My media crush Lou Peck over at Bethesda Magazine takes a look at the increasingly crowded and potentially expensive race on the GOP side competing for the right to face Congressman John Delaney in CD6.
As Labor Day marks the ramping up of the 2016 campaign, it’s become clear that a second Montgomery County-based congressional district will face a crowded—and financially costly—contest in next April’s primary election.
But, while a seven-way Democratic primary in District 8 is likely to determine the successor to Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen, the primary season maneuvering in neighboring District 6 has been on the Republican side. So far, seven Republicans have filed to compete for the nomination for the seat first captured in 2012 by Democratic Rep. John Delaney, and more may join them.
Four of the candidates are considered top tier, per Peck’s GOP sources - Montgomery County businessman Frank Howard, Washington County Commissioners President Terry Baker, first term Frederick Delegate David Vogt, and Potomac national security consultant Amie Hoeber.
Hoeber is a name I haven’t heard before, and Peck is chock full of interesting details about her.
“I’m not self-financing— I’m raising funds like mad and I think I’m being very successful,” said Hoeber, a deputy undersecretary of the Army during the Reagan administration who, at 73, is making her first run for elective office. But she acknowledged, “I certainly will partially self-fund it.” She declined to specify an amount of self-funding, but added: “I’m willing to put in a fair amount of money. I care enough about doing this to take some action.”
A significant portion of the funding for Hoeber’s candidacy is expected to come from her husband, Mark Epstein— a long-time senior executive of Qualcomm, a leading developer and manufacturer of mobile communications technology. According to sources, Epstein is preparing to set up a so-called “Super PAC” to benefit Hoeber’s campaign, and donate as much as $1 million of his personal assets to it.
* * *Hoeber is said to have been urged to enter the District 6 contest by the National Republican Congressional Committee—the campaign arm of the House GOP majority—with officials there eager to recruit a female candidate with relatively centrist leanings. “I think I bring a measured approach to issues that looks at practical solutions—and not extreme ideology—that can attract a broad range of voters, so that we can take back the district for the Republicans,” Hoeber said.
Whew that’s a lot. And she was appointed to a political position BEFORE “Eye of the Tiger” was released. I was still in high school. That was a very long time ago in a galaxy far far away.
It’s a long article and there’s lots of interesting tidbits and gossip. Go read it. This is turning into a race worth watching, even if it’s the folks on the other side of the aisle.