Incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Frank Kratovil maintains a nearly 2-1 advantage in cash on hand over his challenger, Republican State Sen. Andy Harris, according to campaign fund raising filings filed Sunday with the Federal Elections Commission.
Harris reported a slight advantage in fund raising over the period of Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 raising about $267,000 — or about $30,000 more than Kratovil. (more…)
The folks over at Maryland Politics Watch had an interesting post Monday about Rep. Frank Kratovil and his vote Saturday against the House version of health care reform.
One Montgomery County union official sent out an e-mail blasting Kratovil’s vote.
“The way I see it, if not for President Obama and Labor’s help, Congressman Kratovil would not have won,” wrote Bob Stewart, Executive Director of the county chapter of Municipal and County Government Employees Organization. “Remember also that this is the Congressman who was ‘hung in effigy’ in August by the Tea-baggers, birthers and assorted other right-wingers. Running scared and showing fear by voting how they want him to will probably not get them to vote for him next year.”
You can read the rest of Stewart’s e-mail at Maryland Politics Watch.
Al Redmer appears to be within weeks of officially making his expected entrance into the 7th District senate race.
In a September e-mail to potential supporters, Redmer wrote:
“As you have no doubt heard, I have been considering my own bid for the State Senate in District 7. My announcement and kickoff will occur in the next four-six weeks. (more…)
Del. J.B. Jennings will give up the District 7 House of Delegates seat he has held since 2002 and will instead run for that district’s state Senate seat in 2010.
Jennings, a Republican, confirmed his intentions in an interview. He made a more formal announcement at his fundraiser Friday night, an annual event that includes a polo match.
Sen. Andy Harris, who currrently represents the district, announced earlier this year he will give up his Senate seat for a rematch against Rep. Frank Kratovil, a first-term Democrat.
Jennings is the only officially-announced candidate for the Senate district that stretches from Cockeysville and parts of Perry Hall and Middle River to part of western Harford County.
Two others, Democratic Councilman Vince Gardina and Republican former delegate and state Insurance Commissioner Al Redmer, are also said to be considering campaigning for the seat.
Al Redmer, the former state insurance commissioner and Republican state delegate from Perry Hall, has everything he needs for a 2010 political campaign save one — an office to run for.
Redmer, who now lives on the Middle River waterfront, acknowledges an interest in the upcoming campaign season. Last week he had brochures printed with a brief biography. He plans to start handing them out door to door within the week. (more…)
Republican Del. Pat McDonough says that despite rumors, he is not interested in the 7th District state Senate seat held by Sen. Andy Harris.
“I’m definitely not,” McDonough said.
“I’ve not uttered one statement (about the senate seat) publicly or privately,” McDonough said.
“It’s either county executive or House of Delegates,” McDonough said. (more…)
If you happened to be in Cafe Troia in Towson today for lunch you might have seen Democratic Sen. Jim Brochin lunching with John Fiastro, president of the 42nd District Republican Club.
Politics was not only on the menu, it was the reason the two were there as Fiastro was making good on a wager the two made about the outcome of one precinct in the Sen. Andy Harris - Frank Kratovil congressional race. (more…)
If Sen. Andy Harris is bitter about his recent defeat in the 1st Congressional District, he certainly isn’t showing it.
“You don’t get in the game if you can’t take a loss,” Harris said after a Nov. 11 press conference in White Marsh where he conceded the race to Democrat Frank Kratovil.
Harris came up more than 2,000 votes short against Kratovil, a state’s attorney from Queen Anne’s County. The vote was so close on election night (just 916 votes between the two) that both sent teams of watchers to observe absentee and provisional ballot counts at election boards from Baltimore County to the Eastern Shore. It wasn’t until last Thursday that Harris ultimately conceded. (more…)
Early voting, absentee voting, provisional ballots. Who can blame someone, even a lawyer representing the 1st Congressional District candidate Frank Kratovil, for not being able to keep it all straight.
Teams of lawyers representing both Kratovil and Republican Andy Harris descended on the Baltimore County Board of Elections and election boards in 11 other counties to observe absentee ballot counts in the 1st Congressional District race.
Maryland Democrats have trained their sights on Pennsylvania as Election Day moves closer to its conclusion.
Leading the charge and thanking the troops was Gov. Martin O’Malley.
O’Malley, just back from a late night in Pennsylvania was on a swing of polling precincts and several Democratic Party headquarters. It’s a statewide tour that he referred to more than once as “Obama-rama.” (more…)