Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – The 7th District congressional seat held by the late Rep. Elijah Cummings will go unfilled until at least the beginning of 2020. Under Maryland law, Gov. Larry Hogan has 10 days from Thursday to set a date for a primary election. The primary can’t happen any sooner than 65 days after Hogan announces it.
Political science professor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland Todd Eberly said the primary can’t be held right away because candidates need time to file to run, and then actually campaign.
“If you didn’t give at least two months for someone to run, you’re pre-ordaining that that seat’s going to go to somebody with more name recognition or more money, so in some respects it actually more democratizes the process by giving lesser known candidates more time to campaign for the seat,” Eberly said.
There’s already talk that Cummings’ widow, Maya Rockeymoore, who is the Maryland Democratic Party chair may want the seat, according to Eberly. He said other possible candidates in the Democratic primary include Marilyn Mosby, the state’s attorney for Baltimore, and former Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake who was criticized for her response to the Baltimore riots in 2016.
The general election can’t be held any sooner than 65 days after candidates from each party are elected in the primary. Eberly said all eyes will be on the Democratic primary since the seat will undoubtedly go to a Democrat in the end.
It’s possible that Hogan will schedule the special election to coincide with the regular 2020 primary election to save money according to Eberly.
“These are nearly impossible shoes to fill. This is a man who, at 11-years-old got a permanent scar trying to integrate a swimming pool,” Eberly said.
While Cummings’ seats on committees will be filled immediately, his congressional seat will be vacant until a successor is elected. Eberly said that’s not necessarily a bad thing because it will allow politics to stay out of the mourning process. People who live in the 7th District won’t be completely without representation, according to Eberly, because multiple members of Congress represent the city.
Copyright 2019 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (Photo: AP)
