Maryland Senate Race Heats Up with Potential Family Feud Among Democrats

Strategic Insights -

The Maryland Senate race has taken a dramatic turn with the announcement by Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee to draft Donna Edwards into the Democratic primary for the Senate seat to be vacated by Barbara Mikulski. This move sets the stage for a potential family feud between centrist and liberal Democrats, with Edwards, a four-term Congresswoman from Prince George's County, facing off against Chris Van Hollen, a six-term congressman who has already announced his candidacy.

Key Takeaways:

  • Donna Edwards, a progressive Democrat, is being drafted into the Maryland Senate primary by Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee.
  • Edwards would face off against Chris Van Hollen, a centrist Democrat and former chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
  • Van Hollen has already announced his candidacy, while Edwards has expressed interest in running but has not yet made an official announcement.
  • Nearly every other Democrat in Maryland's congressional delegation has expressed interest in running, as have several other prominent Democrats, including Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and former Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown.
  • The Progressive Change Campaign Committee has been critical of the Democratic Party's official campaign arm, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, for its recruitment of moderate candidates.
  • Edwards has been a hero to progressive liberals and activists since her 2006 underdog campaign against Al Wynn, a centrist Democrat who backed the Iraq War.

Statistics:

  • The Maryland Senate seat has been held by Barbara Mikulski since 1987, with Mikulski announcing her retirement earlier this week.
  • Maryland remains a solidly Democratic state, with the next Senate seat likely to be won by the Democratic primary winner.
  • The Progressive Change Campaign Committee has a history of supporting progressive candidates, including Brian Schatz in Hawaii, Ruben Gallego in Arizona, and Bonnie Watson Coleman in New Jersey.

Sources:

  • [1] Heather Caygle, "$4.4 Million: Inside the 2014's Most Expensive Democratic Primary", Politico (February 26, 2015)
  • [2] Josh Kraushaar, "The one-sided DSCC", National Journal (March 30, 2012)
  • [3] Edward Epstein, "Progressives Target Van Hollen", Roll Call (November 19, 2012)
  • [4] Danielle Kurtzleben, "Donna Edwards: E.L.E.C.T. Candidate", Time (February 22, 2014)
  • [5] Alex Seitz-Wald, "Progressives Regroup for 2016", NBC News (June 24, 2014)