Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Maryland 6th Congressional District: Democrat John Delaney Officially Entering Race // Duchy Trachtenberg Drops Out

UPDATE: Incumbent Rep. Roscoe Bartlett reiterated to Roll Call tonight that he's still running for re-election. Also, the Delaney campaign has also released a kickoff video from their candidate:




Earlier this year, Maryland Juice printed a press release from former Montgomery County Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg announcing that she was exploring a run for the 6th Congressional seat, currently held by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett. Last night, after sifting through info about the various races in Maryland, I started to notice that Ms. Trachtenberg has been strangely quiet lately. It turns out there was a reason.

This morning, a reader forwarded us a link to a press release on Ms. Trachtenberg's website, where she announces she is dropping out of the CD6 race. The reason is a recurrence of breast cancer:

DUCHY TRACHTENBERG FOR CONGRESS | 4 JANUARY 2012
It is with great regret I am am withdrawing from the 6th congressional district Democratic primary. I am facing a recurrence of an earlier illness. I was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer earlier in 2011. While I undertook the campaign with a clean bill of health, circumstances have now deteriorated to the point where I honestly cannot continue the race. I must focus my energies on treatment and recovery with the love and support of my family.
A statement from Duchy Trachtenberg:

"It is with great regret I am am withdrawing from the 6th congressional district Democratic primary.

"I am facing a recurrence of an earlier illness. I was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer earlier in 2011. While I undertook the campaign with a clean bill of health, circumstances have now deteriorated to the point where I honestly cannot continue the race. I must focus my energies on treatment and recovery with the love and support of my family.

"This will impair both my ability to campaign in the primary and effect my performance well into the general election season. For my health, for my family, and for the voters in the Democratic primary, I will not undertake a race where I cannot make the best effort possible to campaign and win the nomination.

"I thank my supporters and every democratic activist in the new 6th District. While I wanted to lead the charge for the progressive values that I hold dear, my sincere hope is that the Democratic primary voters select a candidate who will fight for the 99% in the halls of Congress. The undue influence of special interests in American politics must come to an end in 2012. The people of Maryland's 6th congressional district deserve no less."
Enter John Delaney

Businessman John Delaney, who has been exploring a run in the CD6 Democratic Primary, followed up with the following quick press statement by email: "I was saddened to hear about Ms. Trachtenberg’s illness. My thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family as they go through this difficult time. Duchy has a track record as a strong Democratic voice and I hope she will be able to return to public service soon."

Before we left for the holidays, Mr. Delaney was "still exploring," but hiring field staff. Today, a source within the campaign told Maryland Juice that John Delaney has "decided 100%" to run for Congress. He will be running on the economy, arguing that he will be the only candidate with experience or qualifications in that arena. The source downplayed expectations for major Democratic endorsements, noting that "the party machine" is backing Garagiola, but that Doug Duncan is behind Delaney -- and other "national Democrats" will be stepping up, too. The campaign also encouraged readers to look at which major endorsers were sitting out of the CD6 race, instead of who was actively weighing in.

Our source within the Delaney camp also highlighted their candidate's Democratic credentials -- ie: former Trustee of MD Dem Party, major backer to Democrats in Maryland and around the state, 2008 Presidential Election Delegate, etc. The campaign may be anticipating attacks on this front.

Interestingly, the Delaney camp is also beginning to make an electability argument, claiming their candidate will have greater appeal in a General Election than State Senator Rob Garagiola. The 2012 campaign season is starting off with a bang!

Stay tuned to Maryland Juice!

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