Maryland Democratic Party

Maryland Democratic Party
Chairman	Yvette Lewis
Senate leader	Mike Miller
House leader	Mike Busch
Ideology	American Liberalism Progressivism Center-left
National affiliation	Democratic Party
Official colors	Blue
Politics of the United States Political parties Elections

Party leaders Elijah Cummings, Martin O'Malley and Michael Cryor minutes before announcing Maryland's votes at the 2008 Democratic National Convention

The Maryland Democratic Party is the state affiliate of the United States Democratic Party in the U.S. State of Maryland, headquartered in Annapolis.^[1] The current state party chair is Yvette Lewis.

History

The Maryland Democratic Party is among the oldest continuously existing political organizations in the world. On May 21, 1827, that a meeting of Andrew Jackson supporters organized a political structure in the State designed to help Jackson win the Presidency after he was denied victory in 1824 despite receiving the most total votes for his electors. (Similar to the 2000 Presidential election.) The first meeting of the Democratic (Jackson) Central Committee was held at the Atheneum in Baltimore City, located on the southwest corner of St. Paul and Lexington Streets.

Twelve delegates from each county and six delegates from Baltimore City were invited to attend. The label "Central Committee" was adopted along with a "Committee of Correspondence" which functioned like the present Executive Committee. Thomas M. Forman, Cecil County, was chosen to preside with William M. Beall, Frederick County, appointed Secretary and John S. Brooke, Prince George's County, appointed as Assistant Secretary. In addition to its founding, the Maryland Democratic Party hosted the first six Democratic National Conventions from 1832 to 1852 held in Baltimore. On May 31, 1838, Maryland Democrats gathered in a state party convention to nominate William Grason for Governor. He became the first popularly elected Governor in Maryland with the help of central committees throughout the state.^{[citation needed]}

After the ratification of the Suffrage Amendment in 1920, the Democratic State Central Committee added an equal number of women to its membership, a practice still embodied in National Party Rules and in the elections for Cecil County Democratic State Central Committee.^{[citation needed][2]}

Ideology

Democrats officially take socially liberal and economically centrist positions on public policy.

Elected officials

Members of Congress

Democrats compose eight of Maryland's ten-member Congressional delegation.

U.S. Senate

Since 1987, Democrats have controlled both of Maryland's seats in the U.S. Senate:

• Class I: Ben Cardin (Junior Senator)
• Class III: Barbara Mikulski (Senior Senator)

^[3]

U.S. House of Representatives

Democrats hold six of the eight seats Maryland is apportioned in the U.S. House following the 2000 census:

• MD-02: Dutch Ruppersberger
• MD-03: John Sarbanes
• MD-04: Donna Edwards
• MD-05: Steny Hoyer (Minority Whip)
• MD-07: Elijah Cummings
• MD-08: Chris Van Hollen

^[4]

Statewide officeholders

Democrats control all four of Maryland's popularly-elected constitutional offices:

• Governor: Martin O'Malley
• Lieutenant Governor: Anthony G. Brown
• Attorney General: Doug Gansler
• Comptroller: Peter Franchot

County government

Until 2010 the Democratic Party of Maryland held majority power at the County level. As of 2011 the Democrats only hold control in eight out of 23 Maryland's county governments including Baltimore City.

Party organization

Party Chairs (1988- present)

• Yvette Lewis (2011 - )
• Peter O'Malley (2011)
• Susan Turnbull (2009 - 2011)
• Michael Cryor (2007 - 2009)
• Terry Lierman (2004 - 2007)
• Ike Leggett (2002 - 2004)
• Wayne Rogers (2000 - 2002)
• Peter Krauser (1997 - 2000)
• Gov. Harry Hughes (1994 - 1997)
• Vera Hall (1993 - 1997)
• Nate Landow (1988 - 1993)

^[5]

Party officers

• Party Chair: Yvette Lewis
• Vice Chair: Oscar Ramirez
• Second Vice Chair: Delegate Maggie McIntosh
• Treasurer: Robert J. Kresslein
• Secretary: Beth Swoap
• Deputy Treasurer: Hon. Victoria Jackson-Stanley

Party staff

• Executive Directer: David Sloan
• Political/Communications Director: Matthew Verghese
• Deputy Finance Directer: Kristen Lail
• Voter Technology Director: Mark Shenton
• Compliance Director: Meredith Bowman
• Political Aide: Brandon Cloud

See also

Maryland portal

• Political party strength in Maryland

References

1. ^ "Contact." Maryland Democratic Party. Retrieved on May 13, 2010.
2. ^ Willis, John T., "A Brief History of the Maryland Democratic Party", 2011.
3. ^ Maryland State Archives[1], May 09, 2011
4. ^ Maryland State Archives[2],May 09, 2011.
5. ^ Maryland Democratic Party [3],2011.

External links

• Party Website: Maryland Democratic Party
• National Democratic Party platform: [4]