article_snippet: While the fields of candidates are still taking shape, a platoon of Democrats are mulling Senate bids in Ohio, Florida, Maryland, California, Pennsylvania and Illinois.
article_snippet: Last cycle, Barasky said, Democrats witnessed hotly contested Senate primaries in New Jersey, Massachusetts and Hawaii.
article_snippet: The most crowded lane, for now, appears to be in Maryland, where five-term Sen. Barbara Mikulski is retiring.
article_snippet: In a state that reliably goes blue in federal elections, the retirement has at long last opened a door for a raft of Democrats in Congress eyeing higher office.
article_snippet: With the exception of House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, nearly every Democrat in Maryland's eight-member congressional delegation has signaled some kind of interest in the Senate seat.
article_snippet: But even if the primary turns into a pitched battle over progressive priorities, there is little chance the nomination fight would hinder Democratic hopes in Maryland, which hasn't seen a GOP senator since Charles Mathias in 1987.
article_snippet: Democrats have good opportunities in multiple states this cycle, specifically in Maryland.
article_snippet: The Democratic nomination is incredibly valuable because Maryland is a Democratic state.
highlights_snippet: A platoon of Democrats are mulling Senate bids in Ohio, Florida, Maryland, California, Pennsylvania and Illinois .
  