Maryland House Majority Leader Kumar P. Barve (D-Montgomery), who served as the lead House sponsor of the bill this year, said he would step aside if O’Malley wanted to take up the mantle. “Having a governor sponsor a piece of legislation in Maryland is a big deal,” he said.
Since arriving in Annapolis in 2007, O’Malley has racked up more wins than losses when lobbying a legislature led by fellow Democrats. But putting his name on a bill is hardly a guarantee of passage.
In 2009, he fell short championing another thorny issue: repeal of the death penalty. And in this past session, lawmakers rebuffed O’Malley on the wind bill, one of his leading priorities.
At the time, several lawmakers also said there was little O’Malley or other party leaders could do to change their minds on same-sex marriage because they considered it a vote of conscience.
House Minority Leader Anthony J. O’Donnell (R-Calvert) said it was doubtful that O’Malley could do much going forward to change the minds of Republicans, who he added would be taking their cues from their constituents and not Albany.
“This is an emotional issue,” O’Donnell said. “I don’t think anyone can bring political pressure to bear to change anyone’s mind. This isn’t about road projects or school construction projects, or at least I hope it’s not.”
Like those of many mainstream Democratic politicians, O’Malley’s views on same-sex marriage have evolved in recent years. As mayor of Baltimore, O’Malley, a practicing Catholic, backed civil unions as an alternative, saying it was a reasonable compromise between freedom of religion and equal rights for gay couples.
When this year’s legislative session began in Annapolis, O’Malley said publicly that he would sign a same-sex marriage bill if it reached his desk.
“The debate seems to have evolved more quickly than many might have foreseen,” O’Malley, 48, said in a February interview. “I’d be willing to sign any law that reaches me as long as it protects rights equally. I’m not going to get hung up on the words used.”
Both O’Malley and Cuomo have been mentioned as possible 2016 presidential candidates, and buzz about Cuomo’s prospects has increased since he signed the bill late Friday night.
The gay community has for years been a potent fundraising source in national politics, and more and more politicians with national ambitions seem to be comfortable with embracing its priority issue of same-sex marriage.
“They may not campaign on it, but on the Democratic side, I think you’re going to see a lot of future national candidates comfortable talking about it,” said Mo Elleithee, a Democratic consultant who has worked for candidates around the country.
Among those giving credit to Cuomo are prominent Maryland Democrats.
“American voters love winners,” Barve said. “They love people who say what they’re going to do and got out and do it.”
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