The Post has more on the newest CD8 candidate, David Anderson.

Anderson said he would bring a “center-left progressive” perspective to a race dominated by liberals, while running a “low-budget upset campaign.”

For example, he said he was inclined to oppose the nuclear deal with Iran. If elected he would focus on opportunities to work with Republicans in a bipartisan manner, he said.

* * *

He also teaches a graduate-level government class at Johns Hopkins University titled “Scandal Management, Ethics and Public Policy,” which teaches students how politicians and nonprofit leaders deal with “privacy, safety, race and affirmative action, pornography and cybersecurity, downsizing in the public sector, and leadership.” He previously spent 12 years teaching political ethics at George Washington University’s graduate school.

Anderson wrote a recent opinion piece in the Sun proposing paid parental leave and tax credits for stay-at-home parents. He said that would be a lead issue on his campaign, one he has been working on since the 1980s,

Yay to paid parental leave. Ugh to the rest. And opposing the Iran deal and proposing bipartisanship in this district (Cook PVI of D+11) is not “center left.”

With so many candidates chasing the “leftier than thou” title, there’s definitely room for a moderate in the race. But be honest and let’s call it what it is, k?

Note to the Post: “His candidacy was first reported by the Baltimore Sun” is false. It was “first reported” by me. As the Sun noted. Bloggers are people too, y’know. Sniff. Sob. No, no, I’m fine, really.

So says John Fritze of the Sun.

WASHINGTON — David M. Anderson, a senior vice president at the Washington Center and an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins University, said he will enter the race for the Democratic nomination in Maryland’s 8th Congressional District.

Anderson will formally announce his candidacy in the next few weeks, he said, joining a crowded field of Democrats hoping to succeed Rep. Chris Van Hollen, who is running for Senate. The district is based in Montgomery County but includes portions of Frederick and Carroll counties.
“I am fed up with the dysfunction in Washington and believe that part of the solution will involve innovative policies,” said Anderson, a Potomac resident who described himself as a center-left progressive. “I will bring fresh ideas and a unique background to the campaign.”

More importantly for me and my ego are the next 16 words, which should impress not only you but any woman I find myself talking to in a bar for like the next 25 years.

News of Anderson’s interest in the contest was first reported by the political blog Maryland Scramble.

I can just see the conversation now . . .

Me: “Hey, so I had this blog, and y’know this one time a newspaper publicly credited me with a story about a guy who nobody had heard of and . . .”

Her (with blank look): “What’s a newspaper?”

Well, anyway, thanks, John Fritze. You made my day. At least so far. Before we get carried away, though, let’ssee how the rest of Wednesday goes.

Multiple sources are reporting that there’s a new candidate running in CD8. His name is David Anderson, he’s the senior Vice President for state affairs at The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, a group that works with states to bring students to DC for internships. Anderson also teaches at Johns Hopkins and has previously taught at George Washington University and elsewhere. 

The key word for Anderson is “leverage.” Not being a business person, I couldn’t begin to tell you what it means (“using a lever to lift large objects” is about as far as my non-theoretical science brain got in school) but apparently it applies to pretty much everything, if this profile is accurate. Anderson also ran a youth vote organization in the 2004 presidential race.

Sources indicate that Anderson does not intend to self-fund. Where he’s going to raise money, given the already substantial amounts raised in this race, is a complete mystery. I’m also advised that Anderson intends to pursue the moderate, pro-business vote in the race, which while not as minuscule as is often portrayed, is definitely a distinct minority.

Interesting fun fact: while CD6 Congressman John Delaney lives in CD8, Mr. Anderson lives in CD6, although within a stone’s throw or two from the district line. In the unlikely event that Anderson wins, maybe he and Delaney can swap districts and reestablish balance in the universe?