Posted on 02/12/2008 8:20:44 PM PST by icwhatudo
For those not familiar with Maryland, we are like that that red/blue map of America. Most of the state is conservative but is overwhelmed by the liberals concentrated in Baltimore City and the DC suburbs.
Until recently Maryland was divided 4/4 in its congressional representation until the dems redistricted (gerrymandered) Republicans into two main congressional districts. This pretty much guarantees republican wins for these two congressional seats but the problem is that one of these seats is held by a "RINO"-Wayne Gilchrest.
Gilcrest voted with Nancy Pelosi more than any other (r)epublican in congress. He is the poster boy for the word RINO. The way he stayed in power for so long is that he is a veteran who is great on farm/bay issues. The district includes all of Maryland's Eastern Shore which is farm and Chesapeake Bay country.
When the dems gerrymandered the district to include more republicans, (thus emptying two other districts of republicans to ensure a dem pick up of 2 seats), they added large numbers of "western shore" republicans in Baltimore's northern suburbs and areas near the states capital in Annapolis.
This opened up the chance for Conservative Republican State Senator Andy Harris to challenge the (r)epublican incumbent Gilcrest. Harris has the support of the former republican governor Bob Ehrlich and every republican state senator...
except one...
On the last day to declare for the race, out of nowhere republican state senator E.J. Pipkin decided to run- dividing the conservative anti-Gilcrest vote.
Had he stayed out of the race, the defeat of the RINO Gilcrest would have been assured. As of now here are the returns:
Maryland Primary Election Results
House of Representatives - District 1
U.S. House - District 1 - GOP Primary
Maryland - 91 of 277 Precincts Reporting - 33%
Harris , Andy GOP 9,648 41%
Gilchrest , Wayne (i) 8,205 34%
Pipkin , E.J. GOP 5,283 22%
Arminio , Joe GOP 365 2%
Banks , Robert GOP 300 1%
The 6th is the other republican district led by Republican Representative Roscoe Bartlett.
My whole family including my almost 18 year old daughter voted for Andy Harris in Salisbury. Here’s hoping he pulls this out!
Would Harris be the favorite in the general?
PLEASE let the results continue in this direction!
Yes, Harris would be the favorite and would have no problem standing up to McCain on immigration and fetal stem cell issues. This guy is a conservatives conservative, a doctor who is 100% pro-life. The kind of guy we need to stop McCain on these issues.
While vote totals are scaring republicans in places like Virginia where the total dems are far more than the total repubs that voted...in this district Republicans who have voted so far stand at 25k vs Dems at 16k. The republican will win the general election here.
House of Representatives - District 1
U.S. House - District 1 - GOP Primary
Maryland - 105 of 277 Precincts Reporting - 38%
Harris , Andy GOP 11,359 42%
Gilchrest , Wayne (i) GOP 8,944 33%
Pipkin , E.J. GOP 5,879 22%
Arminio , Joe GOP 412 2%
Banks , Robert GOP 340 1%
It will be nice to see Pipken go down after sneaking in at the last minute to help his buddy Wayne.......
I have inside info from the Gilchrest campaign that they can not close the gap. They are almost certain they will lose tonight!
Good luck to your Republican politico!
“Most of the state is conservative but is overwhelmed by the liberals concentrated in Baltimore City and the DC suburbs.”
The above sounds like the state of Washington. Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver are Democrat party dominated, while the rest of the state is basically blue.
Getting close!
U.S. House - District 1 - GOP Primary
Maryland - 147 of 277 Precincts Reporting - 53%
Harris , Andy GOP 14,831 39%
Gilchrest , Wayne (i) GOP 13,674 36%
Pipkin , E.J. GOP 8,096 21%
Arminio , Joe GOP 603 2%
Banks , Robert GOP 529 1%
Good. Let’s hope he pulls it out tonight. Conservatives need to get back to their roots.
How could she vote if she's only 17?
Good,...we need some conservative wins....
If she is 18 by the general she can vote in the MD primary
Andy Harris is a good friend of mine....a devoutly religious physician that is fiercely conservative.
Ive been sending him money as often as possible, and I live in MO!
Keep in mind that liberal Republicans like Gilchrest are no longer "RINO"s. They're mainstream. The new party base is left of center, as is the presumptive nominee, so they define what a Republican is. The anomaly is a conservative Republican, meaning a "RINO" at this point is actually a conservative.
So, here's hoping that Andy Harris (the new conservative "RINO") pulls out this race and drops the mainstream Republican liberal Gilchrest.
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