Maryland Republican Party
Encyclopedia
The Maryland Republican Party is the branch of the United States Republican Party
(GOP) located in the state of Maryland
, headquartered in Annapolis
. It is historically the underdog party in state politics.
In the House of Delegates it gained six seats in the 2010 election.
In the state Senate it lost two seats in 2010 including the seat that was held by the GOP Chairman Alex Mooney.
. In the House of Delegates
, the Republicans control 43 seats to the Democrats'
98. In the Maryland State Senate
, the Republicans control 12 seats to the Democrats' 35. Because of this more than two-to-one government majority, predominantly Republican areas of Maryland, such as the Eastern Shore, become worried that their representatives' voices are not being heard.
The Republican Party enjoys widespread support from Western Maryland
and the Eastern Shore, both of which are mainly rural. In other areas of the state such as heavily populated Montgomery County
, Prince George's County
, and the City of Baltimore, Republicans are a minority.
In comparison to the national Republican Party, the Maryland Republican Party is trending more conservative. This is especially true concerning social issues
and immigration. For example, Republican Congressman
Wayne Gilchrest
pro-choice
on the abortion
issue was defeated by pro-life state senator Andy Harris in the Republican primary in 2008.
In 2003, Michael Steele became the first African-American elected to statewide office in the state of Maryland, when he was elected Lieutenant Governor. Prior to this, Steele served as the Chairman of the Maryland Republican Party. In 2009, Michael S. Steele was elected chair of the Republican National Committee
, the first African-American to hold that position.
Important historical members of the Maryland Republican Party have included former Governor
and Vice President
Spiro T. Agnew and former Senator
Charles Mathias.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
(GOP) located in the state of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, headquartered in Annapolis
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
. It is historically the underdog party in state politics.
U.S. House of Representatives
- Andrew P. HarrisAndrew P. HarrisAndrew P. Harris is an American physician and politician who is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party and formerly served in the Senate of the Maryland General Assembly.-Early life, education and career:...
, 1st DistrictMaryland's 1st congressional districtMaryland's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Maryland. The district encompasses the entire Eastern Shore, including Salisbury, as well as parts of Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Harford counties.... - Roscoe BartlettRoscoe BartlettRoscoe Gardner Bartlett, Ph.D. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party, and a member of the Tea Party Caucus...
, 6th DistrictMaryland's 6th congressional districtMaryland's 6th congressional district elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives from the northwest part of the state. Today the district comprises all of Garrett, Allegany, Washington, Frederick and Carroll Counties, as well as portions of Montgomery, Baltimore, and...
State Legislature
- Senate Minority Leader: E.J. Pipkin
- House Minority LeaderMaryland House of DelegatesThe Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
: Anthony O'DonnellAnthony J. O'DonnellAnthony O'Donnell is an American politician, currently representing District 29 in the Maryland House of Delegates.-Background:...
County government
As of 2011 the Maryland GOP is the majority party of county governments. It holds 15 of 23 counties excluding Baltimore City. It controls 9 out of the 15 Majority Control counties including all of Western Maryland for the first time.State government
It doesn't control executive offices.In the House of Delegates it gained six seats in the 2010 election.
In the state Senate it lost two seats in 2010 including the seat that was held by the GOP Chairman Alex Mooney.
State Party
The Republican Party is the minority party in both houses of the Maryland General AssemblyMaryland General Assembly
The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is a bicameral body. The upper chamber, the Maryland State Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber, the Maryland House of Delegates, has 141 representatives...
. In the House of Delegates
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
, the Republicans control 43 seats to the Democrats'
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
98. In the Maryland State Senate
Maryland State Senate
The Maryland Senate, sometimes referred to as the Maryland State Senate, is the upper house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland...
, the Republicans control 12 seats to the Democrats' 35. Because of this more than two-to-one government majority, predominantly Republican areas of Maryland, such as the Eastern Shore, become worried that their representatives' voices are not being heard.
The Republican Party enjoys widespread support from Western Maryland
Western Maryland
Western Maryland is the portion of the U.S. state of Maryland that consists of Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett counties. The region is bounded by the Mason-Dixon line to the north, Preston County, West Virginia to the west, and the Potomac River to the south. There is dispute over the...
and the Eastern Shore, both of which are mainly rural. In other areas of the state such as heavily populated Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
, Prince George's County
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
, and the City of Baltimore, Republicans are a minority.
In comparison to the national Republican Party, the Maryland Republican Party is trending more conservative. This is especially true concerning social issues
Social issues
Social issues are controversial issues which relate to people's personal lives and interactions. Social issues are distinguished from economic issues...
and immigration. For example, Republican Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Wayne Gilchrest
Wayne Gilchrest
Wayne Thomas Gilchrest is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives who represented . In 2008, the moderate Gilchrest was defeated in the Republican primary by State Senator Andy Harris....
pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
on the abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
issue was defeated by pro-life state senator Andy Harris in the Republican primary in 2008.
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
, the first African-American to hold that position.
Important historical members of the Maryland Republican Party have included former Governor
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
and Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
Spiro T. Agnew and former Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Charles Mathias.