Independent Journal - The "American Conservative Union' Endorses a Candidate to Replace Hillary Ally in Deep Blue Maryland

By Maegan Vazquez

A woman hoping to nab a long-held democratic seat in the U.S. Senate just got a huge boost from one of the nation's largest conservative organizations.

The American Conservative Union has endorsed Kathy Szeliga for Maryland's senate race. She currently serves as the Minority Whip in the Maryland House of Delegates, and has been a delegate since 2011.

The American Conservative Union is the largest grassroots conservative organization in the country. It famously hosts the Conservative Political Action Conference and houses the ACU Political Action Committee.

ACU Chairman Matt Schlapp said in a press release:

"Kathy Szeliga is a strong believer in the American Dream. She knows what it means to go from working for minimum wage to building a successful small business. As Minority Whip in the Maryland House, Kathy has shown leadership in an overwhelmingly liberal legislature.

"She is a committed Constitutional conservative who has proven herself, earning a 2015 ACU Conservative Achievement Award. ACU urges the people of Maryland to support and vote for Kathy in the April 26th Primary."

The primaries will be on April 26, and Szeliga is in fine shape. She appears to have out-fundraised her conservative competitors and is currently the only Republican candidate with an ad on Maryland's airwaves:

Szeliga has also been endorsed by Maryland Congressman Andy Harris, and Utah Senator Mike Lee will be the special guest at her upcoming fundraiser in Washington.

If Szeliga makes it past the primary on April 26, she will likely be faced by one of the top two contenders on the democratic side of the senate race -- current U.S. Representatives Donna Edwards and Chris Van Hollen.

Why is the race so important?

For nearly 30 years, Democratic Senator Barbara Mikulski held the seat, and since she announced she would not be running for reelection next year, it's been a free-for-all.

Several analysts say that the seat can safely go to a democratic candidate, but with a Republican just voted into the Maryland governor's mansion in 2015, some conservatives in the Old Line state are hoping the tides will turn.

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