Two House Members Lose In Md. Primaries

Democrat Albert Wynn, Republican Wayne Gilchrest Are First Incumbents To Fall In '08

(AP)  Two U.S. House members - Republican Wayne Gilchrest and Democrat Albert Wynn - lost their seats Tuesday as primary challengers captured their parties' nominations.

They became the nation's first congressional members to lose their seats in this year's round of primary elections. However, only Maryland and Illinois have held primaries that included congressional races.

The last time two incumbent congressman lost in a Maryland primary was 1970 when Paul Sarbanes defeated George Fallon and Parren Mitchell defeated Samuel Friedel by 38 votes, according to John Willis, a professor of government and politics at the University of Baltimore and former Maryland secretary of state.

Gilchrest was seeking a 10th term representing the 1st District, encompassing the Eastern Shore, Cecil County and parts of Harford and Baltimore counties. He lost to state Sen. Andy Harris, an obstetric anesthesiologist, in a five-way race.

With 82 percent of precincts reporting, Harris had 23,119 votes, or 42 percent. Gilchrest had 18,444, or 33 percent. A second strong challenger, state Sen. E.J. Pipkin, had 11,761, or 21 percent.

Harris' Democratic opponent in the November general election will be Queen Anne's County State's Attorney Frank Kratovil, who won a four-way race after receiving endorsements from state party leaders including Gov. Martin O'Malley. With 82 percent of precincts reporting, Kratovil had 20,461, or 40 percent of the vote.

During the campaign, Harris and Pipkin had attacked Gilchrest and each other in television ads, radio spots and in mailers that focused on the economy, illegal immigration and Iraq. Gilchrest is one of two Republicans to vote last year for a timeline for withdrawal from Iraq.

Illegal immigration appeared to eclipse the war as a key issue in the final weeks of the campaign. Pipkin sent out campaign ads showing Gilchrest and Harris wearing sombreros.

Wynn is in his eighth term representing Maryland's 4th District, which includes many of Washington's eastern and northern suburbs. He lost to primary challenger Donna Edwards, a lawyer and liberal activist, in a field of six candidates.

With 65 percent of precincts reporting, Edwards had 41,591 votes, or 60 percent. Wynn had 24,448, or 35 percent.

Republican nominee Peter James, a high-technology consultant and self-professed Ron Paul candidate, has little chance of defeating Edwards in the heavily Democratic district. James defeated three other GOP candidates. With 65 percent of precincts reporting, he had 3,098 votes, or 38 percent.

Edwards, who lost to Wynn by just three percentage points in the 2006 primary, capitalized on voter dissatisfaction with some of his votes on the Iraq war and home foreclosures. She attacked Wynn for his initial support of the war, even though he has since called for withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

She also criticized his vote for a 2005 bankruptcy-reform bill that Edwards said exacerbated problems for homeowners facing foreclosure. The district includes Prince George's County, which has the highest rate of foreclosures in Maryland.

Wynn said during the campaign that Edwards exaggerated the effect of the bankruptcy change.

Wynn had campaigned hard, reminding voters of his push to impeach Vice President Cheney and his support for the State Children's Health Insurance Program bill, which President Bush vetoed.

Voters braved snow, rain, ice and sleet to cast their votes. The foul weather prompted the state elections board to extend voting for 90 minutes to allow people stuck in evening rush-hour traffic to get to the polls.

[bm6005]

Amen!! Everyone hates CONgress but when it comes to their reps they send ''em back time after time. I remember my home state of Ohio had a congressman who was in for over 30 years and was over 70+. *** is with that? New blood is required this time, everywhere!!

[b-easy63]

The buzz words for any election year for now on should be "clean house" Remove them ALL. The problem is that people make a career out of being a Congressman. To do that, they make secret pacts and deals, pad their own accounts, give themselves raises, form districts that protect them and their cronies.

If we are truly tired of being lied to, disregarded and used for suckers by Congressmen, we will get rid of all of them.
From Kennedy, Reid and Pelosi to Craig, Roberts and Graham--it is time for anyone who has served more than 2 terms to LEAVE. ONly when they KNOW the job is temporary and KNOW we will throw them out will they start doing the real people''s business.

We all know why the Republicans can and should be punished. They failed to provide checks and balances, ran up the deficit, are liars, war mongers and did not protect the public interest--but exploited it.

SAme charge leveled against the Dems with the exception of war mongering--but add to that, they aided and abetted the current regime, failed to even stand firm and did NOT produce what they promised in 2006. None of them--not Hilary, Obama or the rest--deserve to be there anymore.
Truly, we should show them, that if they can''t lead--then WE will get them out of the way.

It all falls apart when any group wants to just keep their guy. They all should go--they can always run again, after they get their ******* together.

[bm6005]

Remember for November. Vote out all incumbents!!!

[prinzowhales]

stopkidding--"Stupid?" How so? Usually such a charge comes with some kind of explanation...unless its from some hollow-headed little mouthbreather who mistakes spleen for reason.

[cbs_oliver]

"Wynn ..... lost to primary challenger Donna Edwards, a lawyer and liberal activist, in a field of six candidates.

With 65 percent of precincts reporting, Edwards had 41,591 votes, or 60 percent. Wynn had 24,448, or 35 percent."

Yes we can!

[sophielhu]

Vote Demopublican! We put the "Socialism" in National Socialism!
-----------------------------------------
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[stopkidding]

God Christ you are stupid Prinzo! Eye-poppingly stupid. Mythologically stupid. It''s as if Stupidity took on material form in your mom''s dingy little basement. Who taught you how to breathe?

[pilgrimsway-2009]

There is no conspiracy that Muslims would want to hurt our country! There are no cells in America planning our demise! There is no one they would rather, not Dan, see in the presidents chair that has roots to them. This is a gentle world. Not a world of reality with underlings and minions trying to overthrow our government!

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Move over John Kennedy Obamas here! You cannot even pick up His shoes if you were alive!

[prinzowhales]

Vote Demopublican! We have always had a contract out on Americans!

[prinzowhales]

Vote Demopublican! We promise to make Janet Jackson''s breast and Britany Spears crotch national landmarks!

[prinzowhales]

Vote Demopublican! We are really against war...we support a universal nuclear briss!

[prinzowhales]

Vote Demopublican! We put the "Socialism" in National Socialism!

[skyk-2009]

Obama is not ready for change because he is not ready to lead.


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Posted by RFCRTL at 05:08 PM : Feb 13, 2008
+ report abuse

Right! LOL I''d suppose you would like to "Stay the Course" and continue to fail? LOL I''ve listened to the man and he sure has some great ideas. I personally like Hillary better but the LAST thing we need is ANOTHER Republican. The failure of that party is so far reaching and so dramatic NO ONE can vote for them and be honest with themselves.

[prinzowhales]

Vote Demopublican! We gave you the Income Tax! Aren''t you grateful?

[prinzowhales]

Vote Demopublican! We''ll make sure your grandchildren will have a war to fight for resources!

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Today America had a rummage sale! The pictures of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson and Hamilton were thrown into the waste basket! We wanted to elect someone with pizzazz! We wanted someone with new ideas, of what we do not know. We wanted someone who is not known! Is He really known!

[fyi08]

Gilchrest was pretty liberal and the former conservative republican governor of maryland Ehrlich was in ads endorsing Harris. That means a more conservative replaced a more liberal Republican. This is only notable to me because I know of Republicans who have crossed over in the primaries to vote Obama so that he is the candidate going against their candidate. Republicans are sneaky but smart. Heads up people.

[prinzowhales]

Vote Demopublican! If you don''t...it really doesn''t matter...our DIEBOLD machines will correct your thought crime!!

[prinzowhales]

Vote for the Demopublicans! ''Christian'' conservatives and ''Moslem'' jihadists can work together under their leaderhip...just like they did on 9-11!

Vote Demopublican! War is Peace...and when its not, we''ll start one for the sake of Peace!