GOP Candidates Good for Democrats

The Montgomery County Republican Central Committee has nominated 15 candidates for county and state legislative races where no GOP candidate filed by the July 3 deadline. This is great for statewide Democratic candidates because it will spur Democratic candidates who would otherwise be unopposed and run a lackadaisical fall campaign to mobilize their supporters and get out the Democratic vote.

It can't hurt Montgomery County Democrats. Republicans were all but ethnically cleansed from Montgomery County in 2002 even as Maryland was electing its first Republican governor since Agnew. Del. Jean Cryor from Legislative District 15 (Potomac and Poolsville) is the only GOP legislator from Montgomery's 32-member delegation. Councilmember Howie "Landslide" Denis from Council District 1 (Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac) is the sole Republican on the 9-member County Council.

Republicans aren't competitive countywide. They have a realistic shot at winning seats in only two legislative districts (15 and 39) and two council districts (1 and 2) in the northern and western portions of the County. However, someone should send the GOP a thank-you note for making a valiant stand that will help assure that Montgomery Democrats turn out for the general election.