Baker Endorses Van Hollen For Md. Senate Seat
COLMAR MANOR, Md. (WJZ) -- The Democratic Primary is a whole year away, but candidates for Maryland's U.S. Senate seat are not wasting time.
Pat Warren has the latest.
2016 may be a presidential year, but the U.S. Senate is the focus in this state.
Warren: "The dynamics of Barbara Mikulski leaving office and how it affects the political landscape in Maryland."
"Well sure, her decision to retire at the end of her term has set loose an earthquake in Maryland politics," said Chris Van Hollen.
And time to get cracking. Maryland's 8th district Congressman Chris Van Hollen and 4th district Congresswoman Donna Edwards have jumped in with both feet.
And Maryland Congressmen Elijah Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger and John Delaney are all believed to have toes in the water.
Edwards and Van Hollen both hail from the D.C. suburbs
"I will admit that the voters in Baltimore don't know me but they're going to come to know me," Congresswoman Donna Edwards said.
"I think people want someone who's going to roll up their sleeves and work on issues people care about," said Van Hollen.
Edwards says, "I understand the struggles that Maryland families are facing."
And both intend to follow the Mikulski motto of one Maryland.
"Where the health of each part of the state depends on the health of each other part of the state," said Van Hollen.
"I don't really believe in these elections where you target one jurisdiction or jurisdictions to win a statewide race," Edwards said.
Voter contact is a critical goal and, say the experts, raising cash is another.
"I don't want to quote numbers but I'm pretty sure it'll be more expensive than we've ever seen before, but that's almost always true because the cost of campaigning gets more expensive every six years," said Don Norris, MBBC School of Public Policy Director.
Especially when there's an open seat.
The last time Maryland had an open senate seat was when Paul Sarbanes retired in 2007.
Senator Mikulski remains in office until the end of 2016.