February 13, 2008

Reps. Gilchrest & Wynn Lose Md. Primary Battles

Veteran Reps. Wayne Gilchrest (R) and Albert Wynn (D) of Maryland yesterday became the first members of Congress to lose their bids for renomination this year. The two relatively moderate lawmakers, both of whom were dogged by their positions on the Iraq war, each faced stiff opposition from the more extreme wings of their respective parties.

Gilchrest, who had bucked his party by voting against the Iraq war, lost to state Sen. Andy Harris, who had the backing of the fiscally conservative Club for Growth. Harris won, 44 percent to 32 percent, with 95 percent of precincts reporting as of early this morning. State Sen. E.J. Pipkin finished third in the GOP primary with 21 percent. In November, Harris will face Queen Anne's County State's Attorney Frank Kratovil in the Republican-leaning district on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Meanwhile, in Maryland's majority-minority 4th District, attorney Donna Edwards was winning the Democratic nomination this morning, 60 percent to 35 percent, with 75 percent of precincts reporting. She had come close to ousting Wynn, who voted for the war in Iraq, in 2006.

Yesterday's results in Maryland, only the second state to hold its congressional primaries so far this year, suggest it's going to be another bumpy ride for incumbents as the war and economic issues continue to drive wedges within both major parties.

"Now" on PBS examines how Edwards' challenge from the left reflects a broader struggle within the Democratic Party "between progressives who believe the party has sold out its liberal values and centrists eager to capture a broad swath of the more conservative voters."

And in a September 2007 preview of the Club for Growth's 2008 GOP targets, The Hill noted, "With the retirements of several GOP centrists and a clarion call for the party to return to fiscal responsibility, the potential hit list is longer than it’s ever been during the five election cycles that the Club has existed."

The Baltimore Sun reports that last night's upsets marked the first time since 1992 that incumbent Maryland congressmen have been ousted in their party's primaries. The Sun also reports on weather- and traffic-related problems that kept some Marylanders from casting their votes, even though state officials extended polling hours to accommodate frustrated commuters.

See CongressDailyPM later today for more details.

Posted at 10:35 AM
Posted to: Campaigns, Congress, House
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