Duchy Trachtenberg Drops Out of Race

Democrat Duchy Trachtenberg has dropped out of the race for Maryland's 6th District Congressional seat due to a recurrence of breast cancer.

The former Montgomery County councilwoman issued the following statement Wednesday:

"It is with great regret I am am withdrawing from the 6th congressional district Democratic primary.

"I am facing a recurrence of an earlier illness. I was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer earlier in 2011. While I undertook the campaign with a clean bill of health, circumstances have now deteriorated to the point where I honestly cannot continue the race. I must focus my energies on treatment and recovery with the love and support of my family.

"This will impair both my ability to campaign in the primary and effect my performance well into the general election season. For my health, for my family, and for the voters in the Democratic primary, I will not undertake a race where I cannot make the best effort possible to campaign and win the nomination.

"I thank my supporters and every democratic activist in the new 6th District. While I wanted to lead the charge for the progressive values that I hold dear, my sincere hope is that the Democratic primary voters select a candidate who will fight for the 99% in the halls of Congress. The undue influence of special interests in American politics must come to an end in 2012. The people of Maryland's 6th congressional district deserve no less."

Democratic state Sen. Rob Garagiola, of Montgomery County, remains in the running for the Democratic nomination for the seat, which is now held by Republican Rep. Roscoe Bartlett.

Bartlett, who was rumored to be pondering retirement, is expected to be challenged on the Republican side by state Sen. David Brinkley, who could make his run official as early as Wednesday afternoon.

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