New Rules - Dems Win Again - Maryland to Make it 8 in '08

Kratovil and Dougherty Catching Democratic Wave

The “Rules” Have Changed: Democrats Take Back 3^rd “Safe” GOP Seat

Democrats Win Special Elections in the Midwest, the Deep South;

Maryland is Next

Annapolis, MD – Mississippi’s 1st Congressional District is now back in Democratic hands after yet another special election to fill a so-called “safe” Republican House seat. The latest shockwave to rip through the political landscape follows Democratic congressional victories in Illinois and Louisiana. All three elections took place in districts long held by Republicans (IL 14^th – 69 years, LA 6^th – 33 years, MS 1^st – 12 years) and where George Bush held impressive margins of victory in 2004 (IL 14^th – 55%, LA 6^th – 59%, MS – 62%).

A statement from Michael Cryor, Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party

“Throw out the rules of political conventionality. There are very few safe Republican seats in America anymore; not in the Midwest, not in the deep South and certainly not in a blue Mid-Atlantic state such as Maryland. It doesn’t matter how long a Republican has held the seat. It doesn’t matter how many votes George Bush got in 2004, America is voting for change in 2008. America is voting Democratic.

Frank Kratovil and Jennifer Dougherty are the right candidates to shatter the notion that Maryland’s 1^st and 6^th Districts belong to the GOP. That’s a false assumption that no longer applies, especially as we challenge two extremist Republicans who have voted for and endorsed the Bush agenda on the war, the economy and the environment.  

With Frank and Jennifer – two exceptional public servants and very strong candidates - the Maryland Democratic Party will ‘Make it 8 in ‘08’ as we continue to build our grassroots effort and organize in the east and the west like never before.

The challenges are great. Bush took Maryland 1^st District with 62 percent of the vote and the 6^th with 60 percent. But the rules have changed and this is the year and these are the candidates who will “Make it Eight in ‘08” for Maryland.”