Push Comes to Shove

In two diverse legislative districts energetic, hungry candidates with experience as delegates are pushing state senators out the door.

In a Gaithersburg/Rockville area district, former Delegate Cheryl Kagan is challenging Sen. Jennie Forehand.

For the first time in her career as a state senator from District 17, Sen. Jennie M. Forehand may face a serious challenger in next year's Democratic primary.

Cheryl Kagan , a longtime Democratic activist who served in the House of Delegates from 1995 to 2003, announced Tuesday that she is forming an exploratory committee to consider whether to challenge Forehand.

"While state Senator Jennie Forehand has served us honorably for 28 years, she has become a predictable vote for the status quo," Kagan said in a statement. "I believe it's time for a tougher, stronger leader to represent mid-Montgomery County in the state Senate."

Kagan retired from the House of Delegates in 2003. Since then, she has been executive director of the Carl. M. Freeman Foundation and served as co-chairman of Sen. John F. Kerry's Montgomery campaign last year.

And in western Maryland, Sen. Hafer says that he is not running for reelection because of pressure from Del. George Edwards, the House Minority Leader.