Crystal Ball Outlook: Safe D
Democratic candidates: Barbara Mikulski, incumbent senator
Republican candidates: Eric Wargotz, Queen Anne’s county commissioner
Recent updates from the Crystal Ball
Update: February 19, 2009
Barbara Mikulski (D-MD): The only real question here is whether the 72-year old Mikulski will run for a fifth term. If she does, she’s in. If she doesn’t, one of the many Democratic U.S. representatives or other statewide officeholders is likely to get nominated and win the seat. Maryland is a disaster area for Republicans. The GOP will try to push either former Gov. Bob Ehrlich (R-MD) or Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R-MD), the new Republican National Committee chairman, into the contest, but they were defeated for reelection in 2006. Every now and then, Maryland can vote Republican, but to invoke the Democratic color, it’s only in a blue moon. DEMOCRATIC HOLD.