Political Notebook: Germantown Republican joins 6th Congressional District race

Former Navy flight officer announces run for 6th Congressional District

A Germantown Republican has joined the race to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. David Trone, D-6th.

Tom Royals announced in a YouTube video last week that he was running for the district that includes all of Washington, Allegany, Garrett and Frederick counties and a part of Montgomery County.

In the video, Royals notes that he was inspired by the Sept. 11 attacks and the example of his grandfather to apply to the U.S. Naval Academy. Eventually he became a naval flight officer, serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

On his campaign website, Royals states that he's running for office "to fight for the commonsense conservative values of hardworking Maryland families — and to roll back the dangerous agenda of Biden and the Socialist Left that threatens the rights of parents and the integrity of the traditional family."

Royals' website says that after his military service, he earned an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and built a career as an IT sales executive.

The website also says he met his wife, Cathleen Corcoran, in Emmitsburg, Md., at the Mother Seton Shrine at the annual Sea Services Mass in October 2003. They have eight children.

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Who else is running for the 6th District?

The field is crowded on both sides of the aisle in the race to replace David Trone, who announced earlier this summer that he was seeking to replace U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, a Democrat, who is retiring.

Hagerstown Mayor Tekesha Martinez announced earlier this month that she was seeking the Democratic nomination.

More: A campaign that 'knocks the socks off': Martinez says she's running for Congress

Democrat Destiny Drake West, the founder and CEO of a policy institute, who has worked in various unelected roles in county, state and federal government, also filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 6th Congressional District seat.

State delegates Joe Vogel and Lesley Lopez, both Democrats representing Montgomery County districts, have also filed with the Federal Election Commission for the seat.

Other Democrats who have filed with the state in the 6th District include Stephen McDow, once the director of membership for the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce, and George Gluck, a mathematician who ran in last year’s primary.

On the other side of the aisle, Republican Neil Parrott announced he has formed an exploratory committee for the seat. If Parrott does run, it would follow two of his unsuccessful attempts to win the district that Trone, a wine retailer, won again in 2022.

More: With 11 months before election, candidates consider Congress, fewer file state paperwork

Mariela Roca, who ran against Parrott last year, along with Brenda Thiam, who served for two sessions with Parrott in the state Legislature, are among the other Republicans who have registered with the Federal Election Commission in the state’s 6th Congressional District.

Other Republican candidates are Chris Hyser, a retired state trooper, and Todd Puglisi, a McDonald’s employee who ran for U.S. Senate in 2022.

Corderman receives 100% rating from pro-business group

The Maryland Free Enterprise Foundation recently gave state Sen. Paul Corderman, R-Washington/Frederick, a 100% rating, indicating a pro-business/pro-job growth position, according to a news release from the group.

The self-described statewide nonpartisan organization included Corderman in its rankings in its 2023 edition of its annual publication Roll Call.

"Each year, Maryland Free’s State Advisory Council identifies recorded votes from the most recent General Assembly session that affect — positively or negatively — a healthy business climate and job growth throughout Maryland," the news release states.

"A score of at least 70% is indicative of a legislator supporting a strong business climate and economic growth in our state," the release states.

"I am proud to advocate for policies that benefit businesses in our community and state," Corderman said in the news release. "When businesses thrive, more jobs are created, the tax base increases, and our quality-of-life flourishes — everybody wins."

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This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Former naval flight officer seeks GOP nod for 6th District