In the campaign , Chavez attacked Mikulski , a lifelong Baltimore resident , as a " San Francisco-style , George McGovern , liberal Democrat " . Chavez was accused of making Mikulski 's sexual orientation a central issue of the political campaign . Chavez wrote that the term referred to Jeane Kirkpatrick 's 1984 Republican National Convention " Blame America First " speech , in which she coined the phrase " San Francisco Liberal " in reference to the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco . Using political advertisements and press conferences , Chavez attacked Mikulski 's former aide Teresa Brennan as " anti-male " and a " radical feminist " , implying that Brennan and Mikulski were radical lesbians and that " fascist feminism " was Mikulski 's political philosophy . Brennan had not been part of Mikulski 's staff for five years , but Chavez implied Brennan was still working on Mikulski 's campaign . Mikulski did not respond in kind to the attacks . She defeated Chavez with 61 % of the vote . She also served alongside Paul Sarbanes , the man she 'd succeeded in the House
1984 Republican National Convention
1984 Republican National Convention
Barbara Mikulski