Maryland Democratic Party
Encyclopedia
The Maryland Democratic Party is the state affiliate of the United States Democratic Party in the U.S. State of Maryland
, headquartered in Annapolis
. The current state party chair is Yvette Lewis.
Twelve delegates from each county and six delegates from Baltimore City were invited to attend. The label "Central Committee" was adopted along with a "Committee of Correspondence" which functioned like the present Executive Committee. Thomas M. Forman, Cecil County, was chosen to preside with William M. Beall, Frederick County, appointed Secretary and John S. Brooke, Prince George's County, appointed as Assistant Secretary. In addition to its founding, the Maryland Democratic Party hosted the first six Democratic National Conventions from 1832 to 1852 held in Baltimore. On May 31, 1838, Maryland Democrats gathered in a state party convention to nominate William Grason for Governor. He became the first popularly elected Governor in Maryland with the help of central committees throughout the state.
After the ratification of the Suffrage Amendment in 1920, the Democratic State Central Committee added an equal number of women to its membership, a practice still embodied in National Party Rules and in the elections for Cecil County Democratic State Central Committee.
Members of Congress
Democrats compose eight of Maryland's ten-member Congressional delegation.
, Democrats have controlled both of Maryland's seats in the U.S. Senate:
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, headquartered in Annapolis
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
. The current state party chair is Yvette Lewis.
History
The Maryland Democratic Party is among the oldest continuously existing political organizations in the world. On May 21, 1827, that a meeting of Andrew Jackson supporters organized a political structure in the State designed to help Jackson win the Presidency after he was denied victory in 1824 despite receiving the most total votes for his electors. (Similar to the 2000 Presidential election.) The first meeting of the Democratic (Jackson) Central Committee was held at the Atheneum in Baltimore City, located on the southwest corner of St. Paul and Lexington Streets.Twelve delegates from each county and six delegates from Baltimore City were invited to attend. The label "Central Committee" was adopted along with a "Committee of Correspondence" which functioned like the present Executive Committee. Thomas M. Forman, Cecil County, was chosen to preside with William M. Beall, Frederick County, appointed Secretary and John S. Brooke, Prince George's County, appointed as Assistant Secretary. In addition to its founding, the Maryland Democratic Party hosted the first six Democratic National Conventions from 1832 to 1852 held in Baltimore. On May 31, 1838, Maryland Democrats gathered in a state party convention to nominate William Grason for Governor. He became the first popularly elected Governor in Maryland with the help of central committees throughout the state.
After the ratification of the Suffrage Amendment in 1920, the Democratic State Central Committee added an equal number of women to its membership, a practice still embodied in National Party Rules and in the elections for Cecil County Democratic State Central Committee.
Ideology
Democrats officially take socially liberal and economically centrist positions on public policy.Members of Congress112th United States CongressThe One Hundred Twelfth United States Congress is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It convened in Washington, D.C. on January 3, 2011, and will end on January...
Democrats compose eight of Maryland's ten-member Congressional delegation.U.S. Senate
Since 1987United States Senate election in Maryland, 1986
The 1986 United States Senate election in Maryland was held on November 3, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Charles Mathias, Jr. decided to retire, instead of seeking a fourth term. Democratic nominee Barbara Mikulski won the open seat vs. Linda Chavez, who won more votes by any Republican...
, Democrats have controlled both of Maryland's seats in the U.S. Senate:
- Class I: Ben CardinBen CardinBenjamin Louis "Ben" Cardin is the junior United States Senator from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Before his election to the Senate, Cardin was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1987 to 2007.Cardin was elected to succeed Paul Sarbanes in...
(Junior Senator) - Class III: Barbara MikulskiBarbara MikulskiBarbara Ann Mikulski is the senior United States Senator from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Mikulski, a former U.S. Representative, is the longest-serving female senator in U.S...
(Senior Senator)
U.S. House of Representatives
Democrats hold six of the eight seats Maryland is apportioned in the U.S. House following the 2000 census:- MD-02: Dutch RuppersbergerDutch RuppersbergerCharles Albert "Dutch" Ruppersberger III is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
- MD-03: John SarbanesJohn SarbanesJohn Peter Spyros Sarbanes is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes the state capital of Annapolis, central portions of the city of Baltimore, and parts of Anne Arundel, Howard and Baltimore counties.-Early life, education...
- MD-04: Donna EdwardsDonna EdwardsDonna F. Edwards is the U.S. Representative for , serving since a special election in 2008. She is a member of the Democratic Party...
- MD-05: Steny HoyerSteny HoyerSteny Hamilton Hoyer is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1981. The district includes a large swath of rural and suburban territory southeast of Washington, D.C.. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
(Minority Whip) - MD-07: Elijah CummingsElijah CummingsElijah Eugene Cummings is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1996. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes just over half of Baltimore City, as well as most of Howard County...
- MD-08: Chris Van HollenChris Van HollenChristopher "Chris" Van Hollen, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
Statewide officeholders
Democrats control all four of Maryland's popularly-elected constitutional offices:- Governor: Martin O'MalleyMartin O'MalleyMartin Joseph O'Malley is an American Democratic politician who is currently serving as the 61st Governor of Maryland. Previously, he served as the mayor of Baltimore from 1999 to 2007. He is currently the chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.-Early life, education and career:O'Malley...
- Lieutenant Governor: Anthony G. BrownAnthony G. BrownAnthony G. Brown is a Democratic Party politician from the State of Maryland and is the current Lieutenant Governor of Maryland. He was elected as Maryland’s eighth Lieutenant Governor in 2006 on a ticket with Governor Martin O'Malley. Both were reelected in 2010. He is the second African...
- Attorney General: Doug GanslerDoug GanslerDouglas F. "Doug" Gansler is a Maryland politician and Attorney General of Maryland. Gansler won the Democratic nomination in the primary election on September 12, 2006, and beat Republican Scott Rolle in the general election on November 7, 2006...
- Comptroller: Peter FranchotPeter FranchotPeter V. R. Franchot assumed office as the Comptroller of Maryland in January 2007. He was formerly a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing the 20th legislative district in Montgomery County, Maryland from 1987 to 2007.-Education and family:Franchot was born in New Haven,...
County government
Until 2010 the Democratic Party of Maryland held majority power at the County level. As of 2011 the Democrats only hold control in eight out of 23 Maryland's county governments including Baltimore City.Party Chairs (1988- present)
- Yvette Lewis (2011 - )
- Peter O'Malley (2011)
- Susan Turnbull (2009 - 2011)
- Michael Cryor (2007 - 2009)
- Terry Lierman (2004 - 2007)
- Ike Leggett (2002 - 2004)
- Wayne Rogers (2000 - 2002)
- Peter Krauser (1997 - 2000)
- Gov. Harry Hughes (1994 - 1997)
- Vera Hall (1993 - 1997)
- Nate Landow (1988 - 1993)
Party officers
- Party Chair: Yvette Lewis
- Vice Chair: Oscar Ramirez
- Second Vice Chair: Delegate Maggie McIntosh
- Treasurer: Robert J. Kresslein
- Secretary: Beth Swoap
- Deputy Treasurer: Hon. Victoria Jackson-Stanley
Party staff
- Executive Directer: David Sloan
- Political/Communications Director: Matthew Verghese
- Deputy Finance Directer: Kristen Lail
- Voter Technology Director: Mark Shenton
- Compliance Director: Meredith Bowman
- Political Aide: Brandon Cloud
External links
- Party Website: Maryland Democratic Party
- National Democratic Party platform: http://www.democrats.org/about/party_platform