Wendy RosenANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP/WBOC)- Democrat Wendy Rosen dropped out of the race for a congressional seat Monday after the state party said she voted in both Maryland and Florida in the 2006 general election and the 2008 presidential primaries.
In a brief phone interview with The Associated Press, Rosen confirmed she was withdrawing from the race but otherwise declined to comment beyond a news release.
"I have been proud to serve as the Democratic Congressional Candidate of Maryland's 1st Congressional District for the last five months, so it is with great regret, and much sorrow that I must resign," the release said. "Personal issues have made this the hardest decision that I have had to make."
Rosen, 57, was set to run in Maryland's 1st Congressional District against first-term Republican Rep. Andy Harris.
In a letter to the state's attorney general and the state prosecutor, the chair of the Maryland Democratic Party wrote that Rosen has been registered to vote in both Florida and Maryland since at least 2006. Yvette Lewis, the party chair, noted in the letter that Rosen voted in the 2006 general election in both Florida and Maryland. Lewis also wrote that Rosen voted in the 2008 presidential primaries in both Florida and Maryland.
"This information is based on examination of the voter files from both states," Lewis wrote to Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler and State Prosecutor Emmitt Davitt. "We believe that this is a clear violation of Maryland law and urge the appropriate office to conduct a full investigation."
Following Rosen's withdrawal, Andy Harris' campaign manager Kathy Szeliga, released the following statement: "Andy Harris will continue to work hard throughout the district offering
solutions to restore our economy and our nation. This development must not delay our troops serving oversees from getting their ballots and exercising their right to vote in such an important Presidential election."
Maryland's 1st Congressional District includes all of Maryland's Eastern Shore and parts of Carroll, Baltimore, Harford and Cecil counties.
A copy of the Maryland Democratic Party's letter to the attorney general and state prosecutor can be found here.
