Van Hollen wins, replacing Mikulski

In a race that was called before 9 p.m., the democratic congressman out of Kensington, Md. was named the senate-elect. Rep. Chris Van Hollen defeating republican state delegate Kathy Szeliga for the United States Senate seat vacated by retiring Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD).

Although it’s still early Van Hollen already has plans on what he wants to bring to the Eastern Shore.

“Bringing out high speed broadband to launch new innovative businesses ’cause you know, we want to make sure that you know, kids who grow up on the shore see a future on the shore,” Van Hollen said.

On a broader scale Van Hollen also touched on issues that he believes are nationwide problems.

“We’ve got to find a way as a country to accelerate economic growth and do it in a way that benefits everybody,” Van Hollen said. “We need to address our education system to make sure that every school in every neighborhood is a school we’d all be proud to have our kids attend.”

First on the list though, Van Hollen will have to roll up his sleeves and  get to work on some existing senate issues. His soon to be battery mate, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD)
 weighed in.

“Our toughest issue is going to be, get the system to work. Work across party lines, Chris (Van Hollen) has a reputation in the House of working across party lines. I have a reputation in the Senate. The two of us are going to work together as a team and find republicans we can work with to advance the issues of our nation,” Cardin said.

It may be that across the Democratic Party, that mentality will be key after a strong election for Republicans.