Gilchrest to back Democrat

Republican Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (Md.) will endorse Democrat Frank Kratovil in the race to succeed him in Congress, Kratovil’s campaign announced Tuesday morning.

Speculation has been constant since Gilchrest’s February bitter primary loss to state Sen. Andy Harris that Gilchrest, one of the most centrist members of the House, might back the Democrat in the general election.

{mosads}Gilchrest’s finance director, Lynn Caligiuri, had already joined Kratovil’s campaign in April.

Gilchrest and Kratovil are holding a press conference in Annapolis, Md., at 10 a.m. and will follow it with a conference call for the national media.

Maryland Republican Party Chairman Jim Pelura said the endorsement does not come as a surprise, but warned voters that Kratovil will vote with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) "a majority of the time."

“While Congressman Gilchrest’s action is certainly not a surprise to us, it is disappointing.  The Maryland Republican Party and Republicans in the 1st Congressional District have supported Wayne for years and many Republicans will view his decision as a betrayal of that support,” Pelura said.

The district is a conservative one, and polling has shown Harris ahead in the race, but Kratovil has raised significant money and worked his way on to the national radar.

Harris won by running to Gilchrest’s right. Gilchrest will stress Kratovil’s centrism.