Special Report
Part 5 of 50
535 Special Report.
Greetings once again!
This latest report comes to you with some disheartening news-We've been suffering from budget problems lately, brought on by the recent economic downturn. Due to this, and several other factors, we will probably be unable to complete a Special Report on all 50 states before the elections in November. However, we will try as hard as possible, and we assure you that the quality of our reporting will not be lessened.
From frigid Maine, we now head to Maryland, and the reporting of
Baltimore Sun reporter David Lewis, a Silver Spring native.
Maryland is a unique case politically-Though it's Southern in geography, it has the political leanings of a more Northeastern state. The Democratic machine that once controlled Baltimore has fallen apart, putting a new, more innovative organization in place. However, Republicans still do hold some sway, most notably in the Northeastern, rural part of the state, and can get elected statewide(See Kalmbach, Dan).
Senior Senator-Sam Whiteside, Democrat.
Disclaimer-I've known Sam for about 20 years, so I'm probably a bit biased.
Sam Whiteside is a legend in Maryland. After being elected State Senator at age 24, and then Senator at age 30, he's never lost an election, and he's served his constituents faithfully and well. Sam is a big man, and enjoys his creature comforts-He's regarded as the best chef on Capitol Hill, and you can find him haunting restaurants and kitchens through Maryland and the District.
As Senator Whiteside, he's probably the biggest labor supporter in the Senate, receiving millions of dollars from unions, and he's well-prepared to defend their interests-as well as the interests of his constituents-with seats on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and Commerce, Science and Transportation Committees. Sam's been married 3 times, and has 6 kids, two from each of his wives.
Reelection Prospects: Not Running; With 77% approval ratings and $5.4 million ready to go, as well as one of the best ground organizations in politics, Whiteside is nearly untouchable in Maryland.
Committee Assignments: Ranking Member, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions(HELP); Commerce, Science and Transportation; Rules and Administration.
Junior Senator-Dan Kalmbach, Republican.
As much as I liked Sam Whiteside, I dislike Dan Kalmbach. He's always struck me as a legacy case, a career politician riding on the coattails of his father, former Maryland Congressman and Governor Richard "Big Rick" Kalmbach. Big Rick was the last true boss of the old Democratic machine, and a formidable man. If Big Rick liked something, it went through. If he hated it, it was DOA.
Dan has always seemed too snarky, too sarcastic, too much like he was trying to get his name out there. He's made a career of running for office, and has survived due to inertia, Democratic apathy and his family's name. I think that his constant runs for President were stupid, misguided attempts, and I was glad that he lost. But now, with Andrea Wyatt challenging him, I have a feeling that Kalmbach's time in office maybe coming to an end.
Kalmbach has a messy personal life. His first wife divorced him due to allegations of an affair, and he had to go through marriage counseling with his second wife. He has 2 children, both from his 2nd marriage.
Reelection Prospects: Leans Dem; Wyatt is polling at 55%, and has around $6million on hand to use. Kalmbach is pretty good, and will probably make a comeback, though I'm not sure if it will be enough for a win.
Committee Assignments: Finance; Governmental Affairs; Judiciary.
1st District: Donald Richter, Republican.
The first is fairly evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans
Richter served in Vietnam as part of the infantry, and was awarded 3 Purple Hearts, 2 Silver Stars and the Congressional Medal of Honor, making him the most decorated member of Congress. He first ran for Congress in 1988, and has been there ever since.
Ritcher is reliably conservative on most issues, but has never been an attack dog. In fact, he's worked with Democrats on military funding issues, and improvements within the armed services. Due to his decorated status, there has never been a serious challenge against him, from either Democrats or Republicans.
Ritcher has been married to his high school sweetheart, Susan, for 43 years. They have 2 children.
Election Status: Safe; Richter has literally no challengers this year.
Committee Assignments:Armed Services; Permanent Select Intelligence.
2nd: Sam "Judge" Weston, Democrat.
The 2nd is an oddly shaped district. It's been gerrymandered to be more attractive to Democrats, though Republicans have been known to do well here.
Weston has only held his seat for a term, and he's old for a freshman Democrat-58. He started out as a police officer in Anne Arundel County, going in at 18, and putting in 20 years of service. At 38, he attended law school at the University of Maryland, and became a State's Attorney, working in the organized crime unit. At 48, he was named to the District court of Anne Arundel, an office which he held until his run for Congress.
Weston is quite blunt in person-He's got no tolerance for bullshit, which is a nice thing to have in a politician. Though his voting patterns are limited, his previous statements and actions indicate that he's tougher on crime than most Democrats-probably tougher than most Republicans too. However, he's moderate to liberal on social issues.
Weston has been married once, and is currently divorced. He has no children.
Election Status: Toss-Up. Weston is fairly popular, but freshmen are always the most vulnerable. And there's the question of the anti-Santos wave splashing on him. He's being challenged by Anne Arundel councilman W.T. Hallis, and has 1.3 million in the bank.
Committee Assignments: Judiciary.
3rd: Daniel Ross, Democrat.
Another oddly shaped district, this one has been shaped as to secure a Democratic majority.
This district has been in Democratic hands since the Great Depression, and that's unlikely to change any time soon. Ross, elected in 2002, was a former community organizer, and was elected at only age 26. A graduate from the University of Maryland, he's made it a point to focus on local issues, like Chesapeake Bay cleaning, urban renewal and education. His office was also voted "Best Constituent Services" by
The Hill. Ross is a man who likes to be doing things, and isn't entirely suited for a life in Congress-Look for him to run for Mayor of Annapolis or Governor in the next few years.
Ross is currently dating
Washington Post media critic Dana Walsh.
Election Status: Secure; Ross has $3.3 million on hand, a fantastic organization, and 69% approval ratings. He'll win, and win big.
Committee Assignments: Transportation and Infrastructure; Energy and Natural Resources.
4th: Janelle Carson, Democrat.
The 4th is the closest district in Maryland to DC, and with the largest black middle-class in the nation, is a Democratic stronghold.
Janelle Carson is the daughter of noted jazz singer Elaine "Honey" Wallace and the Reverend John Carson, a noted minister who marched with Martin Luther King at Selma. Carson is one of the most eloquent, powerful speakers in Washington today, and her speeches, whether on the floor of the House or the campaign trail, are not to be missed.
Carson is a former State Senator, and has made her mission in Congress to funnel as much cash as she can into her district. Post offices, road construction and other items have all been funded by the work of Congresswoman Carson, leading CREW(Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) to name her one of their "Top Ten Porkers." Carson is also the soprano for the Capitol Crooners, a group of bipartisan Representatives and Senators who have formed a vocal group, and one of the most pop-culture aware people on the Hill. She is married, with two daughters.
Election Prospects: Safe; Carson has $6.8 million in an account, and enormously popular.
Committee Assignments: Appropriations.
5th:Andrew Fitzpatrick, Democrat.
The 5th is a fairly Democratic district, covering Maryland's eastern shore.
Fitzpatrick is one of the more interesting Representatives in Congress. He's openly atheist, the only member of Congress to be so. His son Thomas is autistic, meaning Fitzpatrick is one of the chief advocates for mental health funding and investigations of vaccinations in Congress today.
Fitzpatrick was encouraged to run for office by his mentor, former DNC Chair and Maryland political legend Barry Goodwin, in 1998. Eleveated by the Bartlet win, Fitzpatrick won big. However, he's been dogged by tough races-in 2002, he beat his Republican opponent by a single point, and in 2006, he faced a primary challenge from the left that nearly defeated him. However, in recent years, he seems to have stabilized.
Fitzpatrick, aside from being an advocate for mental health and opponent of drug companies, is also the biggest supporter of the Chesapeake Bay in the Maryland delegation(His home is on the water), and a big environmental advocate.
Fitzpatrick is single, having adopted Thomas from an orphanage.
Election Status: Leans Safe; Thomas has $850,000 on hand, and is standing at 55% in the polls. He faces a tough challenger in Prince George's County State's Attorney George Blair.
Committee Assignment: Ways and Means.
6th: Claire Palmer, Republican.
The 6th composes most of the state outside of the Baltimore-DC metro, the northeastern corner. It's reliably Republican.
Claire Palmer is one of the most vicious, conservative Republicans in Congress-And she does it all with a heavenly smile.
Called by some "The Maryland Family Values Viper," Palmer came into office in 2002, defeating freshman incumbent Bill Oates, in a nasty race. Since then, she hasn't really been challenged, so she's devoted much of her time to attacking Democrats in Congress and on a national stage. She supported the Reverend Don Butler in the 2006 primaries, and was reported to be furious that Arnold Vinick, a man that she "considered no better than a Democrat," won the nomination. Palmer has also said of the Democratic Party as a whole, "Nothing more than a group of homosexuals, perverts, degenerates, socialists and people who do not the share the views of true Americans."
Election Status: Leans Safe; Though Palmer has never been seriously challenged by Democrats, she's being challenged by a more moderate Republican, Owen Wells, who has a slight advantage over her.
Committee Assignment: Financial Services.
Maryland 7th:
The 7th is the core of urban Baltimore, and parts of Baltimore and Howard Counties.
The Congressman here is Elijah Mays, and he is one of the more physically powerful men on the Hill. He's a big man, with a James Earl Jones-type voice, and one of the deepest, most thoughtful minds in politics.
Mays' story is interesting-He had wanted to be a preacher since he was 10 years old. After obtaining his collar, he went into the streets of Baltimore, and began working with the community. According to him, one night, he had an epiphany-He would be able to do more in office. Mays ran for the city council, and stayed there, continuing his work in the community. After the retirement of previous Congressman Willie Phillips in 1990, Mays stepped in, and has been there ever since.
Mays has gained a reputation as the "Conscience of the House," consistently speaking about the morality of issues, ranging from AIDS and genocide in Darfur and Equitorial Kundu in Africa to the need for nationalized health care in the United States. His office is filled with books and speeches from men ranging from Martin Luther King Jr and Gandhi to Pope Victor and the Prophet Muhammad.
Election Status: Safe; Due to his position and his work within and for his community, Mays will hold this seat until he decides not to.
Committee Assignment: Oversight and Government Reform(Chairman).
Maryland 8th:
The 8th is reliably Democratic, consisting of the suburbs of DC. Many federal workers and higher-income people live here, tilting to the left and the higher income level.
Andrea Wyatt is the Representative for the 8th, though she probably won't be for much longer-She's running for the Senate, and holds a slight lead over incumbent Senator Dan Kalmbach. She enjoys the endorsement of both Presidents Bartlet and Santos, as well as the full support of the DNC and DSCC, and the endorsement of popular Governor Joe Derrick, and it's quite likely she will be the next Senator from Maryland.
Her Congressional experience is mostly in foreign affairs-She's the 2nd ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and is one of the Democrat's leading foreign policy experts. As Chair of the Mideast Committee, she has often traveled to Israel and Pakistan, including a trip in 2006 where her convoy was attacked, causing the deaths of former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Percy Fitzwallace, and two other Congressmen. Wyatt survived with only minor injuries.
Wyatt's personal life is interesting. She was married to former White House Communications Director and famous political exile Toby Ziegler for 10 years, before divorcing him. However, in 2002, she gave birth to his children, twins. Ziegler and Wyatt continued to remain intertwined in 2006, when Wyatt barely won her reelection bid, 51% to 49%, the closest margin ever. Ziegler's involvement with the shuttle leak was the reason for the slide.
Election Status: Leans Dem; Wyatt is polling at 55% and has 6 million on hand, with the opportunity to raise more. Her seat will be filled by whichever Democrat wins the primary, a tossup between Montgomery County Executive Danielle Waters and Maryland Delegate Benjamin Emanuel. However, rumors continue to abound that Charlie Young, the son-in-law and former assistant of President Bartlet, will be persuaded to enter the race.
Wyatt Committee Assignments: Foreign Affairs; House Rules.
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