Free Republic

Reminder to Marylanders that the closing date for registration and changes to party affilation is tomorrow April 5. MD primaries are closed, to have an impact you must register as GOP or Dem only. Radio PSA on WMAL had a brief item about the surge of questions that BOE has received from unaffiliated voters. I've never heard a public announcement of this sort before. What it means is yet to be determined, but along with Gov Hogan (R) election, it just may point to another record turnout. Another point. The Board of Elections is advertising for election judges, a paid...

Maryland lawmakers took a step Thursday toward scrubbing references to “Northern scum” and other Civil War-era phrases from the official state song. The Maryland Senate voted 37-8 for the changes, while also recognizing “Maryland, My Maryland” as the state’s historic song. Supporters of the measure, which now goes to the House, said it was a compromise that removes offensive language and recognizes history. …

SILVER SPRING M.D. - There's a female candidate currently running for office who refuses to answer questions about shady dealings, promotes ability to accomplish legislation while knocking Republicans, and denies her wealth. But it's not Hillary Clinton, it's Chris Matthews' wife Kathleen Matthews, who is running for Congress in Maryland's eighth district. During a Sunday candidate forum at the Democratic Club of Leisure World in front of crowd of mostly seniors, Matthews revealed that her husband spends time calling Rep. Chris Van Hollen's office because, "he's not getting his social security check." This is despite his reported $5 million annual...

BALTIMORE - Democratic primary voters should find little difference in political ideology between the two candidates running to replace retiring Sen. Barbara Mikulski, according to outside analysts. Both U.S. Reps. Donna Edwards and Chris Van Hollen are ranked “hardcore liberals” by On The Issues, a political website that analyzes policy issues supported by federal, state and local politicians. Both Edwards and Van Hollen are considered reliable Democrats, who vote with their party 100% of the time, according to The Sunlight Foundation, a national, non-partisan organization that focuses on transparency and accountability in government and politics. Rep. Elijah Cummings, 7th, ranking...

Democratic Rep. Donna Edwards of Maryland intends to join the race to replace retiring Sen. Barbara Mikulski, hoping to become the first African-American elected to the Senate from her state, according to officials familiar with her plans. Edwards would become the second member of the state’s House delegation to announce her intentions to run for the Senate. Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen joined the race last week. No Republican has yet stepped forward to run for a seat in a Democratic state. …

Sen. Barbara Mikulski’s (D-MD) decision to retire at the end of her term has sparked a predictable succession feud among Democrats in that deep blue state, but the coming internecine squabble has the potential to engulf the entire party. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), a six-term member of Congress and the former chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, wasted no time in declaring his intention to run for Mikulski’s seat. On Friday, he received a powerful endorsement from Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid. “I enthusiastically endorse Chris Van Hollen for the United States Senate,” Reid said in a statement....