Spotlight on the MD 1st Congressional District

Republican Winner, Andy Harris
The 1st Congressional District of Maryland comprises the entire Eastern Shore and also parts of Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Harford Counties. From 1992 to 2008, Republican Wayne Gilchrest served as representative. Considered moderate, Gilchrest faced a primary challenge in 2008 by conservative State Sen. Andy Harris. Harris vanquished Gilchrest and the slighted incumbent sided with Democrat Frank Kratovil against Harris in the general election. Kratovil ended up beating Harris by a paper thin margin. In a district that favored Republican presidential candidates George W. Bush and John McCain by near 20 point margins, Andy Harris was favored by most experts to win, although his overwhelming 55% to 42% margin was a surprise.
Andy Harris
  • BS, Human Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University, 1977
  • MD, School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, 1980
  • MHS, Health Policy and Management, School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, 1995
  • U.S. Navy Reserves, 17 years
  • Commanding Office of the John Hopkins Naval Reserve Medical Unit, Desert Storm, achieved rank of Commander
  • Member, American Legion
  • Delegate, Republican Party National Convention, 2004 
  • State Senator, 1998-present, Minority Whip
  • Selected for NRCC’s “Young Guns” program
  • Obstetric Anesthesiologist, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, present
  • Associate Professor, Anesthesiology/Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
  • Chief of Obstetric Anesthesiology, The Johns Hopkins Hospital

ISSUES

  • Economy: real job creation requires cutting government spending and taxation, reducing excessive regulations and ending government ownership of private businesses
  • Health Care: reform should include common-sense market based solutions that ensure decisions are made by patients and their doctors; focus on reducing costs and maintaining quality while preserving individual rights; support increased competition, price transparency, tax credits and expanded medical savings accounts, and meaningful medical malpractice liability reform
  • Immigration: strong border enforcement; ensure that illegal immigrants are not taking jobs that are badly needed by American citizens
  • Government: not spend the remaining stimulus funds or the repaid TARP funds-this alone would save about one trillion dollars - halving the deficit this year; reform the earmark process; work toward a balanced budget through actual spending cuts, and begin paying off our debt; Taxpayer Protection Pledge; make the 2002 tax cuts permanent; never raise taxes on Social Security or Medicare; lower and eventually abolish taxes on capital gains and businesses; cut tax rates now to spur economic growth as we work toward a flatter, fairer tax code.
  • Energy: develop our own sources of oil; support a comprehensive energy policy that includes nuclear, wind, solar and new technologies that offer us true energy independence 
  • Constitution: spells out the powers of the federal government, reserving all other powers to the individual and the states; return power to state governments, and resist the appointment of activist judges; protection of personal property rights; protect an individual's right to keep and bear arms; right to free expression of religion
  • Natonal Defense: peace is kept through strength; strongly support funding for defense and homeland security programs to ensure that the U.S. has the best-equipped and best-trained military in the world; terrorists are not entitled to the rights of American citizens
  • Traditional Values: strong defender of the sanctity of human life; marriage should remain an institution between one man and one woman
  • Chesapeake Bay: restoration of the Bay's bottom and water column requires a unique form of "best managment practices" be developed and implemented for a completely, healthy ecosystem 
The U.S has long been the envy of the world because the American free market system has produced the highest level of prosperity enjoyed by any society, ever. But the American job machine is being strangled by excessive taxation and regulation that is destroying incentive, capital investment and job creation. Small businesses, not the government, are the backbone of the American economy. I will work to give small businesses the tools and tax cuts necessary to allow them to begin hiring again. Real job creation requires cutting government spending and taxation, reducing excessive regulations and ending government ownership of private businesses.
Dr. Andy Harris (R-Candidate, MD-01) on Health Care Reform
The Spotlight On reports are overviews of actual Republican primary winners or top Republican primary contenders. Spotlights should not be interpreted as recommendations to support specific candidates. Before supporting any candidate, do thorough research to confirm that the candidate shares your views on issues you deem most important.