CAMBRIDGE, MD. — The debate between U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, the incumbent Republican from Maryland’s 1st District, and Dan Schwartz, the Democrat trying to unseat him, was frequently interrupted Tuesday night by explosions from the audience.
More than 150 East Coast residents gathered in Cambridge to hear the candidates answer questions they had submitted to the League of Women Electoral Officers, host of the debate.
Their questions focused on topics affecting the district: the impact of increased eviction efforts on the poultry industry, what to do about aging bridge infrastructure and whether the state’s energy needs should be met by offshore wind projects.
Interventions from the audience, largely in opposition to Harris’ statements, interrupted the debate several times, but tensions in the room flared when the candidates were asked about reaching a deal between the Trump administration and Russian leaders on diesel.
“Making a deal with Russia to lift sanctions on its diesel while it is actively working with Iranian forces to kill our troops is not only wrong; It’s disgusting,” Schwartz responded, “and it follows the pattern of this administration pardoning criminals. »
No one in the audience interrupted Schwartz, but that was not the case for Harris.
“The facts are that diesel prices have gone up. There’s no doubt about that. Why has it gone up? Because Democrats have environmental regulations -” Harris said before being interrupted by laughter, groans and screams.
“See, that’s the problem,” Harris told the audience. “You say you all believe in the First Amendment but only if you agree with me…you’re being rude.”
Glenna Heckathorn, president of the League of Women Voters of the Mid-Shore, asked Schwartz and Harris to urge their supporters to remain civil.
That’s exactly what Schwartz did.
“It’s very important that you can hear both of us tonight,” he said.
Harris said he didn’t need to address his supporters.
“My team is not interfering with Mr. Schwartz. It’s just a means,” he said.
Although smaller surges have occurred, Harris has also endured criticism from Schwartz, who blasted her role in steep cuts to health care, food assistance programs and funding for the Chesapeake Bay.
“He doesn’t care that there are so many starving children in our 11 counties. He presided over a farm bill that cuts billions of dollars in aid to these starving children,” Schwartz said.
“I think it’s a scam,” he added, noting his 14 years of experience with a national organization of state financial regulators. “The representative you vote for should work for the people of this congressional district, not the president or his billionaire friends.”
Harris, seeking a ninth term representing the East Coast, said her more than two decades of experience speaks for itself.
“Experience matters — experience in the 1st District and experience in Congress,” Harris said. “I delivered for the 1st district. Whether it was the firefighters, for the water towers… waste, the hospital. I delivered for them, because I have experience.”
Despite their many differences, the candidates found commonalities. They both agreed that death sentences should not be broadcast live, something Trump officials are considering for the execution of Nidal Hasan, the man convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009.
They also rejected efforts by the Democratic-controlled General Assembly to redraw the map of Congress through a constitutional amendment in the November elections.
Question 3 addresses the proposed constitutional amendment that would establish new, more relaxed standards for how congressional maps are drawn in the state.
But the measure is unpopular on the East Coast, where critics see it as an attempt to unseat Harris, the only Republican in the state’s congressional delegation.
Schwartz said Democrats must win the seat ‘fairly and fairly’ and believes he can overcome obstacles by continuing to talk with his constituents about cost-of-living challenges and the growing uncertainty facing the Trump administration due to deep federal cuts.
“If we want to win the seat here in the 1st Congressional District and represent the people, you have to represent the people regardless of what party they belong to,” Schwartz told reporters after the forum.
“We can’t just take away this seat by redrawing the lines two years before a census. We have to win this seat. And we can.”
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