Incumbents Wynn, Gilchrest ousted

Change-minded electorate sides with challengers in congressional districts

By Bradley Olson and Matthew Hay Brown | Sun reporters

February 13, 2008

Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest made a phone call during his Election Night party, just minutes before polls in Maryland closed. (Sun photo by Barbara Haddock Taylor / February 12, 2008)

Democratic activist Donna Edwards defeated longtime incumbent Rep. Albert R. Wynn, and state Sen. Andy Harris upset Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest, in a pair of fiercely contested races that drew national attention.

Edwards, running a populist, anti-war campaign that drew support from national liberal groups, capitalized on a surge of voter turnout in the 4th District to unseat the Prince George's congressman, whom she accused of being too moderate for his district. The race was a rematch of the 2006 primary election, when Wynn held on to his seat by a few thousand votes.

The Harris-Gilchrest race played out along similar lines, with the state senator accusing the nine-term incumbent of being too liberal for the conservative 1st District, which comprises the Eastern Shore and parts of Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Harford counties.

Another prominent state senator, E.J. Pipkin, was in third place, according to early returns.

No Maryland congressman had lost a party primary since 1992.

After speaking with Wynn late last night, Edwards declared victory.

"Today the voters went to the polls looking for a change, and they went out looking for new leadership that's finally going to put the public first," Edwards told supporters at the Radisson Hotel Largo. "Tonight I stand here just a little bit humbled and really proud that when voters came out looking, they found it in me."

Edwards said Wynn had promised that he would work with her to ensure a "seamless transition" for the 4th District.

Last-minute scramble

The close nature of the Republican contest in the 1st Congressional District was clear last night when, after the State Board of Elections extended voting for 90 minutes because of inclement weather, Harris left his postelection party to try to round up "a few more votes." Volunteers called voters to get them out to the polls in that window.

The congressman said his polling always showed him ahead, albeit by slim margins, in the district, which comprises the Eastern Shore and parts of Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Harford counties. Harris aides said their polling showed the same thing. Toward the end, Gilchrest said he and Harris showed slight gains as Pipkin faded.

Harris declared victory last night, even as returns were still coming in from across the district.

"They told me nine months ago that you could never possibly take on an incumbent, it could never happen, don't even try it," Harris said after thanking his family and staff. "They don't know me, they don't know my volunteers."

Not exactly conceding

Gathering supporters for what he called "the first non-concession, non-victory" speech, Gilchrest urged supporters to go home and wake up early to find out the final tally.

"We have worked for good government, good policy and we have worked for people around the world. Thank you for your honesty and integrity."

Branded a liberal in a district where that label amounts to a scarlet letter, Gilchrest was targeted in a withering series of negative television commercials and direct-mail fliers that jammed the mailboxes of district voters for months. Some voters stuck with him despite the attacks, but others were persuaded that he doesn't truly represent the district.

Nick Soffos, a 66-year-old from Joppa said that he supports Gilchrest because "He's not with the machine. He votes for what the Maryland people want."

"Just because he's a Republican doesn't mean he always votes with Republicans. He votes for whatever he sees as the people's need," Soffos said.

But for Bettie Garvey of Joppa, the message that Gilchrest wasn't a team player apparently got through, leading her to side with Harris.