooney continues to deserve your backing. Be there for him to to fend off a primary challenger, and stay with him through the general. (There are no good Dem options for senate.) In the House, we'll have plenty to talk about for the 3A general, but for now, the only action is in 3B: help incumbent Richard Weldon fend off his primary challenger.
Mooney for Senate, 8319 Sharon Dr, Frederick MD 21704
Weldon Campaign, 231 Wintergreen Ln, Brunswick MD 21716
Dist 4 (Carroll&Frederick Counties) Senator David Brinkley has been great, so let's be there for him to fend off a primary challenger – that's his whole race, as there is no Dem for the general. In the House, be there for friendly incumbent Don Elliott to sustain him through his primary in 4B.
Friends of David Brinkley, PO Box 321, New Market MD 21774
Elliott for Delegate Committee, PO Box 370, New Windsor MD 21776
Dist 5 (Carroll & Baltimore Counties) UPDATED 9-6-2006 This seat will be decided in the primary, where long-time pro-gun incumbent Larry Haines defends against challenger Michelle Jefferson. Haines has always been there for us and remains a strong defender of the Second Amendment. We should remain true to him, and endorse accordingly. (This updates our previous advice, and corrects a miscommunication which resulted in our initial - and incorrect - report that suggested the Senator made equivocal statements on certain gun issues. We should have known that the hinges of hades would freeze before Larry went soft on the Second Amendment. We are glad to correct our error and report we're still on the same page with him!) In the House, a big 5A scramble will also be decided in the primary. We go with friendly incumbent Nancy Stocksdale , and recommend your active support for Tanya Shewell , a mid-term appointment who learned fast and is proving to be a good friend as well.
Friends of Larry Haines, 621 Meadow Branch Rd, Westminster MD 21158
Citizens for Shewell, 1190 Long Valley Rd, Westminster MD 21158
Friends of Nancy Stocksdale, 39 Ridge Rd, Westminster MD 21157
Dist 6 (Baltimore County) A big scramble for House seats and many friends to choose from – such problems we should have everywhere! Definitely be there for incumbent Mike Weir, Jr . He has proven to be as good a friend as his father who held the seat and defended us for years. We've been able to work well with incumbent Sonny Minnick , and commend him to you as well. And for the third slot? We have an embarassment of riches. Local issues will decide this one so we're happy to confirm the pro-gun bonafides of Jake Mohorovic and Diane DeCarlo (both former delegates who we remember as good friends, both of us and our issue), and also Jane Brooks. (If you can't elect pro-gunners in 6, then you ain't trying!)
Friends of Mike Weir, Jr, 613 Weir Ln, Essex MD 21221
Friends of Sonny Minnick, 1702 Stokesley Rd, Baltimore MD 21222
Dist 7 (Baltimore & Harford Counties) In the House, lots going on and hard to read the tea leaves. We recommend that you bullet vote Pat McDonough in the GOP primary, Linda Hart in the Dem primary, and we'll sort it out in the general.
McDonough for Del. Cmte, 120 Riverthorn Rd, Baltimore MD 21220
Friends of Linda Hart, 7 Raspberry Ct, Baltimore MD 21220
Dist 8 (Baltimore County) Senator Kathy Klausmeier is a terrific friend to our Cause and we need her back. No primary for her, but plan ahead to give her your maximum effort in the general. (Two candidates seek the GOP nod to challenge her. Only Cal Clemons bothered to return a survey, so that's worth your vote over an unknown and suspect commodity, Craig Borne. Either way, after you vote in the primary go get a yard sign for Kathy!) In House races, there is little to settle in the primary, as a practical matter; we'll sort it out in the general.
Friends of Kathy Klausmeier, 4100 Walter Ave, Baltimore MD 21236
Dist 9 (Carroll & Howard Counties) In the House, the only action is on the GOP side. It's important that 9A voters pull for Gail Bates and Warren Miller . In 9B, Susan Krebs is our pick. All are incumbents and folks we'd like to see back in Annapolis. Make it happen!
Friends of Gail Bates, 3212 Rosemary Ln, West Friendship MD 21794
Friends of Susan Krebs, 1696 Springmount Dr, Eldersburg MD 21784
Friends of Warren Miller, 3345 A Florence Rd, Woodbine MD 21797
Dist 10 (Baltimore County) There's nobody good for us in any seat for this district. Dems, vote against incumbents and invest your efforts on behalf of pro-gun candidates who have a chance in adjacent districts. (GOP voters: If you're a Republican in this district … why?)
Dist 11 (Baltimore County) Another hard district. In the Senate race, Bobby Zirkin wants to move up from his House seat to fill the vacancy left by Paula Hollinger (running for Congress.) Though odds favor his win Zirkin has been a terrible Delegate and we expect he will be a worse Senator. We recommend you pull for Scott Rifkin as a block and hope for the best. Only Dems have House primary action. A cast of thousands here, and there is no decent sign of who would be “least worst.” Vote against the anti-gun incumbents, Morhaim and Cardin, then go work for pro-gunners elsewhere.
Dist 12 (Baltimore & Howard Counties) No primary action. Sort it out in the general.
Dist 13 (Howard County) The only action is among Dems seeking the party nod for House seats, but boy is this good. We rate this as a top opportunity . Incumbents Frank Turner, Shane Pendergrass and Neil Quinter all want to come back, but there's a wrinkle. Guy Gazzone, a well-known official here in Howard County, declared for the seat when Neil Quinter first announced he was taking a shot at a congressional seat. Well, Quinter changed his mind about congress, but Gazzone stayed in. In this game of musical chairs, we need Quinter to be the one without a seat when the tune stops. Our best advice: Dems here should vote Turner, Pendergrass and Gazzone . Let's be clear: none of these are friends to our issue, but Quinter has made a career out of promoting gun bans. Let's send the Brady bunch's leadership packing by squeezing Quinter out in the primary. The primary is our single realistic opportunity to make him go away.
Dist 14 (Montgomery County) Nothing particular for us.
Dist 15 (Montgomery County) No primary action, but maybe a general election opportunity for any who like long shots.
Dist 16 (Montgomery County) Nothing good for us here. Spend your time helping elect pro-gunners elsewhere.
Dist 17 (Montgomery County) Bullet vote Elbridge James for the House seat and hope lightening strikes.
Dist 18 (Montgomery County) What is it about this county that breeds domestic enemies of the Constitution and Bill of Rights? There's nothing for us here. Dems, vote against incumbents then invest time electing pro-gunners elsewhere.
Dist 19 (Montgomery County) Bullet vote Alec Stone for the Dem house nod, and hope for the best.
A hunter walking through the jungle finds a huge, dead mastodon, with a pigmy standing beside it. Amazed, he asked, “Did you kill that?” The pigmy said, “Yes.” The hunter asked, “How could a little bloke like you kill a huge beast like that?” The pigmy said, “I killed it with my club.” The astonished hunter asked, “How big is your club? ” The pigmy replied, “We have about three hundred members.”
(Okay, so that had nothing to do with politics, but I figure any reader wading this far into the text ought to find something for the effort. Besides, this tells it like it is: Montgomery County only has jokes where candidates ought to be.)
Dist 20 (Montgomery County) Nothing but long shots at blocking gun grabbing incumbents. Dems should bullet vote Heather Mizeur and Diane Nixon for the House.
Dist 21 (Anne Arundel & Prince George's Counties) This Dem primary is a top priority for us. Senator John Giannetti took a common sense stand on the proposed ‘assault weapon' ban this term – he opposed it, as did the police and pretty much anyone who had an honest interest in public safety improvements. Now the Brady Bunch is hammering him for it, in the belief that they can manufacture a hot button issue for voters and put in their hand-picked über-lib, Jim Rosapepe, to champion the radical-left. (Rosapepe's chief beef is not that Giannetti voted against a semi-auto ban, it's that Rosapepe isn't the senator.) Giannetti needs our maxium effort . Be there for him! Remember, this race is over in the primary, so make your maximum effort for Giannetti today . In the house, vote for Mike Sarich, Mark Cook and Tekisha Everette, chiefly as blocks for the Rosapepe (Sarah Brady) slate that has uniformly endorsed a semi-auto ban.
Citizens for John Giannetti, 14044 Chestnut Ct, Laurel MD 20707
Dist 22 (Prince George's County) Only one ray of hope here: bullet vote Justin Ross in the house.
Dist 23 (Prince George's County) Here's a great opportunity for us in the Dem senate primary: make it happen for Doug Peters , our pick to fill the seat vacated by retiring gun grabber, Leo Green. This will be a hard but winnable race, and we can make a difference here. For house, vote for Gerron Levi and Shukoor Ahmed over the two incumbents trying to come back. (Sorry, Republicans. Nothing for you to vote for in the primary. Pitch in to help Peters' campaign.)
Citizens for Doug Peters, 6911 Laurel Bowie Rd #305, Bowie 20715
Dist 24 (Prince George's County) In the house, Dem gun owners should bullet vote for Darren Swain.
D25-26 ( Prince George's County) Nothing good here. Vote against incumbents and help pro-gunners in another district.
Dist 27 ( Calvert & Prince George's Counties) The only action is in the Dem 27A primary. Bullet vote for Joe Vallario . As Chair of House Judiciary he's been instrumental in keeping crappola legislation from moving forward. We want him back.
Friends of Joe Vallario, 8116 Rosaryville Rd, Upper Marlboro 20772
Dist 28 (Charles County) Dems should vote against incumbents and plan on having a bigger role in the general.
Dist 29 (Calvert, Charles & St. Mary's Counties) This district will be a key place for us to make a difference in the general, where we'll stand with our good friend Senator Roy Dyson . He has no primary, but we suggest you join his team now and help his reelection. In house races, our one pick for now is in 29A, John Wood , a long time friend of our issue. He has a primary – let's get him through that, and the general to follow.
Roy Dyson Committee, PO Box 5, Great Mills MD 20634
Friends of John Wood, PO Box 406 Mechanicsville MD 20659
Dist 30 (Anne Arundel County) House action on both sides here. For Dem gun owners, not much to choose from. Let the local issues downselect candidates and we'll sort it out in the general. On the GOP side, our picks are Mike Collins and Ron George , among the cast of many contenders.
Friends of Mike Collins, 935 Barracuda Cove Ct, Annapolis MD 21409
Cmte to Elect Ron George, 364 Oak Drive, Arnold MD 21012
Dist 31 (Anne Arundel County) A district where we can make a real difference in several races! First for senate: on the GOP side, our strong preference is for Carl “Dutch” Holland among the contenders. Make this a priority. (Between the Dem contenders, we see no preference.) In the house: our GOP slate of choice is Nic Kipke , Pat Corcoran and Steve Schuh . On the Dem side, vote for Joan Cadden and Thomas Fleckenstein.
Friends of Dutch Holland, 1718 Grandview Rd, Pasadena MD 21122
Friends of Nic Kipke, PO Box 862, Pasadena MD 21123
Citizens for Pat Corcoran, PO Box 2282, Glen Burnie MD 21060
Citizens to Elect Steve Schuh, PO Box 47, Gibson Island MD 21056
Dist 32 (Anne Arundel County) Only action is in the house GOP primary: put Terry Gilleland at the top of your list.
Friends of Terry Gilleland, P.O. Box 491, Linthicum MD 21090
Dist 33 (Anne Arundel County) The GOP's 33A house slate is the open question: make incumbent Tony McConkey your first priority, then pull for Daniel Grimes or James King .
McConkey for Delegate, 207 Cypress Creek Rd, Severna Park 21146
Friends of Dan Grimes, PO Box 61, Millersville MD 21108
Cmte to Elect James King, 2221 Mount Tabor Rd, Gambrills MD 21054
Dist 34 (Cecil & Harford Counties) The Dem 34A primary is all that must be decided in the primary: Bullet vote incumbent Dan Riley to ensure he advances.
Citizens for Riley, 2120 Old Edgewood Rd, Edgewood MD 21040
Dist 35 (Harford County) The GOP's house slate needs to be settled here: our strong endorsement goes to Barry Glassman and Joanne Parrott as incumbents to advance in 35A. In 35B, make it happen for Susan McComas , an incumbent we'd love to see back in Annapolis too.
Friends of Barry Glassman, 1594 Nobles Mill Ct, Darlington MD 21034
Committee to Elect Susan McComas, PO Box 1204, Bel Air MD 21014
Citizens for Joanne Parrott, 3208 Suffolk Ln, Fallston, MD 21047
Dist 36 (Caroline, Cecil, Kent & Queen Anne's Counties) Not much to settle in the primary, but put Mark Guns on your radar as the pick we will want to advance to the House.
Committee to Elect Mark Guns, 66 Fifth Av, Elkton MD 21921
Dist 37 (Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot & Wicomico Counties) The Dem's senate pick needs to be settled, but we frankly see nothing to commend either candidate. Regardless, our choice in the general will be our good friend Richard Colburn . Hook up with him early and make it happen without fail.
Citizens for Richard Colburn, 5210 Heron Rd, Cambridge MD 21613
Dist 38 (Somerset, Wicomico & Worcester Counties) Nothing obvious for us to do in the primary!
Dist 39 (Montgomery County) Ditto
Dist 40 (Baltimore City) Your protest vote in the Dem senate primary is to Timothy Mercer. In the house: Antonio Hayes, Mark Hughes and Nolan Rollins.
Dist 41 (Baltimore City) In the house Dem primary, definitely invest your time and your vote in Kevin Hargrave .
Kevin Hargrave, 274 N. Hilton St, Baltimore, MD 21229
Dist 42 (Baltimore City) This is a district where we can and must have a strong influence in the general, and incumbent Senator Jim Brochin is our choice. He is unchallenged in the primary, so the action item for now is to GOP primary voters, who should vote for Glenn Torgerson to advance. In the hotly contested house races: Dems have no good options, but probably Stephen Lafferty is the worst so pull for any but him. GOP voters pull only for Susan Aumann and William Frank.
Cmte to Elect Brochin, 1201 Merediths Ford Rd, Towson MD 21286
Dist 43 (Baltimore City) This will be effectively over in the primary, and there is little for gun owners here. Your protest votes should go to Dave Vane in Senate, and in the house: Mary Washington, Michael Dobson and Mike Miller (but don't expect much change.)
Dist 44 (Baltimore City) Much the same situation as 43. Protest votes go to Kevin Brooks in senate, and in the house: Anthony McCarthy, Richard Parker and Steven Gilliard.
Dist 45 (Baltimore City) Ditto. Pull Greg Truitt in the senate, and for house: Kevin Parson, Kevin Slayton and Trae Lewis.
Dist 46 (Baltimore City) Gunowners here don't even have much for a protest vote. In the house, vote only for Donald Nygard and Mike Mitchell, and spend your time helping viable pro-gun candidates out in the county.
Dist 47 (Prince George's County) Dem voters: Your protest ballot in senate goes to George Seymore, and in the house, vote only for Jolene Ivey. (Maybe we can help keep the seniority of gun grabbers down.) GOP voters: call John Kane and ask why the party has forgotten your district exists.
* We regret that at least one of the mailers sent to subscribers incorrectly characterized which counties this district was in.