Progressive Maryland Endorses

Progressive Maryland has released its endorsements for the 2006 primary. According to their website, Progressive Maryland favors a higher minimum wage, living wage laws, building the purple line, fully funding the Thornton education initiative, and closing corporate tax loopholes. In addition to endorsements, Progressive Maryland also releases a legislative scorecard rating current members of the legislature as well as responses to its candidate questionnaires. Rather than review all of them here, I simply am going to highlight where they did not endorse incumbents and where they endorsed newcomers.

In District 14, Progressive Maryland endorsed all of the incumbent delegates but did not endorse incumbent Sen. Kramer. All incumbent delegates, including Republican Del Jean Cryor, were endorsed in Districts 15, 16, 17, and 18. Elbridge James got the nod for the open seat in District 17 as did James Browning in District 18. PM also supports Del. Richard Madaleno's effort to capture District 18's open Senate seat. In District 19, Progressive Maryland endorsed Mike Lennett over either Del. Adrienne Mandel or Del. Carol Petzold for the open senate seat. Incumbent Del. Hank Heller was endorsed for reelection as were Tom DeGonia and Roger Manno for the open seats.

Progressive Maryland endorsed incumbent Sen. Ida Ruben for reelection in District 20 despite challenger Jamie Raskin's touting of his progressive credentials. PM picked its own executive director, Tom Hucker, for the open delegate seat and also endorsed both incumbent delegates. In District 39, Progressive Maryland declined to endorse incumbent Sen. Patrick Hogan for reelection but did endorse the three incumbent delegates.

In local races, Ike Leggett was chosen for county executive over Steve Silverman. George Leventhal was the only incumbent endorsed for reelection to an at-large seat on the Council. PM selected Marc Elrich, Duchy Trachtenberg, and Tufail Ahmad for the three open at-large seats. School Board Member Valerie Ervin was endorsed for the open District 5 council seat. The incumbents, including Republican Howard Denis, were deemed deserving of reelection in Districts 1 and 3.

In statewide races, PM chose Montgomery Countians Tom Perez for Attorney General and Peter Franchot for Comptroller.