The Frederick News-Post, Md., Political Notes column

Oct. 25—April McClain Delaney, a communications professional for the U.S. Department of Commerce, announced on Wednesday her bid for the U.S. House seat currently held by Rep. David Trone.

Trone, who currently represents Maryland's 6th District, is running for the Democratic nomination to succeed Ben Cardin in the U.S. Senate instead of seeking re-election.

Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks also is among those running for the nomination. Montgomery County Councilman Will Jawando dropped out of the race last week.

McClain Delaney, who lives in Potomac, is married to former U.S. Rep. John Delaney, who represented the 6th District from 2013 to 2019.

McClain Delaney worked as the Washington director of the nonprofit Common Sense Media for 15 years. The organization aims to educate parents and policymakers about the media that children consume.

According to her campaign website, McClain Delaney would prioritize rebuilding trust in democracy and reaping the economic benefits of technological innovation while implementing privacy protections.

Last week, Stephen R. McDow II of Monrovia said he would suspend his campaign to represent Maryland's 6th District because he is relocating.

McDow was one of two Democrats in the race to affiliate himself with the Maryland Forward Party — a newly formed group that advocates nonpartisan primary elections and independent redistricting processes, among other reforms.

In a letter to his supporters on Saturday, McDow wrote that his decision to suspend his campaign was "not easy," but his wife, Rebecca, has accepted a new position with Army Command and Intelligence in Massachusetts.

With McDow dropping out and McClain Delaney entering the race, there are 11 candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for Maryland's 6th District, which includes all of Frederick, Washington, Allegany and Garrett counties and part of Montgomery County.

Only one of the 11 — U.S. military veteran Mia Mason of Frederick — lives in Frederick County.

Three of the five Republican candidates in the race — Chris Hyser, who lives near the Washington County border; Mariela Roca of Frederick; and Heath Barnes of Woodsboro — are Frederick County residents.

The 2024 primary election will take place on May 14. The general election will be held on Nov. 5.

Women's Democratic League of Frederick County turns 100

The Women's Democratic League of Frederick County celebrated its 100th anniversary this month.

According to Shelly Beaird-Francois, the organization's president, the Women's Democratic Club of Frederick County was founded Oct. 4, 1923, by 200 women who had recently won the right to vote.

The group's name was changed to the Women's Democratic League of Frederick County in the 1950s.

In an email, Beaird-Francois wrote that the mission of the league is to advocate for "the involvement of Democratic women in the political process" and "equality under the law for all people."

The league marked its 100-year anniversary with a celebration on Oct. 11. According to Beaird-Francois, 125 people attended, including Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, County Councilwoman M.C. Keegan-Ayer and Frederick County Democratic Central Committee Chair Mari Lee.