Michael Cryor

The John Sarbanes for Congress campaign released a video from one of the Maryland Democratic Party's 'Unity Picnics' -- this one at Banneker Historical Park in Baltimore County on July 13.

Attendees included Senator Ben Cardin, Represenatives Sarbanes and Elijah Cummings, congressional challengers Frank Kratovil and Jennifer Dougherty, and state Chair Michael Cryor.

The Democratic State Party has organized free picnics around the state to celebrate party unity after a long and divisive primary season.

Denver Renaissance HotelState Democratic Party leaders will be in Denver on Friday for a day-long Democratic National Convention walkthrough. Party Chair Michael Cryor, Executive Director Quincey Gamble and Finance Director Sue Levitan will tour the Pepsi Center from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. with their respective counterparts from all 50 states.

“We're fine tuning convention planning and more importantly working on the integration of the Obama campaign and the state party efforts,” said Gamble, in an email to PolitickerMD.com.

U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Kensington) the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) issued a congratulatory statement today in honor of U.S. Rep.-elect Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington), who was elected to represent the people of Maryland's 4th Congressional District, yesterday.

"On behalf of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, I congratulate Congresswoman-elect Donna Edwards on her victory and look forward to welcoming her to the House," Van Hollen said.

Ehrlich in oilIt's time for PolitickerMD.com's Winner and Losers, and as Barbara Mikulski could attest lately, you win some, you lose some. Also: scandals account for two losers, while Al Wynn cashes in and Bob Ehrlich takes his place in history.

All in Maryland's Winners and Losers for June 6, 2008. | CLICK HERE

Responding to our interview earlier today with Maryland Republican Party Chairman Jim Pelura, state Democratic Party Chairman Michael Cryor told PolitickerMD.com that Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-District Heights) should not succumb to GOP pressure to step down as chairman of the Budget and Taxation Committee.

"That would be a punitive action that I just don't think is warranted at this point," Cryor said. "We have no idea what the facts are."

He added, "What if (the FBI) got the wrong guy? How do you restore (Currie) after that?"

Speaking with PolitickerMD.com this morning, Maryland Republican Party Chairman Jim Pelura reaffirmed his belief that Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-District Heights) should step down as chairman of the powerful Budget and Taxation Committee at least until the investigation into the FBI raid of his home on Friday is complete.

The party chair said he was "not calling on (Currie) to resign from the Senate," and said, "He is innocent until proven guilty."

"This investigation has now expanded," Pelura said. "It is my understanding that (authorities) are now looking at his legislative records along with his personal records."

Cautions Critics, 'Wait For The Facts'

This evening, state Democratic Party Chair Michael Cryor came out in defense of longtime legislator and alleged target of a federal investigation, state Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Forestville), while chiding state Republicans for scandals of their own.

FBI agents raided Currie's home for documents last week, as well as the headquarters of Shoppers Food Warehouse in Lanham, a company for which Currie has consulted without disclosing to the State Ethics Commission.

"Senator Currie has a long and exemplary record of service to his community and the state of Maryland," Cyor said in a statement.

Last week, a spokesperson for the grocery store's parent company, Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, told The Baltimore Sun that Currie's consulting work is the focus of the probe, while it remains unknown whether Currie received a letter informing him he is the target of the investigation.

But Cryor implores Marylanders "to reserve judgment on any man or woman with such a track record until all the facts are in and the scrutiny has run its course."

"This is not a time for the Republican Party or anyone else to use vague and uncertain events as a smear tactic to score political points," he continued.

Speaking with PolitickerMD.com over the weekend, Maryland Democratic Party Chairman Michael Cryor said many of the state party's 500 volunteer coordinators would spend a significant portion of their time and energy working to elect State's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) in Maryland's 1st Congressional District.

"The race is becoming increasingly more competitive," Cryor said, calling Kratovil "a proven candidate" who can "work with the delegation."

The party chair said as many as 200 people attended a recent Kratovil volunteer session, and said state Democrats would continue to make their presence felt along the Eastern Shore.

Tuesday's Democratic victory in Mississippi's special congressional election, the party's third national victory in two months and second in 10 days, has Maryland Democratic Party officials confident that the trend could continue in Maryland, where Republicans hold the 1st and 6th district seats.

"Throw out the rules of political conventionality," state Democratic Party Chairman Michael Cryor said in a statement. "There are very few safe Republican seats in America anymore; not in the Midwest, not in the deep South and certainly not in a blue Mid-Atlantic state such as Maryland. It doesn't matter how long a Republican has held the seat. It doesn't matter how many votes George Bush got in 2004, America is voting for change in 2008. America is voting Democratic."