Post-Primary Winners and Losers: The Readers Speak

We’ve had our say. Now it’s your turn.

Maryland Matters published its list of post-primary winners and losers and asked for your feedback. Now, we print some of your suggestions and comments.

Winners:

Krish Vignarajah. She finished better in the Democratic gubernatorial primary than most people expected, with more than 8 percent of the vote. And looking across the state, she made an impact in just about every county. Her campaign had plenty of flaws; there were legitimate questions about her residency and her qualifications. But she impressed just about everyone who met her. She appears to have a bright political future if she wants it.

Ike Leggett. The Montgomery County executive’s endorsements carried weight in the county council at-large races and in state legislative races as well.

U.S. Postal Service. Letter carriers brought piles of mail to voters’ mailboxes, especially in Montgomery County. If the USPS budget doesn’t balance, it’s not because MoCo candidates didn’t do their part.

Jill Carter. Appointed Baltimore City senator is on her way to a full term after stomping the O’Malley machine – or at the very least, the former governor’s son-in-law, J.D. Merrill, in the Democratic primary. Surely Gov. Larry Hogan (R) is smiling.

State Sen. Jill Carter at the press table during a Democratic unity event in Baltimore. Photo by Genevieve Kurtz.

Public financing. The experiment in Montgomery County seemed to work. Even with a few dozen candidates participating, the system did not run out of money – and it certainly made for wide-open races.

HoCo Forward. A series of progressive and mostly younger candidates swept all 16 races for Howard County Democratic Central Committee.

Losers:

Martin O’Malley. His son-in-law, J.D. Merrill, loses by a substantial margin in the 41st District Senate primary, and his gubernatorial candidate, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, is routed.

Jim Smith. Not only did the former Baltimore County executive fail to deliver a win for Vicki Almond, his preferred candidate in the Democratic primary for executive, but common sense would suggest that he lost it for her with his brazen slate tactics.

Nate Loewentheil. Overhyped challenger for a House seat in the 46th legislative district, finished a weak fourth despite spending more than $200,000.

Schwartz, Metz & Wise. Powerhouse Annapolis lobbying firm lost a staunch ally on liquor issues in Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Chairwoman Joan Carter Conway (D-Baltimore City). And, as lobbyists for MedChi, the Maryland Medical Society, they will have to explain to Del. Clarence Lam (D-Baltimore and Howard counties) — a physician — why Pamela Metz Kasemeyer’s husband, outgoing Sen. Ed Kasemeyer (D), refused to endorse the only doctor slated to be seated in the Senate as his successor.

Ambitious Montgomery Legislators. State Sens. Rich Madaleno (D) and Roger Manno (D) and Dels. Bill Frick and Aruna Miller all lost bids for higher office.

Push:

Baltimore Sun Editorial Board. Might have struck gold by endorsing Johnny Olszewski in the Democratic primary for Baltimore County executive, but also got panned for ill-advised endorsements of Joan Carter Conway and J.D. Merrill in Baltimore City Senate primaries.

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