Bartlett Declares

National Journal's House Race Hotline reports that annoying conservative Roscoe Bartlett will run for another term. Challenges from Andrew Duck (D) and a Republican ex-Mayor are expected to the outlier in the Maryland congressional delegation.

No "Vacancy"
"In an attempt to lay retirement rumors to rest," Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R) filed papers last week to seek a 9th term. "A vacancy ... would probably set off a huge scramble" on the GOP side, with Bartlett's son, state Del. Joseph Bartlett (R) "among those in contention." But the elder Bartlett "probably can hold the seat for as long as he wants it." He will have "at least one" GOP primary challenger in ex-Cumberland Mayor Frank Nethken, and '06 nominee/Iraq war vet. Andrew Duck (D) "is expected to try again" in '08 (Kurtz, Roll Call, 6/5).