With just a few hours before a 9 p.m. filing deadline Monday, Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger was the only incumbent Maryland congressman not to face opposition in the Feb. 12 primary, or multiple candidates vying to unseat him in next year?s general election.
Several Democrats in leadership positions, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, chairman of the House Democrats? campaign committee, and Rep. Elijah Cummings, a subcommittee chairman, are beingchallenged only by lesser-known rivals.
Members of the House of Representatives facing some of the stiffest opposition are:
» Wayne Gilchrest, the nine-term Eastern Shore Republican who has five Republicans vying to unseat him in the 1st District, including state Sens. Andy Harris and E.J. Pipkin.
» Al Wynn, the eight-term Prince George?s County Democrat facing a rematch against Donna Edwards, who nearly beat him in the 2002 primary.
» Roscoe Bartlett, the eight-term Western Maryland Republican who is being challenged by four in his own party, an independent and five Democrats including Andrew Duck, who got 38 percent of the vote against Bartlett last time, and Jennifer Dougherty, the former mayor of Frederick.
In Gilchrest?s district, other Republican contenders are Joe Arminio of Arnold, Robert Joseph Banks of Baltimore and John Leo Walter of Centreville. Democrats in the 1st District are Frank Kratovil, Steve Harper of Arnold, Christopher Robinson of Trappe and Joseph Werner of Harford County.
In the 3rd District, freshman Democratic Rep. John Sarbanes will face perennial candidate John Rea. Republicans Christopher Panasuk and Paul Spause are also running.
In the 4th District, Wynn?s close call last time has attracted four other Democrats besides Edwards: Michael Babula of Montgomery Village, Jason Jennings of Silver Spring, George McDermott of Forest Heights and George Mitchell of Temple Hills. There are three Republicans in the race: Robert Broadus of Clinton, Peter James of Germantown and Michael Starkman of Rockville.
In the Baltimore area?s 7th District, Cummings faces Charles Smith of Baltimore in the primary and, on the GOP side, Michael Hargadon of Woodstock and perennial loser Ray Bly of Jessup.
