Smackdown District 20!

District 20 (Takoma Park, Silver Spring, White Oak) is the epicenter for the hottest state legislative races in Montgomery County. Sen. Ida Ruben, who has represented the district for three terms in the House and five in the Senate, is being challenged by American University Law Professor Jamie Raskin. Raskin appears to be going casual for the race. His AU Faculty profile calls him Jamin while his campaign website calls him Jamie.

Raskin is framing his challenge of that of a committed progressive against an insider politician who plays the political game but has forgotten her district. Not a bad means of turning Sen. Ruben's seat on the powerful Budget and Taxation Committee from an advantage to a disadvantage. Although Raskin may have the best shot of unseating a state legislative incumbent of any challenger in Montgomery, Ruben is not going quietly. One ought not forget that she won her original primary for the senate in 1986 over fellow Del. Diane Kirchenbauer by only 63 votes if memory serves so she is no stranger to a tough fight.

Raskin is styling himself as a progressive but Ruben has beat him out for a variety of endorsements from progressive organizations such as Progressive Maryland, Equality Maryland and NARAL even as she attracts support from union groups like the MCEA and the Municipal and County Employees as well as the Chamber of Commerce. Raskin will no doubt use these endorsements to further burnish his outsider credentials. However, he is not without allies, having been endorsed by the Montgomery Green Democrats and the Retired Teachers. He has also has friends in high places, including Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee Martin O'Malley, District 5 Council Candidate Valerie Ervin, and Former (read: I lost the primary in 2002) At-Large Councilman Blair Ewing.

In News of the Weird, the candidates are battling it out over the endorsement of high school students at Montgomery Blair High School. Yes, really really. I am not making this up as Dave Barry would say. I vote that they settle this one with nunchucks during the commercial break of "It's Academic", the local quiz bowl show sponsored by Giant, I mean Stop & Shop. Mac McGarry will endorse the winner. I promise to vote for the first candidate who figures out that students under age 18 cannot vote even though I live in District 18.

The delegate races in District 20 are not quiet either. There are eight candidates for the three seats. Two incumbents, Sheila Hixon and Gareth Murray, are seeking reelection. Takoma Park Councilwoman Heather Mizeur easily wins the award for the most internet-savvy candidate as her adverts show up whenever I google anything in Maryland. However, voters should also check out the sites of Takoma Park City Councilwoman Joy Austin-Lane, Tom Hucker, Aaron Klein, Congressional Aide Lucinda Lessley, and Diane Lee Nixon.