Left for dead just two years ago, a resurgent Republican Party is poised to make a historic comeback at the polls. Here are The Examiner’s endorsements in several key Washington region races: In Maryland, we endorsed tag team Bob Ehrlich for governor and Bill Campbell for state comptroller. Maryland’s three-member Board of Public Works (consisting of the governor, state treasurer and comptroller) has the final say on all state spending. Electing two statewide Republicans as a check against the Democrat-dominated state legislature’s worst impulses will save taxpayers from one-party rule, which has already forced legions of entrepreneurs to flee to more hospitable states. With $35 billion in unfunded public sector pension and health care liabilities, Maryland cannot afford to lose any more wealth producers in the private sector.
Maryland’s congressional delegation – including Sen. Barbara Mikulski, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, 5th, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman Chris Van Hollen, D-8th, and Rep. Donna Edwards, 4th – must share the blame for the Obama administration’s bank and auto industry bailouts, takeover of health care and failed stimulus. None deserve reelection. The Examiner endorses GOP challenger Charles Lollar for highlighting Hoyer’s scant knowledge of the U.S. Constitution.
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In Virginia, Rep. Frank Wolf, R-10th, an internationally renowned champion of human rights and a tireless advocate of entitlement reform, is the only area congressional incumbent The Examiner endorses for reelection. Wolf voted against Obamacare, the failed stimulus, and cap-and-trade. Tenth District voters appreciate Wolf’s integrity (he’s the only member of Congress to post his entire voting record on his web site so that constituents don’t have to sort through endless roll calls), and gave him a higher margin of victory in 2008 than he received in 2006.
Rep. Jim Moran, D-8th, has no comparable list of accomplishments to recommend him, and his foot-in-mouth disease and questionable ethics have long been a source of embarrassment to area residents across the political spectrum. But when Moran dismissed the impressive military record of Republican opponent Col. Patrick Murray (U.S. Army-Ret.) as not on par with “public service,” he went too far for a congressman whose district includes the Pentagon.
Freshman Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-11th, has been playing the classic game of pretending to be a fiscal conservative like Republican Wolf while voting with Democrat Moran for every major spending proposal backed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Oakton businessman Keith Fimian has turbo-charged his second match-up with the former Fairfax Board chairman, forcing Democrats to pump $1 million into a seat they thought was secure. Smart money says Fimian will also do a better job representing 11th District voters on Capitol Hill.
