A high-profile state senator from Baltimore County and the state?s attorney in Queen Anne?s County are lining up to challenge U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest in what could be another tough re-election fight in District 1.
“This is a sort of a normal state of affairs for us,” said Gilchrest?s chief of staff, Tony Caligiuri. The Republican congressman has faced similar challenges in at least six campaigns in a 16-year career that was launched by defeating two Democratic incumbents in 1990 and 1992.
Sen. Andrew Harris, a conservative Republican who represents Baltimore and Harford counties, is expected to announce today that he is forming an exploratory committee that will include prominent Republicans and elected officials, according to sources familiar with the campaign.
Frank Kratovil, the Democratic state?s attorneyfor Queen Anne?s County, said he will make a formal announcement soon, but he is definitely planning a run against Gilchrest.
The 1st Congressional District is often considered a rural, Eastern Shore district, but redistricting has made it much more suburban. Almost half the voters in the district live in Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Harford counties.
Harris said a few weeks ago that he would be challenging Gilchrest on his record, including his refusal to support President Bush on Iraq and tax cuts, as well as his centrist positions on social issues.
“It?s just a fact of life as a moderate Republican” that the most conservative wing of the party will continue to be unhappy with Gilchrest, Caligiuri said.
Kratovil said, “I have nothing bad to say about Gilchrest. By all accounts, he appears to be a nice guy. I think we can do with more aggressive leadership.”
He said he would challenge the incumbent?s much celebrated record as an environmentalist.
“It?s one thing to believe in something, but you?ve got to take leadership and convince them that you?re right,” Kratovil said.
