Citing illness, Trachtenberg withdraws from 6th District race

Duchy Trachtenberg, a former Montgomery County Council member who was the first to enter the race for the Democratic nomination in Maryland’s 6th Congressional District, said Wednesday she is withdrawing. 

In a statement, Trachtenberg said she has had a recurrence of breast cancer that she was first diagnosed with in 2011. “While I undertook the campaign with a clean bill of health, circumstances have now deteriorated to the point where I honestly cannot continue the race,” she said. “I must focus my energies on treatment and recovery with the love and support of my family.”

Trachtenberg was running an underdog campaign against State Sen. Rob Garagiola, who has been a more aggressive fundraiser. However, Trachtenberg was likely to draw support from several women’s groups and she was citing her record on the council to position herself as a moderate alternative in the potential swing district. 

A spokesman for Trachtenberg said she has no immediate plans to endorse another candidate. The seat is currently held by Republican Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett, but the district was made more competitive in last year’s redistricting.