Eric Wargotz

Eric Wargotz, a Republican who ran an unsuccessful campaign against Democratic Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski in 2010, said Saturday he wants to take a "second look" at running for Senate this year now that State Sen. C. Anthony Muse is in the race. Earlier this year Wargotz considered running against Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin but announced in November he would not seek the seat. Now he says that Muse's candidacy -- announced Thursday -- may provide an opportunity for a Republican candidate to be more competitive.

In addition to having a hand on the nation's checkbook, Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski is reaping a political reward from her new assignment as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee: a significant increase in campaign cash. The Maryland Democrat, who is not up for reelection until 2016, raised $191,000 in the first three months of this year - many times the $7,737 she collected over the same period last year, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Eric Wargotz, a Republican commissioner from one of Maryland's least populated counties, has earned the unenviable task of challenging Democratic incumbent Barbara A. Mikulski in the U.S. Senate election this fall. Wargotz, a genial physician from Queen Anne's County, spent hundreds of thousands of his own dollars in outpacing tea-party favorite Jim Rutledge in the 11-way contest for the Republican nomination. According to unofficial results early Wednesday from the Maryland Board of Elections, Wargotz received 38.7 percent of the statewide primary vote to 31.4 percent for Rutledge, a lawyer from Harford County.

Eric Wargotz, a Republican who ran an unsuccessful campaign against Democratic Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski in 2010, said Saturday he wants to take a "second look" at running for Senate this year now that State Sen. C. Anthony Muse is in the race. Earlier this year Wargotz considered running against Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin but announced in November he would not seek the seat. Now he says that Muse's candidacy -- announced Thursday -- may provide an opportunity for a Republican candidate to be more competitive.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski is out of touch with the average Marylander. She has been a rubber stamp for Barack Obama's agenda every step of the way. She has voted for the bailouts, Obamacare and trillions in new spending. How does she expect us to ever pay off our national debt? We are depending on the Chinese Communists to finance our debt. We are beholden to our enemies. America is in a precarious situation because we have leaders who are either very ignorant or don't care. Our two ultra-liberal senators (Ms. Mikulski and Sen. Ben Cardin)

Two Republicans claiming tea party credentials have emerged as front-runners among 11 candidates hoping to dethrone Maryland Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski in November. Eric Wargotz, a Queen Anne's County commissioner and physician, says he's the candidate to beat among Republicans after a Rasmussen Poll showed a 25 percentage-point gap between Wargotz and Mikulski in July shrank to 16 points among likely Maryland voters in August. "That's significant," Wargotz said of the poll, which shows Mikulski with a 55-39 percent lead.

Wa-aay behind in the polls, the Republican who's trying to unseat Democrat Sen. Barbara Mikulski has resorted to a most unusual Hail Mary pass. Dr. Eric Wargotz has posted a video of his three kids — Jacob, 13; Samuel, 11; and Leila, 9 — singing a campaign rap song. ( See it on YouTube under "Wargotz-Mikulski Rap. " ) Here's a snippet: "Yo, what's up now, my brothers and sisters / Let me tell you 'bout a very smart mister / His name is Eric Wargotz and he's running for Senate / U.S., that is. And he's in it to win it. " Maybe this is part of that hip-hop makeover RNC chief and former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele vowed to bring the GOP. It is certainly, as Steele promised, "off the hook.

In addition to having a hand on the nation's checkbook, Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski is reaping a political reward from her new assignment as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee: a significant increase in campaign cash. The Maryland Democrat, who is not up for reelection until 2016, raised $191,000 in the first three months of this year - many times the $7,737 she collected over the same period last year, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Last week, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg dipped his toe in Maryland's political waters to bestow his blessing upon Gov. Martin O'Malley's re-election bid. A day later, the National Rifle Association announced its backing for 1st District Congressman Frank Kratovil, one of the most endangered House Democrats in the country. What should we make of the impact of these developments? Not much, frankly. The endorsements may help Messrs. O'Malley and Kratovil a little. But their electoral fates will not be determined by endorsements — and, in any event, there won't be many political surprises in Maryland this November.

The first and likely only debate between Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Republican challenger Eric Wargotz appeared unlikely to alter the dynamics of a U.S. Senate contest that seems all but decided. Even as the two met Monday on Maryland Public Television, a new Baltimore Sun poll showed the Democratic incumbent with a nearly 2-to-1 advantage. Wargotz did his best to play on anti-establishment and anti-incumbent sentiment, promising not to be part of the "same old, same old" in Washington.

Less than a month after bruising top-of-ticket losses on Election Day, Maryland Republicans have quickly discovered life after Ehrlich, seating a new lineup of local elected officials on the party's bench and fielding a surprisingly diverse range of candidates for state chairman. The resounding defeat of Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., who was seeking a return as governor, solidified Maryland's standing as among the most heavily Democratic states. Gov. Martin O'Malley coasted to re-election, and Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski easily won a fifth term.

In a year when the smart money was on outsiders and dissatisfaction with government is high, Maryland voters bucked the tide, reelecting Martin O'Malley over former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. by a margin even greater than their first match-up four years ago. The unlikely outcome is destined to produce its share of crowing (and finger-pointing) by the political establishment. From the outset, Mr. O'Malley seemed to run the more aggressive and effective campaign — launching it earlier, raising more money, sticking to a message and collecting more endorsements.

When she arrived for her senior aerobics class at the Randallstown Community Center the other morning, Mrs. Willie Tombs was surprised to bump into Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski. Tombs got a kiss and hug from the Democratic veteran, along with a gentle reminder that "we're doing early voting now. Can we count on you to turn out?" The answer was yes. After the senator moved on, the Pikesville resident said she's been personally familiar with Mikulski "for years. I knew her when she was a social worker" in East Baltimore in the 1960s.

Wa-aay behind in the polls, the Republican who's trying to unseat Democrat Sen. Barbara Mikulski has resorted to a most unusual Hail Mary pass. Dr. Eric Wargotz has posted a video of his three kids — Jacob, 13; Samuel, 11; and Leila, 9 — singing a campaign rap song. ( See it on YouTube under "Wargotz-Mikulski Rap. " ) Here's a snippet: "Yo, what's up now, my brothers and sisters / Let me tell you 'bout a very smart mister / His name is Eric Wargotz and he's running for Senate / U.S., that is. And he's in it to win it. " Maybe this is part of that hip-hop makeover RNC chief and former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele vowed to bring the GOP. It is certainly, as Steele promised, "off the hook.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski is out of touch with the average Marylander. She has been a rubber stamp for Barack Obama's agenda every step of the way. She has voted for the bailouts, Obamacare and trillions in new spending. How does she expect us to ever pay off our national debt? We are depending on the Chinese Communists to finance our debt. We are beholden to our enemies. America is in a precarious situation because we have leaders who are either very ignorant or don't care. Our two ultra-liberal senators (Ms. Mikulski and Sen. Ben Cardin)

The first and likely only debate between Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Republican challenger Eric Wargotz appeared unlikely to alter the dynamics of a U.S. Senate contest that seems all but decided. Even as the two met Monday on Maryland Public Television, a new Baltimore Sun poll showed the Democratic incumbent with a nearly 2-to-1 advantage. Wargotz did his best to play on anti-establishment and anti-incumbent sentiment, promising not to be part of the "same old, same old" in Washington.

In a year when the smart money was on outsiders and dissatisfaction with government is high, Maryland voters bucked the tide, reelecting Martin O'Malley over former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. by a margin even greater than their first match-up four years ago. The unlikely outcome is destined to produce its share of crowing (and finger-pointing) by the political establishment. From the outset, Mr. O'Malley seemed to run the more aggressive and effective campaign — launching it earlier, raising more money, sticking to a message and collecting more endorsements.

When she arrived for her senior aerobics class at the Randallstown Community Center the other morning, Mrs. Willie Tombs was surprised to bump into Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski. Tombs got a kiss and hug from the Democratic veteran, along with a gentle reminder that "we're doing early voting now. Can we count on you to turn out?" The answer was yes. After the senator moved on, the Pikesville resident said she's been personally familiar with Mikulski "for years. I knew her when she was a social worker" in East Baltimore in the 1960s.

Last week, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg dipped his toe in Maryland's political waters to bestow his blessing upon Gov. Martin O'Malley's re-election bid. A day later, the National Rifle Association announced its backing for 1st District Congressman Frank Kratovil, one of the most endangered House Democrats in the country. What should we make of the impact of these developments? Not much, frankly. The endorsements may help Messrs. O'Malley and Kratovil a little. But their electoral fates will not be determined by endorsements — and, in any event, there won't be many political surprises in Maryland this November.

Eric Wargotz, a Republican commissioner from one of Maryland's least populated counties, has earned the unenviable task of challenging Democratic incumbent Barbara A. Mikulski in the U.S. Senate election this fall. Wargotz, a genial physician from Queen Anne's County, spent hundreds of thousands of his own dollars in outpacing tea-party favorite Jim Rutledge in the 11-way contest for the Republican nomination. According to unofficial results early Wednesday from the Maryland Board of Elections, Wargotz received 38.7 percent of the statewide primary vote to 31.4 percent for Rutledge, a lawyer from Harford County.