This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/md-senate-president-backing-van-hollen-in-tight-us-senate-race/2016/03/14/f175fc5c-ea1d-11e5-b0fd-073d5930a7b7_story.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Md. Senate president backing Van Hollen in tight U.S. Senate race Md. Senate president backing Van Hollen in tight U.S. Senate race
(35 minutes later)
Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. has joined the ranks of prominent politicians backing Rep. Chris Van Hollen in the state’s tightly contested Democratic primary for an open U.S. Senate seat.Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. has joined the ranks of prominent politicians backing Rep. Chris Van Hollen in the state’s tightly contested Democratic primary for an open U.S. Senate seat.
Miller (D-Calvert), the longest-serving state senate president in the nation, said in an interview that Van Hollen’s deep ties with the Maryland’s political establishment and his experience driving legislative initiatives would make him a more effective leader than his opponent, U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.). Miller (D-Calvert), the longest-serving state senate president in the nation, said in an interview that Van Hollen’s deep ties with the Maryland’s political establishment and his experience driving legislative initiatives would make him a more effective leader than his opponent, U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards.
“He’s the person I would want making policy on Capitol Hill,” Miller said. “He hasn’t asked me to endorse him per se, but in terms of the two, in terms of making things happen, I’m going to be very supportive of him.”“He’s the person I would want making policy on Capitol Hill,” Miller said. “He hasn’t asked me to endorse him per se, but in terms of the two, in terms of making things happen, I’m going to be very supportive of him.”
[Senate race could hinge on the vote in Baltimore][Senate race could hinge on the vote in Baltimore]
Van Hollen served 12 years in the Maryland General Assembly before winning election to the U.S. House in 2003. Edwards, in contrast, was a lawyer and community activist who in 2008 ousted a Democratic incumbent and became the first African American woman to represent Maryland in Congress.Van Hollen served 12 years in the Maryland General Assembly before winning election to the U.S. House in 2003. Edwards, in contrast, was a lawyer and community activist who in 2008 ousted a Democratic incumbent and became the first African American woman to represent Maryland in Congress.
Miller’s backing gives Van Hollen yet another establishment ally in his bid to fill the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D), a legendary figure in Maryland politics. Among those in the party who have endorsed the congressman are Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker, and state Del. Maggie McIntosh (Baltimore). Miller’s backing gives Van Hollen yet another establishment ally in his bid to fill the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D), a legendary figure in Maryland politics.
Among those in the party who have endorsed the congressman are Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker and state Del. Maggie McIntosh (Baltimore).
Van Hollen also has a substantial fundraising advantage over Edwards, whose key supporter is Emily’s List, a national group that strictly promotes female Democratic candidates.Van Hollen also has a substantial fundraising advantage over Edwards, whose key supporter is Emily’s List, a national group that strictly promotes female Democratic candidates.
Polls have shown a tight race, with Edwards edging ahead by six percentage points in the latest survey, by The Baltimore Sun and the University of Baltimore. The primary is April 26. Polls have shown a tight race, with Edwards edging ahead by six percentage points in the latest survey, by the Baltimore Sun and the University of Baltimore. The primary is April 26.
Edwards has expressed few policy differences with her opponent, but she has said she would bring a unique and much-needed perspective to the U.S. Senate as a black, single mother. Only one woman of color, Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) currently serves in the chamber. Edwards has expressed few policy differences with her opponent, but she has said she would bring a unique and much-needed perspective to the U.S. Senate as a black, single mother. Only one woman of color, Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), serves in the chamber.
“When you have diverse voices ... you make better decisions,” Edwards said Saturday at a campaign event in Prince George’s. “When you have diverse voices . . . you make better decisions,” Edwards said Saturday at a campaign event in Prince George’s.
Van Hollen and his supporters have touted his legislative accomplishments and his relationships with lawmakers in Congress and the state legislature as his strengths. Van Hollen and his supporters have touted his legislative accomplishments, and his relationships with lawmakers in Congress and the state legislature as his strengths.
“I like them both, but in terms of a leader who has been born to the job . . . He’s an accomplished leader,” Miller said. “He gets along with everybody . . . he can forge coalitions and make things happen.” “I like them both, but in terms of a leader who has been born to the job . . . He’s an accomplished leader,” Miller said.
“He gets along with everybody . . . he can forge coalitions and make things happen.”