MD Dems: Ready and Able to Send Three New Leaders to Congress

Michael Cryor, Chair – Maryland Democratic Party

Frank Kratovil – 1^st District Congressional Candidate

Donna Edwards – 4^th District Congressional Candidate

Jennifer Dougherty – 6^th District Congressional Candidate

A statement from Michael Cryor, Chair of the Maryland Democratic

“I believe this year, perhaps more than most in recent history, will mark an important turning point in our state’s - and our nation’s - future. And I am convinced that if our momentum continues - and with the hard work that is required of us to be successful at anything important in life - we will have such a turning point in Maryland, as well. The Maryland Democratic Party is going to grow. We are going to get stronger and we will win where we have won before and we will win where no one has expected us to win before. We are going to put three new fresh faces – three outstanding candidates with talent, substance and real achievements to their names – into the United States Congress.

I speak, of course, of Donna Edwards in the 4^th District, Jennifer Dougherty in Western Maryland’s 6^th District and Frank Kratovil of the Eastern Shore and Maryland’s 1^st District.

Across the nation during this primary season we’ve seen Democrats flock to the polls in record numbers. We saw that here in Maryland last week. We have heard the people say they want change across the land. We know that is true in Maryland. And we at the Maryland Democratic Party are saying today that we have already begun the hard work required of us to give these three Democratic candidates the best chance possible of casting their first vote in the United States House of Representatives with many votes to come after that.

These candidates stand in stark contrast to the forces aligned against them in the General Election. The voters are tired of the partisanship, of the sniping and nasty finger-pointing. We are tired of politics as usual. We are demanding problem-solvers in Washington and we have three such leaders in Donna Edwards, Frank Kratovil and Jennifer Dougherty.

We have a businesswoman who, as a former Mayor, understands the challenges that face our nation’s cities and towns as well as our rural landscape. She led a municipal renaissance and wants to be part of a national political renaissance. Her primary victory was a surprise only to those who don’t know this smart, tough-minded public servant from Western Maryland.  Jennifer Dougherty will replace an entrenched incumbent whose time has past. The polls tell us that the people of Western and Central Maryland want change. Well, they’re going to get it.

We have a prosecutor from the Eastern Shore whose career has been defined by reaching across party lines to improve the safety and ensure the progress of his community. Frank Kratovil is running to fill a newly opened seat against a candidate who’s come under fire from members of his own party for his negative and divisive politics.

We have a civic activist whose life’s work has focused on improving conditions for families and children. Donna Edwards’ determination to climb a very steep mountain in a hard fought primary race is a testament to her talent, ability and devotion to the hard work it takes to create real change.

Each of them will represent the people of their respective districts extremely well. They may carry with them, different views and different priorities when they go to Washington but together they possess the most important traits we need from our leaders today  – honesty, strength of character, a devotion to working together to improve all that is Maryland and, the ability to work across the isle to craft solutions that work for all America.

So we at the Maryland Democratic Party have a responsibility. We knew that before I became the Chair.  We’ve focused on it since I’ve become the Chair and we our putting our energy, effort and considerable cash money to work.

We have done things this party has never done before in those months between election cycles. We’ve hired experienced field staff and put them on the ground to organize. We have taken the precinct organization that made Democrats the dominant party in our strongest jurisdictions and expanded it statewide. On top of that we have already signed-up hundreds of neighborhood leaders – with the goal of enlisting thousands more across the state – who will be a key to facilitating that conversation between our candidates and the voters they need to reach.

In short, we will be aggressive in getting these three outstanding candidates elected. We will go for it with everything we have from seashore to mountains. Maryland will lead the nation once again in securing change in Washington, just as we did, albeit quietly, in 2002.

And these New Faces of the Maryland Democratic Party will speak to Democrats, Republicans and Independents like never before. Some will depend on that more than others, I suppose.

Additionally - and this is very important - we not only need more Democrats in Congress to help solve our nation’s problems, we need a Congress that looks more like America in every way. These candidates will participate in advancing the cause of diversity with the best and the brightest among us.

Just ask anyone with a home and a family to protect if we need leaders who understand legal and economic justice to help craft bipartisan solutions in Washington.

Just ask 54% of the registered voters in Maryland if our state and nation need more women in higher office to help craft policy to advance the cause of families and small businesses. You will find out that this is the change America is demanding and Maryland will get in November.”