Every spring brings hope. By September, Maryland fans know hope can be a very demanding hobby.
Every spring, Orioles fans look at the new season and think, “This could be our year.”
Maryland Republicans do the same thing with politics. A new campaign cycle begins, the yard signs go up, and someone says, “People are fed up. This time, they’ll give us a chance.”
Then September comes. The Orioles are trying to stay in the race, and Republicans are trying to explain why Maryland’s political map looks like it was drawn by someone who really likes one color. However, the energy level just ticks up in September, with optimism and genuine outrage over the Democrat in the Governor’s mansion. Unlike the O’s, we only need to win one game, not 162.
Still, I have to give the MDGOP credit. By one important measure, it has been more successful than the Baltimore Orioles. Republicans have elected three Maryland governors: Spiro Agnew, Bob Ehrlich and Larry Hogan. Hogan even won twice. The Orioles have not returned to the World Series since 1983.
That’s a long drought. At least Republicans can point to actual people who got the keys to Government House.
And then there’s Ellen Sauerbrey. She lost the 1994 election, but for a brief, shining moment, Republicans thought she had won. However the Democrats had a few magical ballot boxes that showed up in PG County and Baltimore City, and would you believe they all were for Parris Glendening? The Hon. Ellen Sauerbrey was governor-elect for a few hours. In the official record, she lost to Parris Glendening by 5,993 votes. With magical ballots that showed up, they just forgot to count in PG and Baltimore City.
To be fair, the Orioles have given Maryland some glorious seasons, thrilling games and enough memories to keep fans buying tickets. Republican campaigns have had their share of September disappointments. The difference is that Republicans can say they’ve put three governors in office. The Orioles can point to the 1983 trophy and ask us to remember how nice it looked. That was when my Dad was 11 years old; the O’s won the series.
That old Republican question, “Why not the Republican?” deserves another look. Democrats have controlled the Maryland General Assembly continuously since 1920. That is a remarkable run. Republicans argue that after a century of control, voters should take a hard look at the state’s taxes, debt, and policy choices; then, if they have brain cells, they will vote Republican up and down the ballot. But if they are void of brain cells, they want more of the same. (Deficits, higher fees and Taxes) Democrats would argue that their policies have delivered valuable programs and services. Voters get to judge both the claims and the record. Let’s not forget the Democrat Legacy in Maryland. They supported Segregation policies in Maryland. Yes, Maryland was a Jim Crow State. Their Policies kept republican Justice Thurgood Marshall out of Maryland Law School.
It’s a little like baseball. A manager can point to promising rookies, a tough schedule, and injuries. Fans can point to the standings. Eventually, the question is simple: are we winning?
The Orioles will get another spring. Maryland Republicans will get another election. Both will bring fresh hopes, confident predictions, and plenty of people insisting they can see the turnaround coming.
But when the season ends, the MDGOP can at least say it has sent three Republicans to the governor’s mansion. The Orioles are still waiting for another trip to the World Series.
So, Maryland, here’s the question: Why not the Republican?
Ian Schwartz writes on today’s political topics for Direct Line News.
Direct Line News is a Maryland-based free-access publication committed to the Republican reform tradition.
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