MyDD :: Chris Van Hollen Named DCCC Chair

Chris Van Hollen Named DCCC Chair

by Chris Bowers, Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 11:45:50 AM EST

Incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will tap Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) to "chair the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for the 2008 campaign cycle," reports Roll Call.

"While Van Hollen was seen as a favorite in the race to replace outgoing Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), who said he would not serve another term, the Maryland lawmaker is not viewed as a Pelosi loyalist."

I have done some real quick background, and the most interesting bit I have found is that while, like Rahm, he came in 2002, he was significantly outspent in his contested Democratic primary by Mark Kennedy Shriver (Rahm used a big money advantage and the Chicago machine to narrowly defeat a grassroots candidate in his primary). That is a good sign for the way Van Hollen will act during primary campaigns. In the general, against a popular, "moderate" Republican incumbent, Van Hollen won by 4% in a district with a partisan voting index of Dem +19.9. ~~Even in an open seat, against a well funded opponent, and even in a year like 2002, that isn't very good for a district that is so incredibly blue.~~ For more on his 2002 race, click here.

He seems to be quite progressive, with a voting loyalty rate approaching 100%. You can see more of his voting record here. The Stakeholder has a video of him speaking at Jesse Lee's high school.

Some more party positions announced today:

Congressman Xavier Becerra of California as Assistant to the Speaker
Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald of California as Chairwoman of the House Administration Committee
Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio as Chairwoman of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney of New York as Vice Chairwoman of the Joint Economic Committee

We seem to be moving forward quite well. I can't imagine Van Hollen upsetting netroots activists the same way as Rahm.

Update: Info on the 2002 eleciton in MD-08 revised and updated. I told you it only takes 15 minutes for me to retract mistakes when I make them.

Tags: Democrats, DCCC, MD-08, Chris Van Hollen, Rahm Emmanuel (all tags)

Permalink :: 17 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Chris Van Hollen Named DCCC Chair (none / 0)

His Republican opponent Connie Morella was well-loved in the district, an considered fairly liberal.

by Matt Stoller on Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 11:50:13 AM EST

2002 (none / 0)

Wasn't an open seat. Van Hollen beat a popular 16-year incumbent in Connie Morella, a pro-choice, pro-gay, pro-environment, anti-gun and anti-impeachment anomaly in the Republican party. It's no sin to have "just" beaten her by four points.

As to whether Van Hollen will piss people off, I think it's an inherent part of the job -- if you're recruiting candidates other than the "grassroots favorites" or showing preferences about priorities between districts which are not universally agreed-upon.

by Adam B on Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 11:51:15 AM EST

Re: Chris Van Hollen Named DCCC Chair (none / 0)

Somewhat less encouragingly, Van Hollen won the 2002 general in MD-08 by only 4% in a district with a partisan voting index of Dem +19.9. Even in an open seat [sic?, Morrella lost as an incumbent], against a well funded opponent, and even in a year like 2002, that isn't very good for a district that is so incredibly blue.

To be fair, he did manage to defeat Connie Morrella, who had a reputation as one of the most liberal Republicans in the house, at a time when that statement wasn't completely oxymoronic. For better or for worse (there are arguments either way), there aren't that many seats in the house like that left (cough, Chris Shays, cough).

by jfaberuiuc on Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 11:53:51 AM EST

May I quote Joe Trippi? (none / 0)

"It's not easy to beat incumbents."

by stevehigh on Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 11:55:22 AM EST

Van Hollen and Emanuel (none / 0)

I concur with the previous posts, CVH won a difficult race against a popular incumbent in a bad year for Dems; his victory should be encouraging not discouraging. Van Hollen will be a great D-Trip chair.

I'd also note that the "grassroots candidate" Chris refers to used repugnant, openly anti-Semitic attacks against Rahm Emanuel. The better candidate won that primary.

by madorskytapir on Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 11:57:37 AM EST

Re: Van Hollen and Emanuel (none / 0)

I didn't know that. Do you have a source?

by Matt Stoller on Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 12:19:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Van Hollen and Emanuel (none / 0)

Knowing nothing beyond what wikipedia tells me, the comments in question came from Edward Moskal, president of the Polish American Congress, and not Nancy Kaszak, his opponent, who disavoed the remarks.

wikipedia link here.

by jfaberuiuc on Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 12:24:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Van Hollen and Emanuel (none / 0)

You are right about that... Nancy Kaszak didn't say anything semitic about Rahm... it was danm ignorant Ed Moskal that said those things.

The only authority I have in such matters is that I am a polish american living in Chicago.

by Legionnaire on Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 01:02:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Chris Van Hollen Named DCCC Chair (3.00 / 1)

CVH is my Congressman, and I helped vote him in in 2002 against Connie Morella. The attitude in MD-8 at the time was, "We all love Connie, and we know we'll be losing seniority, but we just can't stand Bush and the War." We were four years ahead of the times, so to speak.

CVH has been a reliably liberal voice for his true-blue constituency (Bethesda, MD, which is in the district, was ranked the most liberal municipality in the country back in 2002). Back when John Conyers had those hearings in the House basement on the Downing Street Minutes, CVH was there, for example. He's also been extremely successful at fund-raising, so this is a positive step for the DCCC.

Radarlady

by radarlady on Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 12:41:57 PM EST

Re: Chris Van Hollen Named DCCC Chair (none / 0)

My favorite appointment:
Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio as Chairwoman of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct

by stumpy on Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 02:49:15 PM EST

Re: Chris Van Hollen Named DCCC Chair (none / 0)

Van Hollen is my congressman, and I've been very pleased with his performance, so much so that I was very dissapointed when he didn't jump into the 2006 senate race. He'll do a terrific job as DCCC chair. But even better is what this choice says about Pelosi. I was enraged when she publicly supported Murtha over Hoyer (which was totally unprecedented) and used her chief lieutenant George Miller to browbeat members to vote for Murtha. Van Hollen was a pretty active supporter of Hoyer, so this choice shows that Pelosi is not acting in a vindictive fashion. She'll be a great speaker, and Van Hollen will be a great chairman.

by JRyan on Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 03:18:22 PM EST

Re: Chris Van Hollen Named DCCC Chair (none / 0)

I guess there's a ton of us from the Maryland 8th here.

I'm not a super huge fan. He's generally reliable but never seems to have his heart in the issues I care about. But he's real smart and obviously did a great job this past year. Out of all the people who could have been selected he's a very excellent choice.

by js noble on Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 03:40:57 PM EST

Re: Chris Van Hollen Named DCCC Chair (none / 0)

Well, this is the most politically oriented district in the country. There's a saying that everyone in the 8th district wants to run for president, not congress.

by JRyan on Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 04:56:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Chris Van Hollen Named DCCC Chair (none / 0)

Raging Democrat who voted for Connie Morella.

by notime4lies on Wed Dec 20, 2006 at 01:01:57 PM EST

Re: Chris Van Hollen Named DCCC Chair (none / 0)

Connie's picture was in the dictionary under RINO.

by notime4lies on Wed Dec 20, 2006 at 01:03:15 PM EST

Re: Chris Van Hollen Named DCCC Chair (none / 0)

Radarlady is absolutely right. I was living in Virginia in '02.

by notime4lies on Wed Dec 20, 2006 at 01:04:23 PM EST

Re: Chris Van Hollen Named DCCC Chair (none / 0)

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