Wayne Gilchrest

Born in Rahway, New Jersey,{{Cite web|date=18 September 2000|title=Passionate Gilchrest follows his own path|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2000-09-18-0009180052-story.html|access-date=2020-09-25|website=The Baltimore Sun|language=en-US}} Gilchrest was the fourth child of Elizabeth and Arthur Gilchrest's six boys.{{Cite web|last=Fairhall|first=John|date=4 January 1991|title=Gilchrest takes it easy on first day Agenda includes moving in, bidding for panel seats|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-01-04-1991004103-story.html|access-date=2020-09-25|website=The Baltimore Sun|language=en-US}} After graduating high school in 1964, he joined the United States Marine Corps.{{Cite web|last=Fairhall|first=John|date=31 October 1990|title=Gilchrest always does things his own way|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1990-10-31-1990304189-story.html|access-date=2020-09-25|website=The Baltimore Sun|language=en-US}} His tour of duty saw action during the invasion of the Dominican Republic, and later the Vietnam War. He earned the rank of Sergeant in Vietnam where, as a platoon leader, he was wounded in the chest. Gilchrest was decorated with the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Navy Commendation Medal. He is a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Military Order of the Purple Heart.{{Cite web|title=Wayne Gilchrest- Republican|url=http://www.wboc.com/story/2014312/wayne-gilchrest-republican|access-date=2020-09-25|website=WBOC|language=en}}

In 1969, he received an associate's degree from Wesley College in Dover, Delaware. He then spent a semester in Kentucky studying rural poverty in Appalachia. He went on to receive a bachelor's degree in history from Delaware State College in 1973. Since then, he has done some work towards a master's degree at Loyola College in Baltimore.[http://gilchrest.house.gov/bio.asp Wayne Gilchrest biography]. United States House of Representatives. Retrieved Oct 18, 2007 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926212634/http://gilchrest.house.gov/bio.asp |date=September 26, 2007 }}

While teaching at Kent County High School on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Gilchrest ran against four-term 1st District Democratic incumbent Roy Dyson in 1988. Dyson was plagued by allegations of improper contributions from defense contractors,{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1243&dat=19880619&id=_0ZTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=s4YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6179,6307719|title=The Bulletin – Google News Archive Search|work=google.com|access-date=15 October 2015}} questions about his sexual orientation,{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dEQzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=G-oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4180,1341644&dq=roy+dyson+striptease&hl=en|title=Gainesville Sun – Google News Archive Search|work=google.com|access-date=15 October 2015}} and the suicide of his top staffer.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hNkVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8RIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4368,11858&dq=roy+dyson+striptease&hl=en|title=The Milwaukee Sentinel – Google News Archive Search|work=google.com|access-date=15 October 2015}} Despite being badly outspent, Gilchrest lost narrowly to Dyson.{{cite book |title=The Almanac of American Politics 2000 |url=https://archive.org/details/almanacofamerica00 |url-access=registration |last1=Barone |first1=Michael |last2=Ujifusa |first2=Grant |publisher=National Journal Group Inc. |year=1999 |page=[https://archive.org/details/almanacofamerica00/page/745 745]}} He sought a rematch in 1990; this time soundly beating Dyson by 14%. In 1992, he survived a close contest against Tom 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.[http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=53 Party Unity Scores] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212085916/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=53 |date=2008-02-12}} CQ Politics. Retrieved September 26, 2008 While Democrats and Republicans were nearly tied in registration in 2006 (183,332 Democrats to 180,856 Republicans{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.state.md.us/pdf/vrar/2006_general_stats.pdf |title=MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS - REGISTRATION FIGURES - ACTIVE VOTERS BY COUNTY}}), the district had a strong tinge of social conservatism that usually favored Republicans. The 1st had a Cook 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 the Republican Main Street Partnership, Republicans for Environmental Protection, and the Republican Majority For Choice.[http://www.gopchoice.org/meet.asp "Meet Our..."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921025012/http://www.gopchoice.org/meet.asp |date=2008-09-21 }} Republican Majority for Choice. Retrieved September 28, 2008 He was also the co-chairman of the Congressional Climate Change Caucus together with Democrat John Olver (MA-1).[http://www.house.gov/olver/climatechange/members.html Climate Change Caucus Members] John Olver's Congressional Website. Retrieved September 28, 2008 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.[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0207/2646.html "Meehan Seeks To Overturn 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'"] Politico, February 7, 2007{{cite web|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:H.1246:|title=Bill Summary & Status – 110th Congress (2007–2008) – H.R.1246 – THOMAS (Library of Congress)|work=loc.gov|access-date=15 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019003942/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:H.1246:|archive-date=2015-10-19|url-status=dead}} 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."{{cite web|title=Wayne Gilchrest|url=http://www.equalitymaryland.org/news_2009/news2009.03.12a.htm|publisher=www.equalitymaryland.org|access-date=19 February 2016}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}

In 1993, Gilchrest was the lone Republican vote in support of a bill that would have created DC Statehood.{{cite news |last=AYRES |first=B. DRUMMOND |date=11 November 1993 |title=House Soundly Defeats a Proposal On District of Columbia Statehood |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/22/us/house-soundly-defeats-a-proposal-on-district-of-columbia-statehood.html |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York |access-date=11 November 2015}} Aside from his socially liberal stance,{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}} Gilchrest has drawn attention for his stance on the Iraq War. Though he initially supported the war,[http://gilchrest.house.gov/news.asp?FormMode=Detail&ID=28 Gilchrest Votes for Use of Force Against Iraq] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101053737/http://gilchrest.house.gov/News.asp?FormMode=Detail&ID=28 |date=2007-11-01}} Congressman Gilchrest's Official Website, October 10, 2002 Gilchrest's support waned as the occupation became increasingly violent, expressing his support for the Iraq Study Group Report and called on setting a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq.[http://www.gilchrest.house.gov/Topics.asp?FormMode=Call&LinkType=Section&Section=215 "Congressman Gilchrest's Statement on Iraq (as of May 2006)"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101061531/http://gilchrest.house.gov/Topics.asp?FormMode=Call&LinkType=Section&Section=215 |date=2007-11-01}} Congressman Gilchrest's Official Website, Retrieved September 28, 2008 Gilchrest also joined 16 Republicans and 229 Democrats voting in favor of House Concurrent Resolution (H.CON.RES) 63, a non-binding resolution expressing disapproval for the Iraq War troop surge of 2007.[http://www.gilchrest.house.gov/news.asp?FormMode=Detail&ID=327 "Gilchrest Statement on Iraq Resolution"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101052017/http://gilchrest.house.gov/News.asp?FormMode=Detail&ID=327 |date=2007-11-01}} Congressman Gilchrest's Official Website, February 22, 2007[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.CON.RES.63: H. CON. RES. 63] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320125711/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.CON.RES.63: |date=2007-03-20 }} THOMAS. Retrieved September 28, 2008.[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll099.xml Roll Call No. 99] Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved on September 28, 2008

{{main|United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland, 2008}}

Gilchrest's moderate voting record resulted in vigorous primary challenges from Republicans who considered him a Republican in Name Only. However, none were successful until 2008. That year, State Senator Andrew Harris, State Senator E. J. Pipkin, Joe Arminio, and Robert Banks challenged Gilchrest in the 2008 Republican primary. Harris was strongly supported by the Club for Growth.

Harris defeated Gilchrest in the Republican primary, with Pipkin finishing third.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/elections/2008/general_md.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Maryland Primary Election Results}}{{cite web|url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2008/by_state/MD_Page_0212.html?SITE=MDBAEELN&SECTION=POLITICS|title=News From The Associated Press|work=ap.org|access-date=15 October 2015}} After Gilchrest's loss in the primary, he broke with his party and endorsed Queen Anne's County State's Attorney Frank Kratovil, the Democratic nominee, in the general election,[http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-gilchrest0902,0,6122703.story Gilchrest crosses party lines, endorses Democrat Kratovil, even cutting an ad for him (baltimoresun.com)] {{dead link|date=August 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} being quoted as saying, "Let's see, the Republican Party, or my eternal soul?" and "Party loyalty, or integrity?" when questioned.{{cite web|url=http://www.politickermd.com/top-gilchrest-staffer-kicksoff-039republicans-kratovil039-1258|title=Top Gilchrest staffer kicks-off 'Republicans for Kratovil'|author=Edge, Wally|date=2008-02-29|access-date=2008-04-08|work=Politicker MD|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509023500/http://www.politickermd.com/top-gilchrest-staffer-kicksoff-039republicans-kratovil039-1258|archive-date=2008-05-09}} Kratovil won the election.

On September 18, 2008, Gilchrest made radio comments praising the Democratic Presidential ticket of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, causing some media outlets to claim his endorsement of the Democratic ticket.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0908/Republican_Congressman_endorses_Obama.html|title=Republican congressman endorses Obama|work=Politico|date=18 September 2008 |access-date=15 October 2015}} However, Gilchrest quickly clarified these comments, saying that they did not amount to an endorsement.[https://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20080919/pl_cq_politics/politics2955136 "Gilchrest Says Radio Comments Were Not Endorsement of Obama"] CQ Politics, September 18, 2008. Despite the fact that he did not officially endorse Obama, in an October 2 Washington Post article, Gilchrest sharply criticized his own party and their presidential nominee, fellow Vietnam veteran John 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."[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/01/AR2008100102784.html "Gilchrest Unloads on Know-Nothing Pols and the Rest of Us"], Washington Post, October 2, 2008. Gilchrest later told WBAL-TV that he voted for Obama in the November election.{{YouTube|xd6VIS4NB1s|Gilchrest 'Happy' To Retire (WBAL-TV)}}

Gilchrest was ranked as the House's most liberal Republican in 2008 (his final term) by the National Journal, placing him to the left of 8 House Democrats.[http://www.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/pdf/08centrists.pdf National Journal – The Centrists] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203060606/http://www.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/pdf/08centrists.pdf |date=2009-02-03 }}

• Committee on Natural Resources
• Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans (Chairman 2001–2007)
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
• Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
• Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials
• Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
• Founder and Co-chair of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force
• Co-founder and Co-chair of the Congressional Climate Change Caucus
• Co-chair of the House Oceans Caucus
• Chairman of the House Corps Reform Caucus
• Co-founder and Co-chair of the House Organic Caucus
• Co-founder and Co-chair of the House Dialogue Caucus
• Board member of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC).{{Cite web|url=https://www.niacouncil.org/about-niac/staff-board/|title=Staff and Board|website=NIAC|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122233401/https://www.niacouncil.org/about-niac/staff-board/|archive-date=2020-01-22|access-date=2018-04-05}}

{{S-start}}

! style="background:#ccc;"|Year

! style="background:#ccc;"|Office

! style="background:#ccc;"|Election

!

! style="background:#ccc;"|Subject

! style="background:#ccc;"|Party

! style="background:#ccc;"|Votes

! style="background:#ccc;"|%

!

! style="background:#ccc;"|Opponent

! style="background:#ccc;"|Party

! style="background:#ccc;"|Votes

! style="background:#ccc;"|%

|-

|1990

|Congress, 1st district

|General

||

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Wayne Gilchrest

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Republican

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|88,920

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|56.84

|

| style="background:#def;"|Roy Dyson

| style="background:#def;"|Democratic

| style="background:#def;"|67,518

| style="background:#def;"|43.16

|-

|1992

|Congress, 1st district

|General

||

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Wayne Gilchrest

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Republican

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|120,084

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|51.27

|

| style="background:#def;"|Tom McMillen

| style="background:#def;"|Democratic

| style="background:#def;"|112,771

| style="background:#def;"|48.15

|-

|1994

|Congress, 1st district

|General

||

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Wayne Gilchrest

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Republican

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|120,975

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|67.65

|

| style="background:#def;"|Ralph Gies

| style="background:#def;"|Democratic

| style="background:#def;"|57,712

| style="background:#def;"|32.27

|-

|1996

|Congress, 1st district

|General

||

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Wayne Gilchrest

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Republican

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|131,033

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|61.55

|

| style="background:#def;"|Steven Eastaugh

| style="background:#def;"|Democratic

| style="background:#def;"|81,825

| style="background:#def;"|38.44

|-

|1998

|Congress, 1st district

|General

||

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Wayne Gilchrest

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Republican

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|135,771

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|69.19

|

| style="background:#def;"|Irving Pinder

| style="background:#def;"|Democratic

| style="background:#def;"|60,450

| style="background:#def;"|30.81

|-

|2000

|Congress, 1st district

|General

||

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Wayne Gilchrest

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Republican

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|165,293

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|64.4

|

| style="background:#def;"|Bennett Bozman

| style="background:#def;"|Democratic

| style="background:#def;"|91,022

| style="background:#def;"|35.46

|-

|2002

|Congress, 1st district

|General

||

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Wayne Gilchrest

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Republican

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|192,004

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|76.67

|

| style="background:#def;"|Ann Tamlyn

| style="background:#def;"|Democratic

| style="background:#def;"|57,986

| style="background:#def;"|23.16

|-

|2004

|Congress, 1st district

|General

||

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Wayne Gilchrest

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Republican

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|245,149

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|75.77

|

| style="background:#def;"|Kostas Alexakis

| style="background:#def;"|Democratic

| style="background:#def;"|77,872

| style="background:#def;"|24.07

|-

|2006

|Congress, 1st district

|General

||

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Wayne Gilchrest

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Republican

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|185,353

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|68.80

|

| style="background:#def;"|Jim Corwin

| style="background:#def;"|Democratic

| style="background:#def;"|83,817

| style="background:#def;"|31.11

|-

|2008

|Congress, 1st district

|Primary

||

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Wayne Gilchrest

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Republican

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|23,797

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|33.08

|

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Andy Harris

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|Republican

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|31,180

| style="background:#ffe8e8;"|43.34

{{S-end}}

{{Portal|Biography}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{CongLinks | congbio=g000180 | votesmart= | fec=H8MD01037 | congress= }}
• {{C-SPAN|16736}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|us-hs}}

{{s-bef|before=Roy Dyson}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Maryland's 1st congressional district|years=1991–2009}}

{{s-aft|after=Frank Kratovil}}

{{s-prec|usa}}

{{s-bef|before=John F. Tierney|as=Former US Representative}}

{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States
{{small|as Former US Representative}}|years=}}

{{s-aft|after=John Sarbanes|as=Former US Representative}}

{{s-end}}

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Category:1946 births

Category:Methodists from Maryland

Category:Delaware State University alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Maryland Democrats

Category:People from Kent County, Maryland

Category:Rahway High School alumni

Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Maryland

Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Vietnam War

Category:United States Marines

Category:Wesley College (Delaware) alumni

Category:20th-century Maryland politicians

Category:21st-century Maryland politicians

Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives