MD-1 is Back in the Game

Some of you may remember the Sampson for Congress BlogAd from back in February that challenged the dKos Community to "Bridge the Bay." 72 Kossacks responded to the call to remove Republican Wayne Gilchrest, Congressman from MD-1 (1 of only 2 Republicans in the Maryland Delegation). Some of you also may know that Sampson did not successfully win the Primary, instead losing to former nominee Ann Tamlyn.

But in the last week there has been a drastic turn of events here in Maryland's First District, and now it seems that the Dems have another chance to get back into the race with a strong candidate. The Salisbury Daily Times reports:

Tamlyn, who was challenging Gilchrest in a second consecutive election, an-nounced Tuesday that she is leaving the congressional race due to failing health.

"I am sad to do this, but it is the best for everyone, especially the Democratic Party," the 79-year-old Centreville resident said in a prepared statement. "I want the people of my district to be well-represented, and I am unable to do this with my illness."

Margaret Revell Goodwin, campaign manager for Tamlyn, said the Democratic candidate was making political appearances for the Nov. 2 general election when her kidney illness worsened last week.

"It is really, really serious," Goodwin said Wednesday. "It's to the point that she would have to get a new kidney to survive."

There was an interesting diary written by user Lavoisier1794 about the possiblity of Joe Trippi - who lives in a ranch on Maryland's Eastern Shore - entering the race to be the new Democratic Candidate. But those rumors were laid to rest yesterday when Ryan Davis, former Sampson Campaign Manager and writer at Not Geniuses, spoke to Trippi via Cell Phone and inquired about whether or not he would seek the nomination:

"Absolutely not, there is no way I'm running for office," Trippi said this afternoon via cell phone.

Joe has been incredibly busy promoting his new progressive grassroots organization, Change For America.

"I'd prefer people join Change For America, instead of speculating about me," he added.

So that means that the race looks like it's going to come down to Sampson and Alexakis...

•  What now?

  So, Ian, what is the process for deciding who the Democratic nominee from MD-1 will be now?

  by Maura in VA on Sun Apr 18, 2004 at 02:45:31 PM PDT

  •  as i understand it

    each counties democratic central committee will take a vote for their choice of candidate (there are 12 counties) and more weight will be given to different central committees based on population density. the winner of that vote will be the nominee. if no winner can be determined from that process, the state central committee will choose.

    by Ian Hines on Sun Apr 18, 2004 at 03:01:48 PM PDT

•  I live in MD-1

  maybe I should run!

  by jdavidson2 on Sun Apr 18, 2004 at 02:49:29 PM PDT

•  It's always worth a grassroots campaign..

  But, if you want to donate money, there are much better races than Maryland 1st.  I suppose some would say I should defer to the people who live in the district, but my reading is that Republican Wayne Gilchrest is a popular and well entreched incumbent.

  by Adam T on Sun Apr 18, 2004 at 04:17:16 PM PDT