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Donna Edwards and Chris Van Hollen debate for first time on Friday Rep. Chris Van Hollen goes on the attack in first debate of Senate campaign
(about 9 hours later)
Reps. Donna Edwards and Chris Van Hollen will face off Friday in the first debate of the Democratic primary contest to fill an open Senate seat in Maryland, with polls showing a highly competitive race. The two Democrats battling for a rare open Senate seat in Maryland hit each other hard Friday in the first debate of the primary season, with Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) describing Rep. Donna Edwards as dishonest and ineffective, and Edwards calling him an establishment figure who is out of touch with everyday voters.
The debate, hosted by WAMU’s Kojo Nnamdi, will take place during “The Politics Hour” at noon, airing on the radio station and online. Thus far in the race, Edwards more often has been the one to go negative, painting Van Hollen as insufficiently progressive. On Friday, in a radio debate hosted by WAMU’s Kojo Nnamdi and WRCTV (Channel 4)’s Tom Sherwood, Van Hollen was the prime aggressor.
For the first time, the two stalwart liberals will challenge each other directly over who would best fill the shoes of Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D), who is retiring in 2017 after 30 years in the Senate. He said the congresswoman’s criticism of him were essentially lies, told to cover her own weak record.
Edwards, 57, has represented Maryland’s 4th Congressional District since 2008. She is positioning herself as an outsider who would bring much-needed diversity to the Senate. She would be the first African American senator from Maryland and the second African American woman elected to the chamber. “Ms. Edwards has not been telling Maryland voters the truth,” Van Hollen said. He described her campaign as “a lot of rhetoric but no results, no record.”
Van Hollen, also 57, has represented the 8th Congressional District since 2003. He is emphasizing his ability to forge consensus and get things done in a polarized Congress. He three times invoked the Washington Post editorial board, which in its endorsement of Van Hollen called Edwards “notorious for inattention to constituent services and teamwork.” He said that Edwards’s constituents call his office because she fails to help them.
Edwards needled Van Hollen back, attacking his past support for free trade agreements, budget negotiations based on a framework that included cuts to Social Security and mandatory minimum sentences.
“I really have to question whether he has the capacity to deliver on criminal justice reform,” she said.
She also made a forceful case that voters should consider her personal history and perspective as a black single mother before deciding who should replace retiring Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, the longest-serving woman in Congress.
“I think race does matter,” Edwards said. Noting that there are only 20 women and 2 African Americans in the Senate, she said, “It is time that we had the ability to speak for ourselves.”
On Capitol Hill, where he has served since 2003 and Edwards since 2008, Van Hollen said Edwards has failed to have an impact in the issues she touts in her campaign.
“I wish she would join me in cosponsoring the legislation so she would actually get some of this work done,” he said. While she attacks him for being close to Wall Street, he said, “I’m literally leading the fight” to close tax loopholes and better regulate the financial industry.
Edwards pushed back on his characterization, saying she was proud of her record and had worked across the aisle on science, transportation and education legislation.
“Mr, Van Hollen is completely off base and really does a great disservice to us both and certainly to my record,” she said. Attacking her for missing a recent meeting with Gov. Larry Hogan (R) was “ridiculous,” she said, because Van Hollen had not attended similar events.
Edwards dismissed the endorsements that Van Hollen pointed to repeatedly as evidence of his superior skills. “It is no surprise to me that the political establishment endorses the political establishment; it is no surprise to me at all,” she said.
As she did in a fundraising email earlier this week, she hammered Maryland State Senate President Mike Miller (D) for saying Van Hollen was “born to the job.”
Several polls over the past few months have shown the race tied. But a Baltimore Sun-University of Baltimore survey released last week gave Edwards a six-point lead, buoyed by strong support from African American voters.Several polls over the past few months have shown the race tied. But a Baltimore Sun-University of Baltimore survey released last week gave Edwards a six-point lead, buoyed by strong support from African American voters.
Van Hollen has very deep support in his base of Montgomery County, as does Edwards in her home of Prince George’s County. Both candidates therefore are focusing their firepower on Baltimore, a Democratic stronghold whose voters are up for grabs.Van Hollen has very deep support in his base of Montgomery County, as does Edwards in her home of Prince George’s County. Both candidates therefore are focusing their firepower on Baltimore, a Democratic stronghold whose voters are up for grabs.
The debate is the first of four set to take place before the April 26 primary. The candidates will also appear together at a forum Friday night hosted by the Prince George’s County Young Democrats and the Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt Democratic Club in Greenbelt, Md.The debate is the first of four set to take place before the April 26 primary. The candidates will also appear together at a forum Friday night hosted by the Prince George’s County Young Democrats and the Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt Democratic Club in Greenbelt, Md.
Several Republicans are running for their party’s Senate nomination, including Del. Kathy Szeliga (Baltimore County), the minority whip in the House of Delegates. But the Democratic candidates in the race have more high-profile political resumés. Several Republicans are running for their party’s Senate nomination, including Del. Kathy Szeliga (Baltimore County), the minority whip in the House of Delegates. But both Van Hollen and Edwards have higher profiles in the state, and more impressive political resumés.
And with registered Democrats outnumbering registered Republicans in Maryland by a ratio of more than 2-to-1, whoever wins the Democratic nomination will be the overwhelming favorite to capture the Senate seat. With registered Democrats outnumbering registered Republicans in Maryland by a ratio of more than 2-to-1, whoever wins the Democratic nomination will be the overwhelming favorite to capture the Senate seat.