Md. Senate GOP leaders may face internal challenges

The top two Republicans in the Maryland Senate could find themselves in a battle for the leadership of the caucus as some are calling for early elections. 

Members of the caucus are scheduled to meet via conference call Wednesday, and some are expected to push for a new election by the end of September rather than the end of the year, as has been traditional.

Sen. Steve Hershey, an Upper Shore Republican and the minority whip, appears to have a challenger, but Sen. J.B. Jennings, R-Baltimore and Harford counties and the minority leader, could also be in jeopardy, according to sources within the caucus who asked to not be identified in order to speak freely about internal party matters.

Jennings and Hershey have led the caucus since 2014 and 2015, respectively, and are liked both within their party and by Democratic senators. 

Some are now questioning whether changes in the Senate’s politics require adjustments after six years.

Supporters point out that the pair have done a good job of protecting Republican positions while also being able to negotiate with longtime Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller Jr. — who may have been more willing and able to stymie hard-left agendas — and Miller’s successor, Senate President Bill Ferguson, to make some bills less harmful.

One example, those sources pointed to, was the Kirwan education funding bill passed earlier this year. Senate Republicans claimed a victory when the chamber voted to add a trigger provision in that bill that would slow funding in the event of a severe economic downturn such as the one that is following the ongoing pandemic.

House Republicans unsuccessfully proposed the same amendment before it was added in the Senate.

The pair have also shown a willingness to fight on the floor on issues including Kirwan, tax increase and minimum wage and paid sick leave. They also proposed changes to the Board of Public Works, which included an unsuccessful attempt to filibuster the bill by reading from a nearly forgotten tome on the history of the panel that is unique in the country.

Some in the caucus say they are concerned with what appears to be a “laissez faire” attitude — a lack of legislative agendas, fundraising to help in Senate races, news conferences, statements or general willingness to push Republican arguments in social media and on the floor, sources said. 

Some in the caucus point to their colleagues across the hall, led by Dels. Nic Kipke and Kathy Szeliga, who represent Anne Arundel and Baltimore and Harford counties respectively. The pair have frequent news conferences, including announcing public goals for sessions, as well as raise money for races.

Some expressed disappointment in an inability to elect five more Republicans to the Senate — enough to allow Republicans to block veto overrides and filibusters. Optimistic Republicans were thwarted in the “drive for five,” despite Gov. Larry Hogan’s re-election to a second term in office. 

Democratic voters, angry with President Donald Trump, liked Hogan’s personal brand but rejected other Republicans, including every sitting county executive except Harford County Executive Barry Glassman.

Additionally, changes in the Senate, most notably the decision by Miller to retire from his leadership post, have raised concerns among some Republicans that more needs to be done to defend against a Democratic majority that is leaning more and more to the left.

Some members believe those criticisms could apply equally to both Senate Republicans, the sources said.

Hershey declined to comment for this story, as did Jennings. 

Should an election be called for September, Jennings and Hershey would each run separately, a difference from the House of Delegates, where the leader and whip run together as a ticket. 

No challenger has yet been identified for Jennings, and it is uncertain one is waiting in the wings. Republicans inside the caucus caution that anything can happen once a leadership election is called.

Hershey, however, has moved front and center for some who felt that a number of messages posted to social media — primarily his Twitter account — placed Republican senators from competitive districts in politically difficult positions. 

“For anyone sitting on the sidelines who won’t speak loudly, I’ll say it again for those in the back: We aren’t delaying our November election. It is an absurd notion, an unAmerican suggestion and one that every Republican colleague of mine should disavow, without hesitation,” Hersey posted on Twitter in a message. 

The now-deleted message came shortly after Trump suggested on Twitter that the November election might  be delayed because of the pandemic. 

Some Maryland Republicans said Hershey’s response potentially put Republicans in competitive districts in Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Harford counties in a difficult position. Other said the message wasn’t intended to spotlight members of the Maryland Senate. 

Hershey is also being criticized by some for messages on Twitter following a mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, an incident he called an incident of white nationalist terrorism.

If the caucus votes to approve holding an election before the end of September, Hershey is likely to face a challenge from Sen. Michael Hough, R-Frederick.

Hough, who declined to comment for this story, led Senate Republicans in donations to other races, giving more than $180,000 in the 2018 election cycle as his party sought to add five additional seats.

Hough, a delegate at the time, challenged and defeated Sen. David Brinkley in 2014, claiming Brinkley wasn’t conservative enough for the district and had been co-opted by Miller.