This morning, GOP Congressman Wayne Gilchrest (MD-01), who was defeated for renomination in the February primary, endorsed the Democratic candidate, Frank Kratovil, to be his successor. While this is a huge event, MD-01 remains a very tough race for us; it was designed in the pre-2002 redistricting by a Democratic Governor and a Democratic legislature to be a solidly Rethug district; Bush beat Kerry there by 62-36%.
Aside from the partisan makeup, though, geography is also a factor. Roughly 2/3 of the district lies in the Eastern Shore, the portion of the state east of the Chesapeake Bay, and 1/3 is in the Baltimore suburbs. Gilchrest and Kratovil are both from the Eastern Shore, while Andy Harris, the GOP nominee, is from suburban Baltimore.
From the Baltimore Sun:
Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest, ousted after nine terms in a bitter Republican primary campaign last winter, will cross party lines today to endorse Democrat Frank M. Kratovil Jr. in the 1st Congressional District.
A senior member of Gilchrest's staff confirmed yesterday that the veteran lawmaker - who earned a reputation as a staunch environmentalist who frequently clashed with Republican Party leaders - will join Kratovil, an Eastern Shore prosecutor, at appearances today in Annapolis and Easton.
...
Maryland's 1st Congressional District has traditionally been seen as safe ground for Republicans, but this year, Democrats think they have a chance because of the national trends favoring their party and because of the bitter nature of the February GOP primary. In addition, local Democrats believe Kratovil can attract Eastern Shore voters because he is from Queen Anne's County, while Harris lives in Cockeysville.