WASHINGTON — The Democrat who wins Maryland’s upcoming primary will likely represent the state’s 4th District.
“It’s hard to imagine a scenario where a Republican can make a credible run in November,” said Todd Eberly, political science chairman at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Of the 10 candidates running for Donna Edwards’ congressional seat, six are Democrats. Two of the race’s three front-runners — former Maryland gubernatorial candidate Anthony Brown and former Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey — have name recognition.
Ivey is running a new ad that says he’s gotten an endorsement from former U.S. attorney general Eric Holder.
“These endorsements can matter, but we’ve almost reached a point where the endorsements are canceling each other out,” Eberly said. “They all have what I say are a respectable slate of influential groups or people who are endorsing them.”
Del. Joseline Pena-Melnyk has been endorsed by The Washington Post.
“Name recognition is always important, especially … when advertising doesn’t have the effect it used to because people can so easily avoid ads,” Eberly said.
Brown is endorsing Edwards for Senate, which Eberly sees as a strategic move.
“I think he’s in a position where he believes he needs to be attached to someone who is absolutely going to clean up in [Prince George’s] County to help pull him over the finish line,” he said.
