The much-discussed clash between progressive “new vision” Democrats and conservative machine Democrats has arrived in Montgomery County in a pair of high-profile races certain to draw national attention and money.

One is the State Senate race between energetic progressive Jamie Raskin, a professor of constitutional law, and 32-year incumbent Ida Ruben who recently tried to rewrite Democratic Party rules without consulting party or precinct officials. The other is the race for the U.S. House of Representatives in the Fourth District, which consists mostly of Prince George’s County but also includes chunks of District 20 in Montgomery County. The incumbent, Albert Wynn, one of the most right-leaning Democrats in Congress and a leading recipient of corporate PAC money, is being challenged by long-time progressive activist Donna Edwards, a Prince George’s resident who is targeting Wynn’s pro-big business and pro-Bush voting record.

These races converge and heat up the weekend of May 20-21. Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.), a leader along with Senator Barack Obama of young progressives in Congress, is coming in to endorse Raskin at a labor rally in Silver Spring. Meanwhile, Ruben will be hosting Wynn for brunch at a fundraiser at the Hilton Hotel the next day.

Many people think that Ruben’s risky embrace of Wynn will allow Raskin to highlight the differences between “new vision” Democrats and status-quo politicians. Just as Ruben introduced a pro-Iraq War Resolution in the State Senate, Wynn supported President Bush’s congressional resolution authorizing the Iraq war. Indeed, he was one of the few members of the Congressional Black Caucus to do so. The Iraq war is costing Americans not only life and limb but $2 billion a week.

Wynn also voted to reauthorize the Patriot Act. Wynn voted with House Republicans and President Bush to repeal the estate tax. He voted on the side of credit card companies and predatory lenders for the anti-consumer bankruptcy overhaul.

Wynn also voted with Republicans to weaken the Endangered Species Act, voted against increasing car-mileage standards, and voted for President Bush’s energy plan while oil companies reaped obscene record profits.

Wynn has drawn the ire of faith leaders and community activists for siding with Governor Robert Ehrlich and gaming interests in their efforts to bring casinos to Prince George’s County. Ruben has also taken thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Maryland’s casino champions.

Even on social issues, Wynn has rushed to the hard right. He votes for the Republicans’ flag desecration constitutional amendment and voted to endorse the Ten Commandments. He even voted with President Bush for the Terry Schiavo bill allowing third parties to interfere in a husband’s right to make private medical decisions for his wife.

And Ruben and Wynn are partners in national and state politics seeking to expand the influence of big campaign donors. Wynn sided with Republicans to increase individual campaign contribution limits to $1,000,000. Ruben introduced a bill to double individual giving limits in Maryland from 10,000 to 20,000 a year. Both legislators pick up huge amounts from special interests. Ruben voted four times for the energy deregulation bill in Maryland that has led to recent shocking increases in our utility bills.

Many community activists are saying that these dramatic races make Montgomery and Prince George’s County “ground zero” in the struggle for the direction of the Democratic Party. Donna Edwards, who has had a career as an activist for better schools and campaign reform as well as a foundation official, is working to bring new energy to progressive politics, especially in the African-American community. She is likely to find a receptive audience in Montgomery County.

Raskin says that “we’re fighting for a Democratic Party that opposes special interest rip-offs of the people. It’s time for us to stop blaming everything on the Republicans since we know they’re just being Republicans. We need to revitalize and strengthen our own party to defend the common good.”

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