Political notes: sixth district GOP subject is rising, O’Malley portraits unveiled
The Republican subject in Maryland’s sixth congressional district is rising.
On Wednesday, Tom Royals, a former Navy officer and fight aviator, introduced his candidacy with a splashy two-minute biographical video. Heath Barnes, the mayor of Woodsboro who ran unsuccessfully for the Home of Delegates final 12 months, can be gearing as much as run.
Royals’ video, full with music and pictures worthy of the “High Gun” motion pictures, leans into his navy profession. Talking to the digicam, he recollects being a junior in highschool through the 9/11 terrorist strikes and making use of to attend the Naval Academy a number of months later. The advert contains a image of his utility letter, during which he wrote, “After I die, I wish to know that I’ve led a life within the service of God, nation, and others.”
The advert goes on to explain Royals’ navy service within the Persian Gulf. “Now,” he says, “I’m able to take the values that guided me in fight missions over Iraq and Afghanistan to combat for our nation in Congress.” The video then pivots to present affairs.
“As my spouse and I develop our family, I see an America beneath a special type of assault — from left-wing politicians concentrating on the rights of oldsters,” Royals says. “Lawlessness on the border and rampant crime. Reckless spending and out-of-control debt threatening our financial system.”
On the schooling entrance, the candidate vows: “I’ll by no means cease combating for the rights of our kids to be educated, not indoctrinated within the classroom.” And he concludes his pitch by saying, “When America is beneath assault, you ship a fighter.”
After leaving the navy, Royals obtained an MBA from the College of Virginia Darden College of Enterprise and is now an IT gross sales govt. He and his spouse Cathleen met in mass. They now have eight youngsters and dwell in Germantown.
For the marketing campaign, the neophyte candidate is working with FP1 Methods, a nationwide GOP consulting and media agency with a large steady of well-known shoppers.
Barnes, in the meantime, advised Maryland Issues on Wednesday that he plans to formally announce his bid in a matter of days. He has relaunched his Twitter web page and has a marketing campaign web site and Fb web page in growth. He additionally stepped down as second vice chair of the Maryland Republican Occasion earlier this week.
Though he’s overtly homosexual, Barnes attracted nationwide headlines not too long ago by showing earlier than the Frederick County Board of Training saying he wouldn’t ship his youngsters to public college — he presently doesn’t have children — due to the “sexualization” of schooling, an obvious reference to a faculty system coverage that encourages the instructing of gender inclusiveness.
Barnes mentioned he can flip the district, which has been represented by Democrats since 2013, to the GOP column, as a result of he can attraction to each Republicans and Democrats.
“We’re going to want a candidate that comes by means of the first on the Republican facet that pertains to each side,” he mentioned. “I don’t suppose extremism goes to work on both facet.”
Barnes additionally mentioned his monetary struggles as a younger man — he lived in his automotive briefly when he was in his ’20s — makes him relatable to a large swath of voters within the largely center class district, and supplies a distinction to the outgoing congressman, David Trone (D), a rich enterprise proprietor who’s operating for U.S. Senate.
“While you don’t have David Trone’s hundreds of thousands, both facet can win this district,” he mentioned. “It’s a stage taking part in subject.”
In his day job, Barnes is a human sources officer for a non-public firm. He has been burgess — the equal of mayor — in Woodsboro since Could 2021. He completed final in a four-way Republican major for 3 state Home seats in Frederick County’s 4th District final 12 months.
Six Republicans have now introduced bids for the seat or filed paperwork to develop into candidates, and the checklist is sort of sure to develop. The Democratic subject can be rising.
Unclear in the mean time is whether or not former Del. Dan Cox, the GOP’s 2022 nominee for governor, goes to run for the sixth District seat.
Official portraits of the O’Malley’s unveiled
The portrait of former Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) received’t be gathering mud within the governor’s mansion awaiting its set up within the State Home.
O’Malley and his spouse, retired Baltimore Metropolis District Courtroom Decide Katie Curran O’Malley, attended a non-public unveiling ceremony Wednesday night time hosted by Gov. Wes Moore (D) and his spouse, Daybreak, on the governor’s mansion.
The occasion marks the long-awaited arrival of the O’Malley’s official portraits. Dozens of former O’Malley-era and present officers, in addition to present and former lawmakers, together with former Sen. Barbara Mikulksi (D), attended the invitation-only occasion that was closed to the press.
O’Malley declined to reply questions concerning the portrait as he left the occasion.
The previous governor’s portrait is conventional. It options the two-term Democrat standing close to a window in his State Home workplace. There are a number of items of private art work seen within the background.
The portrait by Jorge Alberto Gonzlez relies on a photograph by Jay Baker, who served as O’Malley’s official photographer. Baker, the primary African American to carry the place of state photographer, died in June on the age of 64.
An outline of the portrait is featured on Gonzalez’s web site.
The portrait of Katie Curran O’Malley drew essentially the most consideration.
The primary girl is featured on the base of the staircase in Authorities Home. She is sporting her judicial gown leaning on the banister. In her hand is a gavel that belonged to her father, J. Joseph Curran, when he served as chair of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.
The portrait by Hans Guerin is pretty distinctive amongst different portraits within the state assortment. Most characteristic the primary girls in additional formal apparel. Yumi Hogan, nation’s first Asian American first girl, is featured sporting a conventional Korean hanbok.
Curran O’Malley’s portrait is featured on Guerin’s web site.
Archives officers on Wednesday mentioned the portrait of the governor will take its place within the Governor’s Reception Room contained in the State Home between Maryland’s final two Republican governors, Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and Larry Hogan.
Katie Curran O’Malley’s portrait will likely be put in alongside different latest first girls in Authorities Home.
The previous governor’s portrait will likely be put in within the State Home with no further fanfare.
Supply hyperlink