"He has no clout in Congress because he is too partisan and no one will work with him, " Floyd said.
In 2002, Van Hollen urged voters in the heavily Democratic 8th to retire eight-term incumbent Constance A. Morella (R) to help Democrats regain control of the House. But Van Hollen, the son of a former ambassador, was one of only two Democrats to defeat an incumbent House Republican, ensuring continued GOP control.
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D) says that being in the minority party "means you've got to sort of refocus your strategy."
(Michael Lutzky -- The Washington Post)
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Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D)
Born: Jan. 10, 1959, in Karachi, Pakistan.
Education: bachelor of arts degree, Swarthmore College, 1983; master's degree, Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, 1985; Georgetown University Law Center, 1999.
Career: lawyer.
Residence: Kensington.
Family: married, three children.
Campaign theme: "Making a difference for people by making a difference on issues."
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 | | Full coverage of races and winners in the Nov. 2 elections:
• Results: D.C. | Maryland | Virginia
• Washington in Red and Blue: Compare how area residents cast their votes in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections.
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Steve Abrams, chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee, said Van Hollen "does not stack up real well" against Morella, who he says was more visible and secured more money for the district.
Davis, who represents parts of Fairfax and Prince William counties, called Van Hollen "a smart, solid guy" but said he doesn't have much influence on the Hill.
Van Hollen cites several accomplishments that he says benefit his district.
The House transportation bill, which must be reconciled with a Senate version, includes $9 million for the proposed intercounty connector and $10 million for other Montgomery highway projects. Van Hollen says he also pushed for more homeland security funding.
Before entering Congress, Van Hollen served 12 years in the Maryland General Assembly, first in the House of Delegates, then the Senate. He built a portfolio as a progressive Democrat willing to take on party leaders for new environmental protections and stricter gun and tobacco control efforts. He also helped champion passage of the state's $1.3 billion Thornton education funding plan.
But Van Hollen, reclusive by nature, never connected with the good old boy network in Annapolis. He carried that reserve with him to Congress.
Although Maryland's other freshman member of Congress, former Baltimore County executive C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D), is known for his fraternizing skills, Van Hollen has trouble naming more than a few other members he considers good friends.
"Chris is the more scholarly, studious, homework guy who knows the intricacies of the bill. But when it comes time to get a bill passed on the floor, he will turn to a Ruppersberger-type to get the votes," said Steve Jost, Van Hollen's 2002 campaign manager and now Ruppersberger's chief of staff.
Montgomery leaders say Van Hollen, who has three children ages 9 to 15, attends community and political events but often leaves early to return to his Kensington home.
Although Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D) is a major power broker in Prince George's County, Van Hollen rarely intervenes in Montgomery politics.
"I don't think Chris is trying to shape the Democratic Party in his image," said Steven A. Silverman (D-At Large), president of the Montgomery County Council.
Yet Van Hollen's stature in the local party remains solid, giving him a significant base in a district where Democrats hold a 2 to 1 registration advantage.
