Wayne Gilchrest | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMaryland's1st district | |
| In office January 3, 1991 – January 3, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Roy Dyson |
| Succeeded by | Frank Kratovil |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Wayne Thomas Gilchrest (1946-04-15)April 15, 1946 (age 79) Rahway, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Party | Republican (before 2019) Democratic (2019–present) |
| Spouse | Barbara Gilchrest |
| Education | Wesley College (AA) Delaware State University (BA) Loyola University Maryland |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1964–1968 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines[1] |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Purple Heart Bronze Star Navy Commendation Medal |
Wayne Thomas Gilchrest (born April 15, 1946) is an American politician who served as aRepublican member of theUnited States House of Representatives representingMaryland's 1st congressional district. In 2008, Gilchrest was defeated in the Republicanprimary by State SenatorAndy Harris. Following his departure from politics he has worked on environmental education.[2] He is also a member of the ReFormers Caucus ofIssue One.[3] In 2019, Gilchrest became a registered Democrat.[4][5]
Born inRahway, New Jersey,[6] Gilchrest was the fourth child of Elizabeth and Arthur Gilchrest's six boys.[7] After graduating high school in 1964, he joined theUnited States Marine Corps.[8] His tour of duty saw action during theinvasion of theDominican Republic, and later theVietnam War.[8] He earned the rank ofSergeant in Vietnam where, as a platoon leader, he was wounded in the chest.[8] Gilchrest was decorated with thePurple Heart,Bronze Star, andNavy Commendation Medal.[8] He is a member of theAmerican Legion,Veterans of Foreign Wars, andMilitary Order of the Purple Heart.[9]
In 1969, he received anassociate's degree fromWesley College inDover, Delaware.[8] He then spent a semester inKentucky studying rural poverty inAppalachia. He went on to receive abachelor's degree in history fromDelaware State College in 1973.[8] Since then, he has done some work towards amaster's degree atLoyola College in Baltimore.[10]
While teaching atKent County High School on theEastern Shore of Maryland, Gilchrest ran against four-term 1st DistrictDemocratic incumbentRoy Dyson in 1988. Dyson was plagued by allegations of improper contributions from defense contractors,[11] questions about his sexual orientation,[12] and the suicide of his top staffer.[13] Despite being badly outspent, Gilchrest lost narrowly to Dyson.[14] He sought a rematch in 1990; this time soundly beating Dyson by 14%. In 1992, he survived a close contest againstTom McMillen, who had represented the 4th District before being drawn into the 1st District. Gilchrest won by only 3%, largely by swamping McMillen on the Eastern Shore. He wouldn't face serious opposition again for over a decade.
Gilchrest broke ranks with his party more often than any other House member in 2007.[15] While Democrats and Republicans were nearly tied in registration in 2006 (183,332 Democrats to 180,856 Republicans[16]), the district had a strong tinge ofsocial conservatism that usually favored Republicans. The 1st had aCook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+13, indicating that it was a strongly Republican district, and supported President Bush's re-election with over 60% of the vote.
Gilchrest was a member of many moderate Republican groups such as theRepublican Main Street Partnership,Republicans for Environmental Protection, and theRepublican Majority For Choice.[17] He was also the co-chairman of theCongressional Climate Change Caucus together with DemocratJohn Olver (MA-1).[18] Gilchrest was a Republican co-sponsor of Rep.Marty Meehan's "Military Readiness Enhancement Act" which would have repealed the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy.[19][20] Gilchrest also spoke in favor of same-sex marriage while the Maryland Legislature was considering legalizing it, calling same-sex marriage a matter of "social justice, civil rights and a more viable democracy."[21]
In 1993, Gilchrest was the lone Republican vote in support of a bill that would have createdDC Statehood.[22] Aside from his socially liberal stance,[citation needed] Gilchrest has drawn attention for his stance on theIraq War. Though he initially supported the war,[23] Gilchrest's support waned as the occupation became increasingly violent, expressing his support for theIraq Study Group Report and called on setting a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq.[24] Gilchrest also joined 16 Republicans and 229 Democrats voting in favor of HouseConcurrent Resolution (H.CON.RES) 63, anon-binding resolution expressing disapproval for theIraq War troop surge of 2007.[25][26][27]
Gilchrest's moderate voting record resulted in vigorous primary challenges from Republicans who considered him aRepublican in Name Only. However, none were successful until 2008. That year, State SenatorAndrew Harris, State SenatorE. J. Pipkin, Joe Arminio, and Robert Banks challenged Gilchrest in the 2008 Republican primary. Harris was strongly supported by theClub for Growth.
Harris defeated Gilchrest in the Republican primary, with Pipkin finishing third.[28][29] After Gilchrest's loss in the primary, he broke with his party and endorsedQueen Anne's CountyState's AttorneyFrank Kratovil, theDemocratic nominee, in the general election,[30] being quoted as saying, "Let's see, the Republican Party, or my eternal soul?" and "Party loyalty, or integrity?" when questioned.[31] Kratovil won the election.
On September 18, 2008, Gilchrest made radio comments praising the Democratic Presidential ticket ofBarack Obama andJoe Biden, causing some media outlets to claim his endorsement of the Democratic ticket.[32] However, Gilchrest quickly clarified these comments, saying that they did not amount to an endorsement.[33] Despite the fact that he did not officially endorse Obama, in an October 2Washington Post article, Gilchrest sharply criticized his own party and their presidential nominee, fellow Vietnam veteranJohn McCain. Gilchrest said that the Republican party "has become more narrow, more self-serving, more centered around 'I want, I want, I want.'" and said that McCain "recites memorized pieces of information in a narrow way, whereas Barack Obama is constantly evaluating information, using his judgment. One guy just recites what's in front of him, and the other has initiative and reason and prudence and wisdom."[34] Gilchrest later toldWBAL-TV that he voted for Obama in the November election.[35]
Gilchrest was ranked as the House's most liberal Republican in 2008 (his final term) by theNational Journal, placing him to the left of 8 House Democrats.[36]
| Year | Office | Election | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Congress, 1st district | General | Wayne Gilchrest | Republican | 88,920 | 56.84 | Roy Dyson | Democratic | 67,518 | 43.16 | ||
| 1992 | Congress, 1st district | General | Wayne Gilchrest | Republican | 120,084 | 51.27 | Tom McMillen | Democratic | 112,771 | 48.15 | ||
| 1994 | Congress, 1st district | General | Wayne Gilchrest | Republican | 120,975 | 67.65 | Ralph Gies | Democratic | 57,712 | 32.27 | ||
| 1996 | Congress, 1st district | General | Wayne Gilchrest | Republican | 131,033 | 61.55 | Steven Eastaugh | Democratic | 81,825 | 38.44 | ||
| 1998 | Congress, 1st district | General | Wayne Gilchrest | Republican | 135,771 | 69.19 | Irving Pinder | Democratic | 60,450 | 30.81 | ||
| 2000 | Congress, 1st district | General | Wayne Gilchrest | Republican | 165,293 | 64.4 | Bennett Bozman | Democratic | 91,022 | 35.46 | ||
| 2002 | Congress, 1st district | General | Wayne Gilchrest | Republican | 192,004 | 76.67 | Ann Tamlyn | Democratic | 57,986 | 23.16 | ||
| 2004 | Congress, 1st district | General | Wayne Gilchrest | Republican | 245,149 | 75.77 | Kostas Alexakis | Democratic | 77,872 | 24.07 | ||
| 2006 | Congress, 1st district | General | Wayne Gilchrest | Republican | 185,353 | 68.80 | Jim Corwin | Democratic | 83,817 | 31.11 | ||
| 2008 | Congress, 1st district | Primary | Wayne Gilchrest | Republican | 23,797 | 33.08 | Andy Harris | Republican | 31,180 | 43.34 |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMaryland's 1st congressional district 1991–2009 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
