Maryland to Be Without a Woman in Congressional Delegation

Rep. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat, on Tuesday won the seat that will be open when Sen. Barbara Mikulski retires next year after 30 years in the Senate. In April's Democratic primary, Van Hollen defeated Rep. Donna Edwards, who is the only woman to hold one of the state's eight U.S. House seats. In the primary, Edwards, who is black, highlighted her race and gender during the campaign in a polarizing battle with Van Hollen.

Maryland has had at least one woman in the state's congressional delegation since the early 1970s. Although Hillary Clinton won Maryland's 10 electoral votes Tuesday, voters said qualifications, not gender, were what they considered when voting.

"What difference does it make? Qualified is qualified," said Karl Richmond, a 70-year-old retiree who voted for Clinton and Van Hollen in Annapolis. "Gender is not a qualification."

Van Hollen defeated Republican Del. Kathy Szeliga for Mikulski's seat. Szeliga is the minority whip in the Maryland House of Delegates.

Maryland has been a prominent state in electing women to political offices. Mikulski, a Democrat who endorsed Van Hollen, is the longest-serving woman in the history of Congress. She is considered the dean of women in the U.S. Senate and a mentor to other female lawmakers.

Rep. John Delaney, a Democrat, defeated Republican Amie Hoeber in the state's 6th District congressional race. Former Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown Anthony Brown, a Democrat who lost the state's governor's race in 2014, won the seat now held by Edwards.

Van Hollen is a seven-term Democrat. He ran as an experienced lawmaker willing to reach across the political aisle to do important work. Szeliga tried to use that experience against him, casting him as an insider of dysfunctional Washington.

Rep. Andy Harris, the state's lone Republican congressman, won re-election. Rep. Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 House Democrat, also was re-elected. State Sen. Jamie Raskin won the congressional seat now represented by Van Hollen. Reps. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Elijah Cummings and John Sarbanes were re-elected.

State Sen. Cathy Pugh, a Democrat, won the Baltimore mayor's race, defeating Republican Alan Walden in the heavily Democratic city.