Maryland Republican Party
| Republican Party of Maryland | |
|---|---|
| Chairperson | Diana Waterman |
| Senate leader | JB Jennings |
| House leader | Nic Kipke |
| Founded | 1854 |
| Headquarters | 69 Franklin Street, Annapolis, MD 21401 |
| Ideology | Conservatism Fiscal conservatism Social conservatism |
| National affiliation | Republican Party |
| Seats in State Upper Houses |
14 / 47
|
| Seats in State Lower Houses |
50 / 141
|
| Website | |
| http://www.mdgop.org/ | |
| Politics of the United States Political parties Elections |
|
The Maryland Republican Party is the branch of the United States Republican Party (GOP) located in the state of Maryland, headquartered in Annapolis.[1] It is historically the underdog party in Maryland state politics.[2]
Contents
Current elected officials
Members of Congress
U.S. House of Representatives
Statewide offices
State Legislature
County government
As of 2015 the Maryland GOP is the majority party of county governments. It holds 16 of 23 counties excluding Baltimore City. It also has a majority of County Executives in the State 5 of 9. The GOP also controls 181 county seats to the Democrats 130.
State Party
The Republican Party is the minority party in both houses of the Maryland General Assembly. In the House of Delegates, the Republicans control 50 seats to the Democrats' 91. In the Maryland State Senate, the Republicans control 14 seats to the Democrats' 33. Because of this approximately two-to-one government majority, predominantly Republican areas of Maryland, such as the Eastern Shore, become worried that their representatives' voices are not being heard.
The Republican Party enjoys widespread support from Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore, both of which are mainly rural. In other areas of the state such as heavily populated Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and the City of Baltimore, Republicans are a minority.
The state of Maryland is mainly democratic because of its vast urban areas and cities such as Baltimore.[4]
In comparison to the national Republican Party, the Maryland Republican Party is trending more conservative. This is especially true concerning social issues and immigration. For example, Republican Congressman Wayne Gilchrest, who was pro-choice on the abortion issue, was defeated by pro-life state senator Andy Harris in the Republican primary in 2008.
In 2003, Michael Steele became the first African-American elected to statewide office in the state of Maryland, when he was elected Lieutenant Governor. Prior to this, Steele served as the Chairman of the Maryland Republican Party. In 2009, Michael S. Steele was elected chair of the Republican National Committee, the first African-American to hold that position.
Important historical members of the Maryland Republican Party have included former Governor and Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, the second vice president ever to resign the office, and former Senator Charles Mathias.
Financial status
The Washington Post characterized the party as "close to broke" as of January 2009, with $703.10 on hand and $57,000 in loans and bills. The Maryland Election Board also ruled in 2009 that the Maryland GOP must return $77,500 to a campaign account of Steele's for party legal expenses that he had paid.[5] In November 2011 the Baltimore Sun reported that the Maryland Republican party owed over $100,000 to vendors that stemmed from the 2010 election cycle.[6]
The picture changed after a Republican, Larry Hogan, was elected as governor in November 2014. According to the Washington Post, "Hogan raised nearly $1.4 million in the two months after the election" and the state party raised another $1 million.[7]
Current notable Maryland Republicans
Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. was the first Republican governor of Maryland since the 1960s, serving as governor from 2003 to 2007. He was defeated by a landslide in the 2010 election by Democratic candidate Martin O'Malley. Ehrlich's wife, Kendel Ehrlich, is a notable state Republican who hosts, along with her husband, a conservative talk radio show on WBAL 1090-AM in Baltimore. Andy Harris was one of the few bright spots for Maryland Republicans in the 2010 election as he won a congressional seat back from the Democrats.
Nicholaus R. Kipke became the House Minority Leader in 2013, by unseating Anthony J. O'Donnell.[8]
Larry Hogan is current governor, he defeated Democratic candidate Anthony G. Brown in November 2014. Boyd Rutherford was Hogan's running mate and is the current Lt. Governor of Maryland.
References
- ↑ "Contact the MGOP." Maryland Republican Party. Retrieved on May 13, 2010.
- ↑ Kent, F. R. (1968). The story of Maryland politics; an outline history of the big political battles of the State from 1864 to 1910, with sketches and incidents of the men and measures that figured as factors, and the names of most of those who held office in that period. Introd. by James H. Bready. Hatboro, Pa., Tradition Press, 1968.
- ↑ http://www.gallup.com/poll/141548/States-Competitive-Terms-Party-Identification.aspx
- ↑ Roots of Maryland Democracy, 1753-1776. Skaggs, David Curtis. Westport, Conn., Greenwood Press [1973].
- ↑ Md. GOP Weighs Ouster of Chief Amid Debt and Decrease in Rolls
- ↑ http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-11-12/news/bs-md-gop-meets-20111112_1_party-plans-michael-steele-alex-x-mooney
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ [2]
