Here is a potential map for two state legislative districts centered on Frederick County. Bear in mind that the population figures may be a bit off as Maryland requires that the numbers be readjusted to reallocate the prison population to their last known address.
Republicans hope that growth in "Republican" parts of the State, like Frederick might aid their party in legislative contests. However, the number of Democrats has grown along with Frederick's population and it is not difficult to draw one legislative district that leans to each party.
The northern district would be heavily Republican, having gone for McCain over Obama by 59-39. It includes a small slice of Washington County, though it could alternatively include part of Carroll County. District 4 now includes much of the same territory in Frederick as well as a big slice of western Carroll which is currently a separate subdistrict (4B) for elections to the House of Delegates. District 4 currently elects all Republicans.
The southern district includes the City of Frederick and would lean heavily Democratic; it went for Obama over McCain by 57-42. This district resembles current District 3 which is broken into two districts for purposes of House elections. District 3A is centered on the City of Frederick and elects one Democrat and one Republican. District 3B includes southern Frederick County and elects a Republican.
If the new district were at large, both Republican delegates might face a stiff fight for reelection. On the other hand, both might find hope in the fact they have already done well in territory that has otherwise been favorable to Democrats. Sen. Ron Young defeated Alex Mooney to take District 3's Senate seat in 2010.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Frederick State Legislative Districts?
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Party Performance in Western Maryland
Welcome to rural and mountainous Western Maryland, a region almost as unfriendly to Democrats as is Baltimore City to Republicans.
Frederick County
4.0% of Registered Voters (8th)
Solid Republican
Shifting voter registrations have caused some to believe that Frederick is trending Democratic. Not so fast. The Democrats had only three wins here this year: Ron Young’s narrow defeat of Senator Alex Mooney, Delegate Galen Clagett’s reelection and Doug Gansler’s unopposed candidacy. The third “win” doesn’t really count and Mike Miller had to invest tens of thousands of dollars in negative mail to take down Mooney. The GOP won every County Commission election and the Democrats did not come close. Even the City of Frederick, the most Democratic area in the county, has a Republican Mayor. The Democrats may have to redistrict a piece of Montgomery County, maybe Clarksburg, into Young’s district to save his seat.
Carroll County
3.0% of Registered Voters (9th)
Solid Republican
William Donald Schaefer (running for Comptroller in 2002) and Doug Gansler (running unopposed for Attorney General this year) are the only Democrats to score wins here in the last three cycles.
Washington County
2.4% of Registered Voters (11th)
Solid Republican
The only Democrats who won state or county office here in 2010 are Gansler, Delegate John Donoghue, the Treasurer and the Clerk of the Circuit Court (who both ran unopposed), the Register of Wills and the Sheriff. The GOP controls both the state delegation and the county government. The voters even elected this guy to a Delegate seat. Frederick Democratic Senator-elect Ron Young will represent a small piece of the county in Annapolis.
Allegany County
1.2% of Registered Voters (16th)
Solid Republican
Delegate Kevin Kelly will be the county’s only Democratic elected officeholder this term.
Garrett County
0.5% of Registered Voters (21st)
Solid Republican
The only ways for a Democrat to win here might be to run unopposed (as did Gansler) or for the Republican candidate to die right before the election. That actually happened this year and the GOP still won with a write-in candidate.
There is no question that the Republicans thoroughly dominate Western Maryland. The problem is that its five counties only account for 11% of the state’s registered voters – just slightly more than Baltimore City. The GOP needs to add a lot more reliable areas before it can be truly competitive on a statewide level.
We’ll look at Baltimore and Harford Counties and the upper Eastern Shore tomorrow.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Delegate Sue Hecht Retires in Frederick County
Delegate C. Sue Hecht (D-3A), who represents part of Frederick County, is retiring. Hecht served two terms starting in 1994, stepped down in 2002 and was elected again in 2006. District 3A includes the City of Frederick and is also represented by fellow Democratic Delegate Galen Clagett. This district is extremely competitive. In 2002, Clagett and Republican Patrick N. Hogan shared it. In 2006, Hecht returned and Clagett edged out Hogan for the second seat by just 259 votes. Since Senator Alex Mooney (R-3), a top target of state Democrats, also represents the district, it will be a prime battleground this fall.
Following is Hecht's press release.
Press Release for April 19, 2010
Office of Maryland Delegate C. Sue Hecht, 3A
120 W. Church Street
Frederick, MD 21701
3011-662-2464
Sue.hecht@house.state.md.us
Delegate C. Sue Hecht, District 3-A, is announcing that she will not seek re-election to the Maryland House of Delegates. Delegate Hecht served District 3, Frederick/Washington Counties for 8 years and has been state representative for Frederick’s District 3-A since 2006.
Delegate Hecht is a recognized leader in the Maryland General Assembly in advocating for victims of domestic violence, child sexual abuse and elder abuse. For 12 years, she was CEO of Heartly House, Inc., a Frederick not-for-profit, serving survivors of family violence and sexual assault.
In her current term, Delegate Hecht emerged as a leader for energy efficiency and renewable energy policy and received numerous awards from the solar industry. This year she chaired the Legislative Green Caucus which connected legislators with leaders in the environmental and energy industries to advocate for “green” policies.
Delegate Hecht is former President of the Women Legislators of Maryland, and the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence. She was named three times to the Daily Record Newspaper’s Top 100 Maryland Women and is currently a Deputy Majority Whip in the House of Delegates. She served for 8 years on the House Appropriations Committee where she was the Vice-Chair of the Transportation and Environment Sub-Committee. For the last 4 years, Delegate Hecht served on the House Economic Matters Committee.
“I have been honored to serve both Frederick and Washington Counties during my 12 years of elected office. I humbly thank my constituents, supporters, volunteers and staff—and most of all my wonderful family. I look forward to the next phase of my life-joining my supportive and patient husband, Dr. Robert Forder, in retirement.”
Delegate Hecht and her husband will continue to reside in the Worman’s Mill community in Frederick City.
