On Monday night, Oct. 5, hundreds of citizens, legislators and other political figures gathered at Boordy Vineyard in Hydes for the annual “birthday bash” fundraiser for Seventh District Delegate Kathy Szeliga. While the event’s attendance has been growing steadily for all seven years, undoubtedly some of the popularity this year was due to rumors of Del. Szeliga considering a bid for the U.S. Senate seat held by the retiring Barbara Mikulski.
“I am seriously considering a US Senate run,” she announced to enthusiastic applause. “Things are looking good.”
However, she stated that her final decision has not been made, but will be forthcoming sometime this fall. Speaking with the East County Times prior to the event, she elaborated on her motivations for seeking higher office.
“I’m looking at this race seriously because I look at my kids and my new baby granddaughter and I’m very troubled with the direction the world is headed in. I feel it is my duty and responsibility to do whatever I can to leave the state and the country in better shape for them,” she opined.
Specifically, she thinks a change of course is needed on the economy and national security. Szeliga, who just turned 54, has been in the Maryland General Assembly since 2010 and was selected by her fellow Republicans as Minority Whip, the second-most-powerful leadership position, in 2013. She serves on the Appropriations Committee, the Health and Human Resources Subcommittee, the Oversight Committee on Pensions, Maryland Veterans Caucus and the House Emergency Medical Services Workgroup. She is also a business owner heavily involved in her family’s construction business.
“Annapolis is a part-time legislature, so the wonderful thing about working as a delegate is that we have outside employment as well, so I bring an unique set of experience with both business and legislature,” she said.
This would contrast her with the Washington insiders currently in power in the nation’s capital, Szeliga believes.
“Washington is dysfunctional. We need new ideas, and as a working mom, I will bring new and fresh perspective to Washington,” she declared.
She also noted similarities between her background and Mikulski’s: “a tough, working-class Polish woman from the Baltimore region.”
As she evaluates her options in a potential Senate bid, Szeliga will look at a variety of factors, including the amount of support she is able to garner from both voters and party leaders.
“The support I’ve getting from leaders has been amazing,” she revealed. “In both the [state] House and Senate leaders are not only supporting me but strongly encouraging me to get in the race.”
Guests to the Boordy fundraiser included Senate Minority Leader J.B. Jennings (7) and House Minority Leader Nicholaus Kipke (31B), as well as fellow Delegates Ric Metzgar, Robin Grammer, and Bob Long (all R-6)- who she strongly supported in their 2014 campaign for the office- John Cluster (R-8), and others, as well as Anne Arundel County Executive Shuh, former Ambassador Ellen Sauerbrey and U.S. Congressman Andy Harris.
“We have a lot of people who do hard work putting forth their ideas,” Minority Leader Kipke told the crowd. “But every day over countless examples I’ve seen Kathy Szeliga do the harder job of helping other people succeed.”
He praised her for her efforts growing the party and ushering new Republicans to victory in November, calling her “authentic, real and conservative.”
Congressman Harris also threw his support behind Szeliga, noting that he believes the Republicans need a candidate who is from the Baltimore area and not the Washington suburbs, who has actually “signed the front of a paycheck and not the back” and who has political experience. Additionally, “The Republican party needs more women to run for office. Now, who do we know who fits that description?” he said. He added, “This Senate race is winnable,” but that it would take “the Hogan campaign on steroids” to achieve that victory.
Szeliga hopes to draw on supporters like the approximately 275 who were in attendance that night, she said.
She revealed to the East County Times that she has had conversations with prominent state Republicans like Michael Steele and Kendall Ehrlich, wife of former Gov. Robert Ehrlich, where they expressed strong support.
“We have a great turnout at this event; every year my support grows,” she said.
Other attendees commented that the crowd was three times bigger than they had seen before.
Amidst the accolades, one concern raised was the affect of a Senate campaign, which takes place statewide and would draw Szeliga out of her district, on her current duties as a delegate and as Minority Whip.
“We run on the off years, so my run for US Senate will not affect my job in Annapolis,” she assured supporters. “My commitment is to the caucus.”
When asked how she plans to strike that balance, she told the East County Times, “We well get that all figured out as we make a final decision.”
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