The Special Election To Replace Elijah Cummings Is Coming Up-- Will It Be A Progressive?

Cummings, Carter, Mfume

Maryland's 7th congressional district, represented since 1996 by Elijah Cummings, is getting ready for the February 4 special election primary (and an April 28th special election general) to replace him. The district includes central, western and much of northern Baltimore plus the suburbs and small towns to the west and to the north of the city including Ellicott City, Cooksville and Columbia. Most of the votes come from Baltimore, but with substantial amounts from both Baltimore County and Howard County. All are strongly blue and the district has a PVI of D+26. Obama won it with just over 76% both times he ran and Hillary took almost 76%. 53.3% of the residents are African American, 33.3% white, 7.1% Asian and 3.7% Latino.

Although there are two dozen Democratic candidates in the special, the three top-rated being state Senator Jill Carter, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings (the former congressman's widow) and ex-Congressman Kwesi Mfume, former president of the NAACP. Carter is the progressive in this contest.

Mfume endorsed Hillary in 2016. Carter was a Bernie delegate. Her platform is oriented towards working families (backing positions like Medicare-for-All, the Green New Deal and free state colleges); his platform is moderate, status quo and oriented towards the donor class. In the state Senate, Carter has a reputation as a strong independent voice-- something that scares establishment organizations like the DCCC-- and is known as the People's Champion.

Carter's campaign has been focused on her policy plans, particularly in regard to criminal justice and single payer healthcare, and her campaign claims to have hit more doors than every other candidate in this race combined. The're planning on engaging 500,000 potential voters via social media while contacting at least 50,000 voters at their doors and by phone before next month's special primary. Carter has been endorsed by Our Revolution Maryland, the College Democrats of Salisbury and Frostburg University, Demand Universal Healthcare Now, Baltimore City Councilman Ryan Dorsey, state Senator Anthony Muse, Baltimore City Council candidate Joe Kane, and former 41st District candidate Dr. Richard Bruno.

Yesterday, former NAACP president Ben Jealous endorsed her. A Ben Jealous endorsement would be a big deal for anyone anytime, but the fact that Jill's top opponent is another NAACP former president-- Mfume-- makes it even more significant and noteworthy. People eager to contribute to Jill's campaign, can do it here on the Congress Needs More Progressive Women Act Blue page. This is a good investment in a deep blue seat, where we'd be better off with a strong progressive than just another establishment careerist.