Equality Maryland Releases 2010 Primary Analysis

Equality Maryland has released the following analysis of the performance of its endorsed candidates in the 2010 primary. We have to compliment Executive Director Morgan Meneses-Sheets for her speed in getting this out!

Equality Maryland: 2010 Primary Analysis (initial findings‏)

AT PRINT TIME, 100% OF THE PRECINCTS HAD NOT REPORTED IN ALL OF THE RACES AND SOME MAY BE CONTESTED.

Equality Maryland: 2010 Primary Analysis (initial findings)

Maryland’s LGBT Advocacy Organization Committed to Electing Candidates Who Will Stand up for Fairness and Equality in the Maryland State Legislature in the General Election

CONTACT:
Morgan Meneses-Sheets
Executive Director
morgan@equalitymaryland.org

For LGBT Marylanders and their allies, there were many reasons to celebrate late Tuesday night as the results of the 2010 primaries came in. We are pleased that so many candidates are standing with us in our efforts to advance equality. Our work is about providing individuals with basic legal rights and ensuring that the children who are being raised by loving, committed same-sex parents have the same safeguards as other families. These are issues of fairness.

BIG WINS

Equality Maryland is thrilled that Delegate Kris Valderrama looks poised to win after a contentious conflict with the always intolerant, Senator Anthony C. Muse. Delegate Valderrama has been an unwavering supporter of LGBT equality, so we are thrilled that she appears to have come through the primary race.

We are also incredibly happy that 7 of the 9 out LGBT candidates are moving forward to the general election in November - Sen. Rich Madaleno (D-18), Delegate Anne Kaiser (D-14), Delegate Maggie McIntosh (D-43), Delegate Heather Mizeur (D-20), Luke Clippinger (D-46), Mary Washington (D-43), and Bonnie Cullison (D-19).

We congratulate Dana Beyer (D-18) and Tim Quinn (D-37) on their hard work and wish them luck in the future!

LOSSES

Even in the potential losses, there are celebrations. In several races where our endorsed candidate did not make it through, their challenger is actually with us on equality issues.

But the real story of the turning tides was in the District 6 Senate race. With 96% of precincts reporting, it appears that candidate for State Senate, Jordan Hadfield came less than 500 votes short of beating out a long-time senator with a 0% equality record, Norm Stone.

With hard work, a positive, a forward thinking vision for his district and a strong pro-equality stance, Jordan came incredibly close. This should signal to Stone that any assumptions that he made about his district are simply not true.

Pro-equality supporters live in every district. Long time incumbents who continue to stand against fairness should be put on notice by results like these because Equality Maryland and supporters like Jordan Hadfield are not going anywhere. We will continue to fight.

VOTER IDENTIFICATION

On primary day as voters exited the polls in Anne Arundel, Frederick and Prince George’s County they were asked a simple question, “Do you support marriage for same sex couples?”

Equality Maryland volunteers worked to collect postcards in support of our two key issues – marriage equality and gender identity anti-discrimination protections during the primary elections.

By capitalizing on the excitement of the election season, we were able to talk to hundreds of voters and collected almost 1,000 postcards in one day. Volunteers included clergy, PFLAG moms and dads, GSA students, and straight allies who are working with us to pass and defend pro-equality legislation in Maryland.

The primary day efforts are just part of Equality Maryland’s statewide efforts to advance marriage through one on one conversations to really tell the stories of LGBT Marylanders and enhance the pro-equality majority.

ENDORSEMENTS – INITIAL ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS

The absentee ballots have not been counted and some races are extremely close, but it appears that a large number of EQMD endorsed candidates will move on to the general election in November.

Equality Maryland endorsed in 22 Senate races with two dual endorsements – 19 and 47. There were 9 races that were uncontested in the primary. At this time, 5 endorsed candidates look likely to win with 6 losses and two races that may come down to absentee ballots or even be contested.

On the House side 50 of Equality Maryland’s 64 endorsed candidates were in contested primaries. Of those 6 look likely to lose and 42 look likely to continue on to the general with a couple races still too close to call at this time.
The minimum criteria for endorsement by the Equality Maryland PAC included completing the questionnaire and support for EQMD’s two key legislative priorities – gender identity anti-discrimination protections and marriage for same sex couples. Additional considerations included viability, ability to advance legislation, and relationship with key constituencies.

Equality Maryland Endorsements - PRIMARY ANALYSIS

THESE ARE OUR INITIAL FINDINGS. WE WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS AS ABSENTEE BALLOTS ARE COUNTED AND ALL PRECINCTS CONFIRMED.

Maryland State Senate

Jordan Hadfield D 6 –LIKELY LOSS
Delores Kelley D 10 – WON
Bobby Zirkin D 11 – UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Edward Kasemeyer D 12 – UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Jim Robey D 13 – UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Karen Montgomery D 14 –TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Robert Garagiola D 15 – UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Brian Frosh D 16 – UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Jennie Forehand D 17 – TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Rich Madaleno D 18 – WON
Mike Lenett D 19 - LOSS
Roger Manno D 19 – WON
Jamie Raskin D 20 – UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Paul Pinsky D 22 – UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Darrell Carrington D 23 –LOSS
Tim Quinn D 37 – LOSS
Nancy King D 39 -WON
Catherine Pugh D 40 – UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Nathaniel McFadden D 45 – UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
George Della D 46 - LOSS
David Harrington D 47 -LOSS
Victor Ramirez D 47 –WON

Maryland House of Delegates

Candy Greenway D 3 –UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Galen Clagett D 3 – UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Ryan Trout D 4 UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Maryann Maher D 9 – UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Jon Weinstein D 9 – UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Adrienne Jones D 10 –WON
Elizabeth Bobo D 12 –WON
Guy Guzzone D 13 - UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Shane Pendergrass D 13 - UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Frank Turner D 13 - UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Eric Luedtke D 14 –WON
Craig Zucker D 14 –WON
Anne Kaiser D 14 –WON
Kathleen Dumais D 15 –WON
Aruna Miller D 15 –WON
Brian Feldman D 15 –WON
Ariana Kelly D 16 –LIKELY WIN
Bill Frick D 16 –WON
Susan Lee D 16 –WON
Kumar Barve D 17- UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Jim Gilchrist D 17 - UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Luiz Simmons D 17- UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Dana Beyer D 18 -LOSS
Al Carr D 18 –WON
Ana Sol Gutierrez D 18 –WON
Jeff Waldstreicher D 18 –WON
Bonnie Cullison D 19 –WON
Jay Hutchins D 19 -LOSS
Benjamin Kramer D 19 –WON
Sheila Hixson D 20 -WON
Tom Hucker D 20 -WON
Heather Mizeur D 20 –WON
Ben Barnes D 21 –WON
Barbara Frush D 21 –WON
Joseline Pena-Melnyk D 21 -WON
Tawanna Gaines D 22 – UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Justin Ross D 22 – UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Nicole Williams D 23 -LOSS
James Hubbard D 23 –WON
Gregg Hall D 24 - TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Erek Barron D 25 -LOSS
Kris Valderrama D 26 -WON
Judd Legum D 30 -WON
Virginina Clagett D 30 –WON
Stan Janor D 31 -LOSS
B. Daniel Riley D 34A – TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Rudolph Cane D 37 -WON
Shane Robinson D 39 -WON
Charles Barkley D 39 -WON
Kirill Reznik D 39 –WON
Barbara Robinson D 40 -WON
Shawn Tarrant D 40 -WON
Samuel Rosenberg D 41 – UNCONTESTED IN THE PRIMARY
Lori Albin D 42 -WON
Stephen Lafferty D 42 –WON
Curtis Anderson D 43 -WON
Maggie McIntosh D 43 -WON
Mary Washington D 43 –WON
Keiffer Mitchell D 44 -WON
Peter Hammen D 46 –WON
Brian McHale D 46 –WON
Luke Clippinger D 46 –WON
Jolene Ivey D 47 –WON
Doyle Niemann D 47-WON
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Equality Maryland is Maryland's largest LGBT civil rights organization, focused on making life better for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens of Maryland. Equality Maryland works to secure and protect the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Marylanders by promoting legislative initiatives on the state, county and municipal levels and educating the public about the issues faced by our diverse community.

Equality Maryland can be found online at www.equalitymaryland.org. The Equality Maryland office can be reached at 410-685-6567.