Opinion: A political rarity in Maryland

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A little noticed mini-political earthquake occurred in Maryland earlier this week -- two U.S. House incumbents, fully 25% of the state’s eight-member delegation, lost their primary races.

How rare is this? In 2004, two was the nationwide total of House incumbents knocked off in primaries. And over the last 14 years in California, with its 50-plus House seats, all of three incumbents have lost the usually rote nominating contests: Republican Jay Kim in 1998 (because of scandal), Democrat Matthew Martinez in 2000 (because he had seriously lost touch with his district) and Democrat Gary Condit in 2002 (again, because of scandal).

Understandably, the upheaval in Maryland was caught in the undertow of presidential politics -- mainly, the huge wave of primary and caucus wins that Barack Obama has been riding. But the Maryland results raise a cautionary flag for those, like Obama, who decry the politics of polarization and call for a new attitude of cooperation in Washington.

Eight-term Democrat Albert Wynn was beat by a more liberal opponent who painted him as too moderate. Nine-term Republican Wayne Gilcrest was beat by a more conservative foe who depicted him as -- you guessed it -- too moderate.

Looking ahead, ...

another pair of House members -- both far better known nationally than the ones from Maryland -- are eyeing their upcoming primaries on March 4 with some concern. The two, Democrat Dennis Kucinich and Republican Ron Paul, may suffer from their dalliances in presidential politics.

Kucinich’s constituents indulged his quixotic presidential bid in 2004, and he easily retained his House seat later that year. But his repeat run this cycle sparked some grumbling in his district, as well as a primary challenge from a Cleveland city councilman. That’s the key reason Kucinich folded his White House campaign more quickly this time than four years ago.

Paul remains in the GOP presidential race. But he recently informed his small but ardent band of followers that for the next few weeks he would be concentrating on shoring up support in his Texas district. Like Kucinich, he faces primary opposition from a local city councilman.

-- Don Frederick