Two years after Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D) slogged through a bruising campaign to defeat a 16-year Republican incumbent he finds himself facing a pesky GOP challenger.
Chuck Floyd, who moved to the 8th Congressional District 18 months ago, has spent more than $200,000 of his own money to oust Van Hollen after one term.
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A retired military officer and former State Department official, Floyd says Van Hollen is too liberal and partisan to be effective in the GOP-controlled House.
"With my background and experience, I'll get more done in 90 days than my opponent has done in two years," Floyd said.
Van Hollen, who defeated Constance A. Morella (R) in 2002, scoffs at the suggestion that he is a backbencher. "One thing my constituents want is someone who is a strong voice on the issues they care about, not someone who is always hedging their bets," he said.
Recently, Van Hollen has gained national attention by leading an effort to pass an amendment prohibiting the use of federal funds for a $10 billion buyout for tobacco farmers. A congressional conference committee agreed to make tobacco companies pay.
A member of the Education and Workforce and the Government Reform committees, Van Hollen also points to his efforts to increase funding for special education. Last year, he also succeeded in passing an amendment that hindered the Bush administration's plans to contract out some federal jobs.
Van Hollen, who is backed by a coalition of labor, environmental and gun control organizations, opposed the war in Iraq. He believes his views will resonate with voters in the district, where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1.
"I don't think the voters in this community want to further expand Tom DeLay's base in the House," Van Hollen said, referring to the House majority leader.
Floyd, who supported the war in Iraq, says Van Hollen is beholden to the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. "He's voted 99 percent of the time with his own party," Floyd said.
Montgomery County voters will also go to the polls Tuesday to elect a U.S. senator and a member of Congress from the 4th District. Frederick County residents, along with some Montgomery County residents, will choose a 6th District representative.
In the 6th District, Republican incumbent Roscoe G. Bartlett faces Democrat Kenneth T. Bosley, a Baltimore County farmer and former biology teacher. Also running is Green Party candidate Gregory J. Hemingway of Lutherville, an accountant with Ernst & Young in Baltimore.
Bartlett promises to keep bringing bacon to the 6th District, which has benefited from his support of a $200 million laboratory expansion at Frederick's Fort Detrick. He also cites his initiatives to support small business, such as his sponsorship of conferences and information sessions aimed at helping the district's homegrown businesses win big-ticket contracts at the fort.
Bosley ran twice for Congress in the 2nd District before his home in Sparks was redistricted into the 6th District after the 2000 Census.
