Maryland Senate Primary and General Election Races

Philip F. Lee, 7/28/06 [pflee(at)wdn(dot)com]

This is a work in progress. If you notice some errors, please send corrections. Updates will continue until the elections.

Some pro-RKBA groups (the NRA for example) advocate endorsing pro-RKBA experienced office holders over challengers lacking a track record in office no matter the quality of the challenger. They do so, without exactly saying they do, for the basic reason that the incumbent has some seniority, has worked with our side before, has given our cause support and stuck their neck out in many cases to do so. The challenger, on the other hand, is really unknown. Politicians can say anything (and frequently do). So, it is possible that even though the challenger talks a great game, his play may not be on the team he claims to support.

There is something to the sentiments of supporting a good incumbent and I advise careful consideration of the point. But, I don't think for you and am raising this point to explain some of the justifications that should be obvious, but sometimes are not.

Unfortunately, some of the organizations making endorsements abuse their position to endorse anti-RKBA office holders. An example of that kind of abusive endorsement is the letter to the editor written 4 years ago by NRA Director Randy Kosuch praising Cas Taylor ("Taylor deeds match words on guns, hunting," July, 14, 2002) to his home town newspaper the Cumberland Times-News. (It really was an endorsement although the NRA claimed not.) Organizations may make such endorsements for their purposes which are not always our purposes. That is part of the reason why it is so important that organizations endorsing individuals present their evidence for the endorsement.

If they aren't willing to give evidence, I'm skeptical. That's me -- but I don't think for you.

An endorsement by an organization or person is a statement of opinion on behalf of the individual or organization and is designed to transfer the credibility the person or organization has to the endorsee. The endorser hopes you will stop thinking, take the recommendation and vote accordingly. You may not be given reasons why the endorsee is worthy. Yet, without those reasons, abuse of trust can and does happen.

This note describes my understanding of the Maryland senate races district by district, but no endorsement is intended. You should think for yourselves, I'm going to stick to the facts as I know them and can defend them.

D-1 experienced pro-RKBA friend Edwards versus unknown and track-record-less challenger Sines in the primary. The winner will face in the general election unknown and track-record-less Democrat Conlon who doesn't mind infringing your RKBA.

D-2 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Munson is un-opposed both in the primary and general election.

D-3 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Mooney who stuck with us over the AW ban battle in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee is opposed in the Republican primary by two pro-RKBA track-record-less challengers Brooks and Warner. The winner will be challenged by the pro-RKBA track-record-less Democratic challenger Greenway

D-4 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Brinkley is opposed in the Republican primary by little known and track-record-less challenger Chamberlain. There is no general election opposition.

D-5 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Haines who stuck with us over the AW ban battle in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee is opposed in the Republican primary by pro-RKBA and track-record-less challenger Jefferson. There is no general election opposition.

D-6 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Stone who stuck with us over the AW ban battle in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee is opposed in the Democratic primary by unknown and track-record-less challenger Kushnerick. There is no general election opposition.

D-7 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Harris is opposed in the primary by teacher union lobby favorite Foerster who is unknown and track-record-less on RKBA. There is no general election opposition.

D-8 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Klausmeier is unopposed in her primary, but will face the winner of the Republican primary race between pro-RKBA Borne and unknown Clemons both of whom are track-record-less.

D-9 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Kittleman will face opposition in the general election only by weakly pro-RKBA but track-record-less challenger Corkran. There is no primary election opposition for either candidate.

D-10 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Delores Kelley faces primary challenges from pro-RKBA but track-record-less Pat Kelly and unknown and track-record-less Arthur.

D-11 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Del. Zirkin faces a primary challenge from the unknown and track-record-less Rifkin who has raised enough money to provide a serious challenge. The winner will face unknown and track-record-less Republican Yablon in the general election.

D-12 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Kasemeyer faces a general election challenge from the unknown and track-record-less Republican Martel.

D-13 experienced but still unknown Sen. Schrader faces a general election challenge from the unknown and track-record-less Democrat Robey who is the Howard Co. Executive. Although lacking in evidence, Robey thinks highly of Howard County Police Chief Livesay who is a fixture in the anti-RKBA crowd.

D-14 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Kramer faces a general election challenge from 81 year old retired but unknown and track-record-less Republican Hackenberg.

D-15 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Garagiola faces a general election challenge from anti-RKBA and track-record-less Republican Askinazi. In the 2002 election, candidate Askinazi eagerly agreed with all survey points from MAHA (now CeaseFireMD). Evidently, the Republican Party forgot its Goldwater slogan to present an echo, not a choice for this race.

D-16 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Frosh faces a general election challenge from a Republican Central Committee appointed candidate. Such candidates are unevaluated since they represent a shotgun wedding approach to gaining candidate in some districts and they are really running in case the opponent drops dead the day before the election which is about the only way they can be elected. The Republican Party's victories against dead opposition candidates is not assured as former Senator Ashcroft can attest so it is fair to call such candidates lighting-bolt candidates inasmuch as they have an equivalent chance of winning as being struck by lighting.

D-17 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Forehand faces no opposition at all. I guess there are no Republicans registered in D-17, at least none that feared the Republican Shotgun more than they feared missing a few of the televised Redskin games.

D-18 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Madaleno faces a general election challenge from the Republican Central Committee appointed (lighting-bolt) candidate Stegmaier. Since Stegmaier believes Maryland gun laws are ok as they are ... .

D-19 experienced anti-RKBA enemies Dels. Mandel & Petzold are fighting it out in the primary with Brady endorsed anti-RKBA and track-record-less Lenett and the winner will be opposed in the general election by the winner of the Republican primary contest between pro-RKBA but track-record-less Republicans Ryman and Siguenza.

D-20 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Rubin has primary opposition from anti-RKBA but track-record-less Raskin. Raskin's recent statements to the Gazette make Rubin appear to be an anti-gun moderate (especially since she ducked the Gazette question).

D-21 Sen. Giannetti, who withstood the pressure to vote a ban on semi-automatic rifles out of the Senate Judicial Proceeding Committee, is the most important Maryland target of the Brady organization (after Gov. Ehrlich). He has primary opposition from anti-RKBA but track-record-less Rosapepe. Rosapepe is a known supporter and contributor to CeaseFireMD and support of a ban on semi-automatic rifles. A third candidate in this primary is unknown but track-record-less Pulivarti. The winner of this primary must face the lighting-bolt unknown but track-record-less Republican candidate Stafford.

D-22 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Pinsky has no opposition.

D-23 anti-RKBA enemies but track-record-less candidates Henry & Holmes are fighting it out along with unknown but track-record-less candidate Peters in the primary. The winner has no opposition in the general election.

D-24 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Exum has no opposition.

D-25 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Currie has no opposition.

D-26 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Del. Patterson has primary opposition from unknown and track-record-less Muse. The winner has no opposition in the general election.

D-27 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Senate President Miller has general election opposition from pro-RKBA but track-record-less Ron Miller (no relation). There is no primary election opposition for either candidate.

D-28 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Middleton has general election opposition from unknown and track-record-less Bala. There is no primary election opposition for either candidate.

D-29 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Dyson has general election opposition from unknown and track-record-less McKay. There is no primary election opposition for either candidate.

D-30 experienced pro-RKBA(?) friend Sen. Astle has general election opposition from the winner of the primary between maybe pro-RKBA but hiding on the issue Del. McMillan and unknown and track-record-less Belcher. The only question about Sen. Astle is the close alliance he has formed with Sen. Miller for campaign financing and a comment he was heard to make that RKBA forces couldn't depend on him. To say RKBA stance of the candidates in this race is murky is to make murky appear too clear.

D-31 has a battle royal between pro-RKBA but track-record-less Gardner, Mike Jacobs, & Simonaire with unknown and track-record-less Holland & Robison in the Republican primary. Holland has run for state wide office several times without winning. This time he is counting on his being the father of NRA state representative Jennifer Palmer and the vast resources of the NRA to propel his candidacy. As of the report on 8/15/06 (see
http://mdelections.umbc.edu/campaign_finance/sumctprocess.php?fsk=A00000628920060001&acctno=A6289&coln=4 )
Randy Kozuch of the NRA had ponyed-up about $1000 of the huge $4400 amount of actual contributions to his candidacy. The winner of the Republican primary has opposition in the general election from the winner in the Democrat primary between pro-RKBA but track-record-less Shandrowsky & McBride. What an embarrassment of riches!

D-32 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. DeGrange has general election opposition from unknown and track-record-less Vandenheuvel. There is no primary election opposition for either candidate.

D-33 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Greenip has general election opposition from semi-pro-RKBA and track-record-less Hymes. There is no primary election opposition for either candidate.

D-35 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Hooper has general election opposition from unknown and track-record-less candidate Kollar. There is no primary election opposition for either candidate.

D-36 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Pipkin has general election opposition from unknown and track-record-less candidate Sampson. There is no primary election opposition for either candidate.

D-37 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Colburn has general election opposition from the winner of the Democrat primary between unknown and track-record-less candidate Spence and unknown and track-record-less candidate Warden. Colburn has no primary election opposition.

D-38 experienced pro-RKBA friend Sen. Stoltzfus has no opposition.

D-39 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Hogan has no opposition.

D-40 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Del. Marriott has primary competition with unknown and track-record-less candidates Andrews, Bell, Conaway, Mercer & Pugh. The winner of this primary will face opposition from unknown and track-record-less Republican candidate George who has no primary opposition. It is difficult to imagine any of these opponents of Marriott being pro-RKBA.

D-41 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Gladden is opposed in the primary by unknown and track-record-less candidate Kerpelman. The winner has no opposition in the general election.

D-42 Sen. Brochin who stood with us to defend against a ban on semi-automatic rifles in 2004 in the Senate Judicial Proceedings committee is facing general election opposition by the winner of the Republican primary between the two unknown and track-record-less candidates Riley & Torgerson. Mr. Riley refused to respond to the survey and is rated anti-RKBA for that refusal. His asserted reason for the non-response was that he was told that the "The NRA endorsed my opponent even before the July 3rd candidates' filing deadline and before the date that responses to its own questionnaire were even due."

D-43 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Conway is opposed in the primary by mildly less anti-RKBA and track-record-less candidate Vane. The winner of that primary will face anti-gun and track-record-less Green candidate Alwine who appears to be a true fanatic grabber. She said in her non-response to the survey "I support handgun control and am committed to removing semi-automatic weapons from our streets. Law-abiding citizens have no reason to own or carry such weapons."

D-44 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Jones is opposed in the primary by unknown and track-record-less candidate Brooks. The winner of that primary faces Republican unknown and track-record-less candidate Muhammad who has no primary opposition.

D-45 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. McFadden is opposed in the primary by unknown and track-record-less candidate Truitt. The winner of that primary will face unknown and track-record-less Republican candidate Wolff who has no primary opposition.

D-46 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Della faces the anti-RKBA and track-record-less Republican candidate Losoya in the general election. There is no primary election opposition for either candidate.

D-47 experienced anti-RKBA enemy Sen. Britt faces the anti-RKBA and track-record-less opponent Seymore in the primary election. There is no general election opposition for the winner of the primary.