MarylandInfluencers f there was one place where the Democratic Party could take sol- ace on Election Day 2010, it was Maryland, a rock that broke part Iof the red tide sweeping the country. In a year where Republi- cans hoped to make gains across the board, Democrats proved their dominance in the biggest races, holding the governor’s mansion in a landslide, losing just a handful of seats in the state House of Delegates, and actually gaining ground in the state Senate. Any doubts about how deep blue Maryland is—particularly within the state’s heavily populated central corridor—were surely dissipated. Yet the next few years will be pivotal for both parties. Age and term limits are taking their toll on veteran officeholders, opening up op- portunities for ambitious Republicans and Democrats alike to make their mark. The blood sport of redistricting will play out as well. Here is our list of the Democrats and Republicans who are helping to make the decisions and start the important political conversations today in the Chesapeake Bay State—as well as some likely to play a bigger role in the future. Top 10 Republicans Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. GOP voters for representatives who her husband. She may be ending her The only Republican governor in Mary- are fiscally conservative and socially conservative talk radio show on WBAL land since the 1960s was dealt a huge moderate. 1090-AM in Baltimore—a thorn in blow in November when his rematch Democratic sides for years—but she will with O’Malley ended in a landslide loss. Anthony O’Donnell remain beloved in the party and may yet His place atop the list is a testament to The House minority leader now en- prove the rumors true and run for public how few Republicans are in a position joys the addition of several members office herself. right now to be their party’s lodestar, and will be able to groom them for and until another comes along, Ehrlich future roles in the party. O’Donnell James Pelura will remain its leader. takes the lead in pushing Republican Vilified by some members of the talking points during debates and is Republican Party for lackluster fund- Andy Harris a consistent critic of state agencies raising and efforts to shape policy pro- In one of the few bright spots for Mary- such as the Department of Juvenile posals, the former state GOP chairman land Republicans in 2010, Harris man- Services. is still able to generate buzz in conser- aged to win a congressional seat back vative circles. Whether his break from from the Democrats on the eastern and Alex Mooney Ehrlich to support Brian Murphy’s pri- western shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Mooney may have lost his state Senate mary challenge in 2010 leaves him as An extraordinarily divisive figure already seat in 2010, but he managed to stick an outsider with diminished influence trying to recover from a well-publicized to his position as one of the party’s remains to be seen. gaffe in which he complained about hard-line social and fiscal conserva- how long it would take for his congres- tives. As the new chairman of the state Brian Murphy sional healthcare benefits to kick in, Republican Party, he will be tasked with Despite Ehrlich’s presence in the Harris nonetheless has an opportunity making the party relevant again to vot- governor’s race, Murphy was un- to make himself a spokesman for con- ers and taking his own fundraising suc- afraid to mount a primary challenge. servative policies in Maryland. cess to a new level. His campaign was unsuccessful, but Murphy’s future trajectory will be a Allan Kittleman Michael Steele telling sign of whether Maryland Re- As the state Republican Party searches The embattled former chairman of the publicans are ready to embrace new for a way forward, the former Senate Republican National Committee will talent. minority leader could be a key player always have clout in Maryland even as in determining whether it takes a more it dissipates on the national scene. As a Audrey Scott moderate approach or limits its appeal former Maryland lieutenant governor, he The outgoing chairwoman of the Mary- by embracing hard-line conservative remains a popular draw for fundraisers land Republican Party is credited with positions. Kittleman resigned his lead- throughout the state. getting it back in fiscal shape. Even ership post in January because of his without an official post, she will be an public support for a same-sex marriage Kendel Ehrlich important player as the party seeks to bill. His political future may indicate The former governor’s wife is one rebuild. how much support there is among contender to pick up the banner from May 2011 | Campaigns & Elections 43 MarylandInfluencers Top 10 Democrats Martin O’Malley a lion of Maryland politics who has held into a bully pulpit, earning plenty of en- The Democratic governor secured a sec- his leadership post since 1987. Even a emies along the way. Undaunted, Fran- ond term in a rematch, this time manag- short-lived pledge to retire did little to chot has become a watchdog over gov- ing to beat former Republican Gov. Rob- diminish his power. Working in his office ernment contracts, a herald regarding ert L. Ehrlich, Jr., by more than twice his is a sure ticket to political relevance. the state’s fiscal health, and the source winning margin in 2006. O’Malley’s vic- of plenty of speculation about which job tory was even more impressive given the Steny Hoyer he will seek next. historic tax increases, chronic deficits, Recently voted minority whip in the and employee furloughs that marked his U.S. House of Representatives, Hoyer Chris Van Hollen first term. Recently anointed leader of has the most significant national post The outgoing head of the Democratic the Democratic Governors Association, among Maryland Democrats and still Congressional Campaign Committee will offering him a prime opportunity to in- brings home plenty for his district. keep his relevance as the ranking mem- crease his national profile. ber of the House Budget Committee. If Jim Smith the pendulum starts to swing back to his Michael E. Busch The future plans of the outgoing execu- party, Van Hollen is in a good position to Known affectionately as “Coach,” the tive of Baltimore County and former obtain even more clout. state House speaker is a master at cor- judge will undoubtedly be a consistent ralling votes in his 141-member chamber. topic of speculation, and his name is Douglas Gansler Many of the toughest debates and hard- sure to come up during discussions The state attorney general took a sig- est compromises of the past several about candidates for statewide office. nificant political risk last year in decid- years came out in his favor. Busch clearly Smith’s fundraising skills will keep him ing that Maryland can recognize gay has the ear of the governor and the loy- relevant for years to come. marriages performed in other states, alty of his deputies. yet he wasn’t even challenged in his Peter Franchot re-election bid. Gansler has maintained Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. The state comptroller is generally seen a moderate public profile but is willing A prolific fundraiser with a knack for as a mere tax collector, but Franchot to stand behind his decisions, making turning a phrase, the Senate president is has turned the relatively obscure post him a potential 2014 contender for governor. Anthony Brown The lieutenant governor has taken on some of the toughest policy tasks from a managerial standpoint, heading committees dealing with military base realignment and federal healthcare reform. An Iraq War veteran, Brown is sure to be on the shortlist of candidates to succeed O’Malley in 2014. Matthew Gallagher The governor’s chief of staff, Gallagher built his reputation running the CitiStat program in Baltimore, a statistics-driven approach to governing credited with ev- erything from decreasing absenteeism among municipal workers to reducing response times to reported potholes. Gallagher moved up with O’Malley and helped establish the StateStat sister program before being promoted to his current position. 44 Campaigns & Elections | May 2011 Other Republicans Ellen Sauerbrey Larry Hogan Don Murphy The only other Republican besides Eh- A 2010 candidate for governor until A former state delegate and widely quot- rlich to come close to the governor’s Ehrlich entered the race, Hogan served ed GOP consultant with Genn & Murphy, mansion in the past few decades, the as the former governor’s appointments LLC, he runs the lobbying shop with a former ambassador to the United Na- secretary and runs The Hogan Compa- Democrat and has represented clients tions Commission on the Status of nies, a real estate company that is in- from Diebold to General Dynamics. Women under President George W. volved in deals ranging from senior living Bush is revered within her party. facilities to golf course communities. Dan Snyder The owner of the Washington Redskins Martin Madden Lawrence Scott provides deep pockets for Republicans. The former Senate minority leader is The son of outgoing GOP Chairwoman He has supported the Republican Na- now an influential GOP consultant and Audrey Scott, he is a prolific campaign tional Committee and campaigns by helped win one of the toughest state consultant through Scott Strategies, Ehrlich and Steele. Senate primary fights this year, giving Inc., working on local and state races. his friend Ed Reilly another term. He is frequently criticized in Democratic Richard Hug and Republican circles alike for what A key fundraiser for Ehrlich, the chair- David Craig some believe are misleading tactics.