On September 26, Maryland Democratic State Senator John Gianetti revealed that he will be the Republican nominee for State Senate, 21st district, this year. He had lost the Democratic primary on September 12, in his race for re-election. Last week the Republican nominee for State Senate in that district withdrew, clearing the way for a Republican Party committee to fill the vacancy in the Republican nomination with Senator Gianetti. Gianetti also revealed that he had changed his registration from “Democratic” to “Republican”. Thanks to Ed Still for this news. Maryland “sore loser” law doesn’t cover cases like this, so the action is legal.
I’m curious: Would the Maryland Green Party (qualified in Maryland) be able to fill a vacancy with anyone it wanted? How about a political party without status in Maryland?
Yet further evidence that the two old parties are just interchangeable.
Gianetti lost to a way left of center liberal who opposed the war and would raise taxes (Roseapepe). Gianetti supports Ehrlich – who Rosapepe vocally opposes. I believe that his democratic followers support Giasnetti based upon principles – which will not change Nov 7th. And he’ll have replublican votes to add to his total – which may well push him ahead of Rosapepe.