By Sydney Douglas
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
The Baltimore region could play a major role in deciding which Democratic congressperson gets the party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Barbara Mikulski, two experts on the state’s politics said.
With the Maryland primary scheduled for April 26, U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-District 8, is expected to do well in Montgomery County while U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards, D-District 4, will likely win her home of Prince George’s County. That leaves the Baltimore region as the possible tie breaker.
“It’s pretty important [the Maryland primary] because Edwards will do well in Prince George’s County and Van Hollen in the Montgomery area,” said James Gimpel, a political science professor from the University of Maryland. “Edwards will do better with the African-Americans and Hollen in the suburbs. Both campaigns will mobilize voters. The deciding vote will be Baltimore County and Baltimore City.”
Van Hollen, 57, represents Maryland’s 8th Congressional District, which includes Montgomery County. He has raised $6.3 million, according to opensecrets.org. He has been in Congress since 2002.
Edwards, 57, represents Maryland’s 4th Congressional District in Prince George’s County . She has raised $2.2 million. She is the first African- American women to represent Maryland in Congress and has been a member since 2008.
Democratic voters are fairly torn between the two candidates.
“The biggest thing for me is a transparent campaign,” said Max Block, a Baltimore County resident who supports Van Hollen. “Van Hollen is fighting for the DISCLOSE Act, not having secret money going into campaigns. Meeting him, he’s very humble. He’s got a great plan. I really like his character and commitment.”
Lenance Edwards of Baltimore County said she is supporting Donna Edwards because she believes they have both had similar experiences in life. They are not related.
“For me, it’s about having a voice in the Senate to represent me,” Edwards said. “She looks like me and has been through experiences like me. She knows what it’s like to either pay off college loans or the babysitter. She’s going to win for 2016 and when she wins it’s not going to be about the NRA, but about Lenance and her daughter.”
Gimpel predicted that Donna Edwards – who is African American – will win Baltimore City because of the African-American population. He said the county vote is less predictable because it is more conservative and does not have as many minority voters.
“Both candidates are far too liberal for seriously able senatorial leadership,” said Richard Vatz, a professor at Towson University. “But Van Hollen is far the better candidate. Edwards is as far left as any major Maryland candidate I have seen, and her hostility to the state of Israel is utterly irresponsible and unethical, in my opinion.”
Gimpel said primaries have historically had lower voter turnout, adding that only about 25 to 30 percent of eligible voters actually bother to cast a ballot. He said the best thing the two campaigns can do is to get their voters to the polls.
“The Van Hollen campaign is going out into the city to spread awareness in the campaign,” said Derek Amoah, an intern for Van Hollen. “Constituents have set up meet-and-greets in the community where Van Hollen has been speaking. The Van Hollen family has been very active in the campaign as well and [they] go out into the community as well. This makes the campaign very personable and raw.”
The Edwards campaign was not available for a comment.