All three of the major Democratic candidates for governor of Maryland this year — including Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler — are scheduled to appear next week at a “unity reception” hosted by the Maryland Democratic Party.
The Wednesday event will mark the first time that Gansler has appeared in public with the party’s nominee, Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, since the June 24 primary.
Gansler skipped a “kiss and make up” party hosted by the Woman’s Democratic Club of Montgomery County two days after the election. Gansler cited a family obligation as his reason for missing the event, at which Brown literally planted a kiss on his other Democratic rival, Del. Heather R. Mizeur (Montgomery).
Despite the often-bitter tone of the primary, Gansler said in an interview later that week that he plans to support Brown, saying he would “be a Democrat until I die.”
Besides Brown, all other statewide candidates on the November ballot are all advertised to be attending next week’s reception in Greenbelt.
They include Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, Brown’s running mate; Sen. Brian E. Frosh (Montgomery), the party’s nominee for attorney general; and Comptroller Peter Franchot, who is seeking reelection.
Gov. Martin O’Malley, who is term-limited and stepping down in January, and several Democratic members of the state’s congressional delegation are also scheduled to be on hand Wednesday.
Brown faces Republican Larry Hogan, an Anne Arundel County businessman, in the November general election.