Crowded field takes shape for Democratic primary in Maryland 6th Congressional District
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (DC New Now) — With the U.S. House of Representatives so closely divided by party, Maryland’s 6th Congressional District could play a pivotal role for control of the body in this year’s elections.
Democratic incumbent David Trone is vacating the seat to run for the U.S. Senate.
The district extends from Montgomery County through Frederick and all of western Maryland.
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Hopeful Democratic Party successors gathered Monday to introduce themselves in a forum to Washington County voters.
Laurie-Anne Sayles has devoted her career to public health and, as an at-large member of Montgomery County Council, has been an advocate for affordable housing and agricultural land preservation.
“Washington needs to work for us,” says Sayles. “We have to get guns out of our schools and keep our streets safe and protect our democracy.”
Former Deputy Secretary of Commerce April McClain Delaney says transportation and education are the two most important issues which she will concentrate on in the U.S. House.
“My message [is] common sense, common ground,” McClain Delaney said. “It’s about solving problems, bringing investment to western Maryland and standing up for women’s reproductive rights.”
Destiny Drake West, of Germantown, is a former advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and bills herself as a “moderate” who wants to “get rid of the toxicity in Washington” and protect democracy while being a “voice of reason.”
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The district, she says, must have a representative “who can best relate to families, bring diversity and be bold.”
Dr. Geoffrey Grammer, of Rockville, a physician and veteran, said this year’s election is “about democracy itself.”
“We need to keep Donald Trump and extremists from overtaking our country and destroying the generations of sacrifices made by those both in and out of uniform,” Grammer said.
Ashwani Jain, of Gaithersburg, is also in the running and worked in the administration of President Barrack Obama.
“We have to keep this seat blue and work on progressive issues with tangible, practical solutions that engage Democrats, Republicans and Independents,” Jain said.
Joe Vogel serves in the state’s House of Delegates from Montgomery County.
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“We need to keep this seat in Democratic hands,” he said. “[We will] continue working in the community as the next Member of Congress.”
George Gluck, from Rockville, is a retired IT professional and teacher who says he is running to “fix the country.”
“I want to make this county a better world for my grandchildren, just as it was when I immigrated here in 1948,” Gluck said.
Altimont Mark Wilks is a small business owner who says he’s tired of seeing people “go at each other’s throats.”
“We need a voice for the people and I am that voice,” he said.
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Hagerstown Mayor Takesha Martinez is also a candidate and has raised $320,000 for her race in small dollar donations.
Joyce Shull with the Washington County Democratic Party said the event had a great turnout.
“They educated us in so many different ways,” Shull said. “They hit the high points that they stand for.”
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