Forehand Won't Seek Re-Election in 2014

Maryland Sen. Jennie M. Forehand—one of the longest serving members in the General Assembly—announced that she doesn’t plan to run for re-election in 2014.

Forehand, a Democrat whose district includes Gaithersburg and Rockville, told The Gazette on Friday that she “really felt like maybe it was time.”

Forehand has has accumulated a lengthy list of honors during her more than 30-decade in Annapolis. She has been a state senator since 1995 and served in the House of Delegates from 1978 to 1994. 

She told The Gazette she plans to finish out her term and has already pre-filed bills that would ban smoking in cars when young children are present and would extend the protections of felony human trafficking to victims between 18 and 21 years old.

(>>>See: Jennie Forehand will not run in 2014 at Gazette.net.)

As of last week no one had officially filed for her seat, according Maryland Board of Elections records.

A political strategist told The Gazette that if Forehand doesn’t run, the race would be toss up.

Del. Luiz R.S. Simmons has already announced plans to run for the seat and so has former state Delegate Cheryl Kagan.