Voters may rock the House – and Senate – on Tuesday

A few familiar names in the General Assembly are on the spot in tight races

Friday, Sept. 8, 2006
by Thomas Dennison
Staff Writer

In Montgomery County’s liberal District 20, Ruben is locked in a bitter re-election battle with American University professor Jamie Raskin, an attorney from Takoma Park. Just miles away in Prince George’s County’s District 21, Giannetti is battling former ambassador James C. Rosapepe in another rough-and-tumble primary fight.

‘‘Both of the races are too close to call,” said Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach, who closely monitors and supports his Democratic incumbents.

While most voters are focused on the marquee statewide primaries this summer, a number of spirited campaigns are being waged for General Assembly seats across the state. The most talked-about races have involved Ruben of Silver Spring and Giannetti of Laurel, but the outcome of several other races for the House and the Senate in Prince George’s County will be closely monitored on Tuesday.

Ruben, a 30-year veteran of the legislature, could be in trouble, Miller said, and whether Giannetti can fend off Rosapepe is unclear.

Ruben is coming up against a national pushback against incumbents, and Raskin, a liberal activist, has galvanized a base of support that could be tough for her to overcome, Miller said.

‘‘Ida’s down right now, but it’s not over,” he said. Ruben’s brother died recently, he said, which ‘‘has cast a somber mood over the entire election.”

‘‘She’s worked very hard, but a lot of the activists in the district feel it’s time for a change in the district,” Miller said. ‘‘The mood around the country in anti-incumbent and that’s what is impacting her. She has some hard-hitting pieces to go out over the weekend, so we’ll see what happens.”