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A whistleblower pays for exposing an abuse of power
Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett of Maryland remembers a time two decades ago when things moved quickly in Washington and Democrats and Republicans weren't constantly at each other's throats.
Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett lost the battle for his political life Tuesday, failing in his bid to win an 11th term in a Maryland district that has long shared his values but has changed drastically as a result of gerrymandering.
Maryland's 6th District has long been a friendly home field for Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett, but he might have to win on the road if he wants to hold on to his seat this fall.
Potomac businessman John K. Delaney lodged a convincing victory Tuesday in Maryland's 6th District Democratic congressional primary, beating a candidate who was backed by many of the state's most powerful Democrats.
Maryland primary voters turned out in expectedly low numbers Tuesday to select a GOP presidential candidate and choose Democratic and Republican nominees for this fall's U.S. Senate and House races.
When Maryland leaders redrew the state's congressional map last year to give Democrats a better shot at winning the long-conservative 6th District, observers predicted it would yield the state's most competitive race of the 2012 election season.
State Senate Majority Leader Robert J. Garagiola is in the fight of his political life as he seeks the state's 6th District congressional seat, but he received an endorsement Thursday that he hopes will put him over the top in advance of Tuesday's Democratic primary.
"People want jobs and to have someone who is more independent-minded and an outsider," Mr. Delaney said recently. "We've had the same message from the beginning, and I think so far our feedback from voters is proving that."
"This election was about independence," said Mr. Delaney, who claimed victory at about 10:30 p.m., shortly after the Garagiola campaign conceded. "People didn't think we could do this but we proved them wrong."
