Congressional candidates split support among Pr. George’s officials
Congressional candidates split support among Pr. George’s officials
(about 5 hours later)
With less than 10 weeks left until the April primary, candidates vying for the Democratic Party nomination in Maryland’s 4th Congressional District are splitting endorsements from Prince George’s County leaders as the field thins and campaign momentum ramps up.
With less than 10 weeks until the April primary, Democratic candidates in Maryland’s 4th Congressional District are splitting endorsements from Prince George’s County leaders as the field thins and campaign momentum ramps up.
Former Maryland lieutenant governor Anthony G. Brown announced Wednesday a series of endorsements from Prince George’s County state senators, delegates and council members supporting his bid to fill the seat of Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D-Md.).
On Wednesday, former lieutenant governor Anthony G. Brown announced a series of endorsements from Prince George’s County state senators, delegates and council members in his bid to fill the seat of Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D-Md.), who is running for the U.S. Senate.
Primary rivals Glenn F. Ivey and Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D-Prince George’s) have produced weeks of emails, boasting support from their respective spheres of influence in the two counties that comprise the district.
Brown has strong name recognition after eight years as deputy to then-Gov. Martin O’Malley. But in fundraising and cash-on-hand, he lags far behind two of his rivals for the Democratic nomination: Glenn F. Ivey, the former state’s attorney, and Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (Prince George’s).
One of Brown’s supporters is a longtime ally, state Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Prince George’s).
[Ivey finishes 2015 with strong fundraising lead in Md.’s 4th District race]
“I’ve worked with Anthony for years,” Currie said in a statement. “I’m proud to endorse my teammate and friend Anthony Brown for Congress.”
Ivey was endorsed last year by Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III and state Sen. Victor R. Ramirez (D-Prince George’s), and he has the backing of a host of municipal leaders. On Wednesday, he launched a radio spot that is the first broadcast ad for any 4th District candidate.
Brown volunteered for Currie’s campaign in 1994 in his first foray into state politics, and the senator later carried Brown on his statehouse ticket in 1998.
Peña-Melnyk has the support of the state senator from her district, Jim Rosapepe (D-Prince George’s), along with that of two House of Delegates colleagues and two members of the Prince George’s County Council. She also has the backing of several officials in Anne Arundel County, part of which lies in the 4th District. National progressive groups such as Emily’s List, the Sierra Club and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee have also pledged their support.
Sen. Joanne C. Benson (D-Prince George’s) in her statement said Brown is “the most qualified candidate to carry on President Obama’s agenda to deliver results for our communities and ensure justice and equality for all.”
[Emily’s List endorses Peña-Melnyk to succeed Edwards]
[Ivey finishes 2015 with strong fundraising lead in Md.’s 4th district race]
Among the endorsements unveiled by Brown on Wednesday was one from longtime state Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Prince George’s), who said in a statement: “I’m proud to endorse my teammate and friend Anthony Brown for Congress.”
The senators represent two of the largest voting legislative districts in the state with more than 80,000 registered voters in both Districts 24 and 25, according to Maryland state board of elections data.
And a statement by Sen. Joanne C. Benson (D-Prince George’s) called Brown “the most qualified candidate to carry on President Obama’s agenda to deliver results for our communities and ensure justice and equality for all.”
Their support could signal a momentum shift for Brown, who has lagged significantly in fundraising, despite early polling showing he maintains broad name recognition among voters following his failed bid for Maryland governor.
The other two candidates in the race are Terence Strait and Warren Christopher, relative outsiders to local politics who have not listed any notable endorsers on their campaign websites. Several others who launched campaigns last year have dropped out.
Brown’s gubernatorial campaign spent millions of dollars on television and radio ads in the 2014 election cycle. Ultimately, his ads were not enough to overcome Republican Larry Hogan’s lead with voters.
The five remaining candidates are scheduled to meet at two candidate forums next week in Prince George’s. Five additional forums, hosted by civic groups in both Prince George’s and Anne Arundel, are scheduled for March. The primary is April 26.
Ivey, a former two-term Prince George’s County state’s attorney, is using his robust campaign account this week to launch the primary race’s first media ads.
Brown ran for governor in 2014, spending millions of dollars on television and radio ads but failing to generate excitement among voters and losing in an upset to Larry Hogan (R).
The brief radio spot, which will air on African American stations in Washington, rebukes Republicans for opposing Obama’s intent to nominate a replacement for the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court.
The endorsements he announced Wednesday included those of Dels. Carolyn J.B. Howard and Michael L. Vaughn, both Prince George’s Democrats, and County Council members Karen R. Toles (D-Suitland) and Derrick Leon Davis (D-Mitchellville).
Second-place fundraiser Peña-Melnyk has not yet released any advertisements but is a frequent guest on regional Spanish-language radio and television, encouraging Latinos — a limited sector of the district’s voting population — to get out and vote.
Ivey, meanwhile, has the backing of municipal leaders in such places as Glenarden, New Carrollton, District Heights, Capitol Heights and Fairmount Heights, as well the support of County Council member Deni Taveras (D-Adelphi).
All three leading candidates — Brown, Peña-Melnyk and Ivey — have been busy soliciting support from elected officials, labor unions and community leaders across the 4th District, dividing Democrats into three camps in the congressional race.
Ivey’s former boss on Capitol Hill, Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), announced his support in December.
[Emily’s List endorses Peña-Melnyk to succeed Congresswoman Edwards]
Ivey’s radio spot, which will air on African American stations in the Washington area, does not focus on his rivals. Instead, it rebukes Republicans who say they will oppose any effort by President Obama to nominate a replacement for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died last week.
While Brown’s endorsers represent some of the most consistent voters in the district, Ivey has lined up influential backers in legislative District 47, which includes his town of Cheverly, where he has lived for many years.
Longtime allies and neighbors Sen. Victor Ramirez (D-Prince George’s) and County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) announced their support weeks ago.
Municipal leaders in cities such as Glenarden, New Carrollton, District Heights, Capitol Heights and Fairmount Heights and County Council member Deni Taveras (D-Adelphi) are supporting Ivey. His former boss on Capitol Hill, Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), announced his support for Ivey in December.
In Brown’s former House district, he has netted support from Dels. Carolyn J.B. Howard and Michael L. Vaughn, both Prince George’s Democrats, along with County Council members Karen R. Toles (D-Suitland) and Derrick Leon Davis (D-Mitchellville).
Meanwhile, Peña-Melnyk has her district senator, Jim Rosapepe (D-Prince George’s), House colleagues Dels. Barbara Frush and Ben Barnes, and Council members Dannielle Glaros (D-Riverdale Park) and Mary Lehman (D-Laurel) on her team.
So far, she has been able to garner the most support from officials in Anne Arundel County, which has fewer voting Democrats than Prince George’s. National progressive groups such as Emily’s List, the Sierra Club and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee have also pledged their support.
Candidates Terence Strait and Warren Christopher, relative outsiders to local politics, have turned to social media and attending community events to drum up support, but they have not listed any notable endorsers on their campaign websites.
Strait, who quit his Census Bureau job to run for federal office, and Warren, an Army veteran, are far behind the three leading fundraisers in the primary race.
