Kathleen Kennedy Townsend - 2002 Gubernatorial Election

2002 Gubernatorial Election

In the Maryland gubernatorial election of 2002, Townsend faced off against Republican Robert Ehrlich and Libertarian Spear Lancaster.

During the campaign, Townsend was criticized for her choice of running mate, Admiral Charles R. Larson, a novice politician who had switched parties only a few weeks before. Larson was also a white male, unlikely to help minority turnout. Ehrlich's running mate was Michael Steele, an African-American lawyer who had been chairman of the Republican Party of Maryland.

In late September 2002, a debate between the gubernatorial candidates was held at the historically black Morgan State University in Baltimore. Racial topics were overtly discussed with Townsend criticizing Ehrlich for opposing affirmative action based on race. Ehrlich was booed. Five days after the debate, Ehrlich's spokesman claimed that the Townsend campaign had handed out Oreo cookies to the audience to signify that Ehrlich's running mate was black on the outside but white on the inside. News reports regarding the debate had not mentioned Oreos at all. Three weeks later, Ehrlich said Oreos had been thrown at Steele. In late November 2002, Steele said an Oreo had rolled to his feet during the September debate, but he implied he was not sure that an insult had been intended.

Though Maryland traditionally votes Democratic and had not elected a Republican Governor in almost 40 years, Townsend lost the race, gaining 48% of the vote to Ehrlich's 51% and Lancaster's 1%. Ehrlich became only the seventh Republican governor in state history. The Baltimore Sun said the defeat derailed her political career, at least in the short run.