An Open Maryland Senate Seat?

from the Baltimore Sun

The retirement of longtime Sen. Barbara Mikulski sets off a heated competition among politicians who may be vying for the Senate seat long held by the popular Democrat. While no one has officially announced a bid, the list of possible successors is long:

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has been building a national profile with a leadership position with the Democratic National Committee and frequent appearances on the Sunday morning talk show Meet the Press. She also has established a record of governance in Baltimore, the state’s largest city.

Rep. Donna Edwards also is considered a rising star in Democratic circles with a position on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, leading the charge on the Red to Blue program helping Democrats win in Republican strongholds.

Former Gov. Martin O’Malley is openly considering a run for president, but the Democrat had long been thought to be eying Mikulski’s seat, which could be a launching pad for a 2020 bid for the White House.

Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon from Johns Hopkins Hospital, has often been named as a potential presidential candidate, but a Senate seat could be in his sights. The Republican moved to Florida but still has a house in Baltimore County.

Former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. has been out of politics but still on the political circuit, giving his speeches and visiting early primary states such as New Hampshire. The Republican also written a book: America: Hope for Change.

Rep. Andy Harris, the only Republican on Maryland’s delegation, would be taking a gamble by running in the heavily Democratic state, as he would lose his House seat if he loses.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen established national as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Since then he has taken other leadership posts, including the ranking member on the Budget Committee.

Rep. John Sarbanes has name recognition in the state because of his father, Paul, the former U.S. Senate. Reps. Elijah Cummings and C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger are other Democrats who could make a run for the upper chamber.

Rep. John Delaney, a Democrat and businessman, would have a personal war chest that he could tap in the event of another run for office, as he did in the last election. He co-founded CapitalSource, a commercial lender.

Dan Bongino, the former Secret Service agent who lost to Delaney in a House race last year, also could be up for another run.