November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2014 → 7 1 1,626,872 858,406 Start date November 6, 2012 | 6 seats, 60.48% 2 seats, 36.94% 1 1 62.92% 33.20% | |
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The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 to elect the eight U.S. Representatives from the state of Maryland, one from each of the state's eight congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including the quadrennial presidential election and an election to the U.S. Senate.
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The new congressional map, drawn and passed by the Democratic-controlled Maryland General Assembly, was signed into law by Governor Martin O'Malley on October 20, 2011. The map made the 6th district, at that time represented by Republican Roscoe Bartlett, much more favorable to Democrats.
District 1
The redrawn 1st district includes Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, as well as parts of Baltimore, Carroll, and Harford counties. Republican Andy Harris, who has represented the 1st district since January 2011, was re-elected by a wide margin.
Wendy Rosen, a businesswoman, sought and received the Democratic nomination. She defeated John LaFerla, an OB/GYN physician and former president of the Kent County Democratic Central Committee; and Kimberley Letke in the primary. Former U.S. Representative Frank Kratovil, a Democrat who represented the 1st district from 2009 until 2011, chose not to run.
However, Rosen withdrew from the race on September 10, 2012 after evidence surfaced that she'd voted in both Maryland and Florida in the 2006 and 2008 elections. Rosen had property in Florida, and Maryland law allowed property owners to vote in local elections even if they live elsewhere. However, her Florida voting registration reportedly also gave her access to state and federal elections there, something which was not allowed by Maryland law. As the deadline for replacing a candidate on the general election ballot was August 28, members of the Democratic Central Committees of each county in the district had to choose a write-in candidate to run in November. Two potential candidates who indicated an interest were former U.S. Representative Wayne Gilchrest, who represented the 1st district as a Republican from 1991 to 2009, and LaFerla, who finished a close second in the primary. LaFerla was then endorsed as the Democratic write-in candidate.
Muir Boda, an asset protection manager, ran as the Libertarian nominee.
District 2
The redrawn 2nd district will include parts of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford, and Howard counties, and parts of the city of Baltimore. Democrat Dutch Ruppersberger, who has represented the 2nd district since 2003, will seek re-election.
Vladmir Degen; state delegate Rick Impallaria; state senator Nancy Jacobs; Howard Orton; and Larry Smith, a former aide to 1st district representative Andy Harris, will seek the Republican nomination to challenge Ruppersberger. Leo Dymowski, an Army veteran and attorney, will challenge Dutch Ruppersberger as the Libertarian candidate.
District 3
The redrawn 3rd district will include parts of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, and Montgomery counties, and parts of the city of Baltimore. Democrat John Sarbanes, who has represented the 3rd district since 2007, will seek re-election. Dave Lockwood, a management consultant, will challenge Sarbanes in the Democratic primary.
Armand Girard, a retired teacher; Thomas E. "Pinkston" Harris, who unsuccessfully challenged Sarbanes as the Republican nominee in 2008 and as a Republican primary candidate in 2010; Eric Delano Knowles, a bartender who unsuccessfully ran for Governor as the Constitution Party candidate in 2010; and Draper Phelps, will seek the Republican nomination. Paul Drgos Jr., a computer programmer, will be challenging John Sarbanes as the Libertarian candidate.
District 4
The redrawn 4th district will include parts of Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties. Democrat Donna Edwards, who has represented the 4th district since 2008, will seek re-election. Ian Garner and George McDermott will also seek the Democratic nomination. Anne Arundel County Councilman Jamie Benoit, also a Democrat, will not run. Former Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey had decided to challenge Edwards in the Democratic primary, but ended his campaign in January 2012.
Randy Gearhart, Greg Holmes, Faith Loudon and Charles Shepherd have filed to seek the Republican nomination, while Scott Soffen will challenge Donna Edwards after receiving the Libertarian nomination.
District 5
The redrawn 5th district will include Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties, as well as parts of Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties. Democrat Steny Hoyer, who has represented the 5th district since 1981, will seek re-election. Cathy Johnson Pendleton, a publishing company founder, challenged Hoyer in the Democratic primary.
David Hill, a motorcycle technician; Glenn Troy Morton, an author; and Tony O'Donnell, the Minority Leader of the Maryland House of Delegates, will seek the Republican nomination to challenge Hoyer. Charles Lollar, who unsuccessfully challenged Hoyer as the Republican nominee in 2010, will not run again.
Arvin Vohra, an educator and entrepreneur, will run against Steny Hoyer as the Libertarian candidate. Bob Auerbach will run as the Green candidate. Jeremy Stinson, an unaffiliated candidate, did not secure a ballot nomination and is running as a write-in candidate.
District 6
The redrawn 6th district was set to include Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties, as well as parts of Frederick and Montgomery counties. Republican Roscoe Bartlett, who has represented the 6th district since 1993, sought re-election. State delegate Kathy Afzali; state senator David R. Brinkley; Robert Coblentz, a systems analyst for the American Public University System and vice president of the Washington County Republican Club; Robin Ficker, a former state delegate and perennial candidate; Peter James, a farmer and Republican nominee for the 4th district in 2008; Joseph Krysztoforski, a retired entrepreneur; and Brandon Rippeon, a businessman, challenged Bartlett in the Republican primary. Alex X. Mooney, the chairman of the Maryland Republican Party and a former state senator; Bud Otis, Bartlett's former chief of staff; and state senator Christopher B. Shank, chose not to run.
John K. Delaney, a commercial banker, won the Democratic primary over Charles Bailey; state senator Robert J. Garagiola; Ron Little, a member of the Montgomery County Board of Social Services; and Milad Pooran, a doctor and Air Force veteran. Former Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan will not run. Duchy Trachtenberg, a former member of the Montgomery County Council, had planned to run, but ended her bid in January 2012 because of health issues. Nickolaus Mueller will run as the Libertarian candidate.
John Delaney was endorsed by The Washington Post on October 4, 2012.
District 7
The redrawn 7th district will include parts of Baltimore and Howard counties, and parts of the city of Baltimore. Democrat Elijah Cummings, who has represented the 7th district since 1996, will seek re-election. Frank Mirabile will challenge him after winning the Republican nomination, as well as Ronald Owens-Bey, who also ran as the Libertarian candidate during the United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland, 2008.
District 8
The redrawn 8th district will include parts of Carroll, Frederick, and Montgomery counties. Democrat Chris Van Hollen, who has represented the 8th district since 2003, will seek re-election. George English, a retired economist, will challenge Van Hollen in the Democratic primary.
Gus Alzona, an accountant; Shelly Skolnick, an attorney; Ken Timmerman, an author and reporter; and Dave Wallace, a businessman, will seek the Republican nomination. Attorney Mark Grannis will again challenge Chris Van Hollen as the Libertarian candidate after running previously in the United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland, 2010.George Gluck, a computer consultant, will run as a candidate of the Green Party.