By Adam Pagnucco.
Most Maryland State Senate elections involving incumbents are not really elections – they’re more like coronations. That’s because ambitious General Assembly candidates typically start out by running for appointments and/or open delegate seats. Sure, once in a while an incumbent gets knocked out like Baltimore City Senator George Della (defeated by future Senate President Bill Ferguson in 2010) or Baltimore City Senator Nathaniel McFadden (beaten by young and hungry Delegate Cory McCray in 2018). But those are exceptions to the rule in most districts.
And then there’s District 18.
There has to be something in the waters of Rock Creek driving political ambition up and down Connecticut Avenue. Consider these challenges to District 18 State Senators over the years:
1990: Delegate Patty Sher defeats Senator Margaret Schweinhaut 64-36%.
1994: Delegate Chris Van Hollen defeats Senator Patty Sher 75-25%.
2010: Incumbent Rich Madaleno defeats challenger Michael Griffiths 79-21%.
2014: Incumbent Rich Madaleno defeats challenger Dana Beyer 58-42%.
2022: Incumbent Jeff Waldstreicher defeats challenger Max Socol 64-36%.
Those are just challenges to incumbents. Open Senate seat races in 2002 and 2018 were fiercely competitive.
The current incumbent, Jeff Waldstreicher, has had competitive races in every one of his elections for the Senate and House since 2006. Last time, he absolutely dismantled Socol, a quality challenger who would have been competitive in a delegate race.
This time around, Waldstreicher has a message to any potential opponents lying in wait: don’t dare think about it! First, he showed nearly $600,000 in cash balance in January, a sum that will almost certainly increase. Now, he has issued a reelection announcement jam-packed with endorsements ranging from famous elected officials to prominent activists inside the district and beyond.
Will it be enough to help Waldstreicher become the first incumbent District 18 State Senator since Chris Van Hollen to avoid a challenge? We’ll see soon enough.
*****
WALDSTREICHER ANNOUNCES FOR RE-ELECTION WITH GROUNDSWELL OF EARLY ENDORSEMENTS
Pledges to Fight to Bring Down Costs & Stand Up to Lawless Trump Administration
KENSINGTON, Md., June 19, 2025 — Today, Maryland Senator Jeff Waldstreicher, a Democrat, announced that he is running for re-election.
Waldstreicher, a member of Senate Leadership and Vice Chair of the Judicial Proceedings Committee, also released a list of community leaders and elected officials supporting his re-election campaign.
Elected endorsers include Governor Wes Moore, Senator Angela Alsobrooks, Attorney General Anthony Brown, Congressman Jamie Raskin, former Attorney General Brian Frosh, and former State Senator Rich Madaleno, among many others.
Waldstreicher also announced early endorsements from Montgomery County Firefighters (IAFF Local 1664), Montgomery County Government Employees Organization (UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO), SEIU Local 500, Montgomery County Fraternal Order of Police (Lodge 35), United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400, Teamsters Local 639, Progressive Maryland President Sean Dobson, and Reproductive Justice Maryland President Sharon Blugis. Waldstreicher stated: “I’m excited to run for re-election! In the Senate, I’ll fight to lower everyday costs for my constituents, stand up to the lawless Trump Administration, and pass common-sense gun safety legislation.”
Waldstreicher added: “I’m humbled that these diverse community leaders and elected officials are supporting my re-election campaign. Together, we’ll join together to fight for our shared values.”
The full list of supporters follows:
Governor Wes Moore
Senator Angela Alsobrooks
Attorney General Anthony Brown
Congressman Jamie Raskin
Congresswoman April McClain Delaney
Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth
Congressman Glenn Ivey
Congressman Johnny Olszewski
President Bill Ferguson
Chairman Will Smith
County Councilmember Natali Fani-González
Board of Education Member Laura Stewart
Councilmember Greg Chernack
Mayor Tracey Furman
Fmr. Attorney General Brian Frosh
Fmr. County Executive Ike Leggett
Fmr. State Senator Rich Madaleno
Fmr. State Delegate Ana Sol Gutiérrez
Fmr. United States Attorney Erek Barron
Fmr. Senator Jill Carter
Fmr. County Councilmember Tom Hucker
Valarie Barr & Roger Paden, Silver Spring
Emily Beckman, Kensington
Sharon Blugis, President, Reproductive Justice Maryland
Marilyn Bracken, Chevy Chase
Carole Brand, Chevy Chase
Bruce Cohen, Silver Spring
Ben Crump, Civil Rights Leader
Michael DeLong, Silver Spring
Vinny DeMarco, Healthcare Activist
Sean Dobson, President, Progressive Maryland
Hon. Susan Esserman
Amanda Farber, Bethesda
Sheldon Fishman, Silver Spring
Cheryl Gannon, Silver Spring
Susie & Michael Gelman, Chevy Chase
Hon. Scott Goldberg
Shefa Gordon & Aimee Smart, Silver Spring
Peter Gray, Silver Spring
Mara Greengrass, Rockville
Henry Hailstock, fmr. President, NAACP
Hon. Susan Heltemes, Silver Spring
Stephanie Joseph, Silver Spring
Jerry Kickenson & Kathy Michels, Wheaton
Brian Kildee, Kensington
Hon. Dave Kunes
Steve Lawton, Chevy Chase
Minh Le, Chevy Chase
Sandra Marquardt, Silver Spring
DeRay McKesson, Civil Rights Leader
Giselle Morch, Silver Spring
Kim Persaud, Wheaton
Dan Reed, Affordable Housing Leader
Jonathan Robinson, Affordable Housing Leader
Marquette Rogers, Wheaton
Abe Saffer, Lyttonsville
Joyce Schwartz, Chevy Chase
Jennifer Stein, Chevy Chase
Alex Stone, Jewish Communal Leader
Paul Tiao, Kensington
Matt Tifford, Rockville
Sylvia Tognetti & Tom Colbert, Silver Spring
Hon. Susie Turnbull
Patricia Tyson, Lyttonsville
Gidon van Emden, Silver Spring
Marisa Van Saanen, Garrett Park
Lorna Virgili, Wheaton
Carrie Witkop, Chevy Chase
Janet Wegner, Garrett Park
# # #
Press Contact: Name: Jeremy Massey Email: jmassey@mdsenatedems.org
About Jeff Waldstreicher: Elected to the State Senate in 2018, Senator Jeff Waldstreicher represents Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Kensington, Silver Spring, Lyttonsville, Wheaton, Rockville, and Garrett Park. A Democrat, he is a member of Senate Leadership and Vice Chair of the Judicial Proceedings Committee. He has authored landmark legislation to hold the gun industry accountable, protect reproductive freedom, and reform our criminal justice system. Born and raised in Montgomery County, he lives with his wife and three children in Kensington.