From Political Wire:
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.
