I took this photograph a month ago on the way to Rock Hill Orchard in northern Montgomery County. At the time, it just seemed out of place, uncharacteristic of Montgomery County.
Not only was the church celebrating a Louisiana clan who became millionaires selling duck callers, it was celebrating a clan that was becoming increasingly outspoken in its support for the GOP. Sure, MOCO has ducks and duck hunters, but MOCO's made-it-big-types are more likely to be in government or tech sector. MOCO is also (usually) thought of as 'terra firma' for Democratic politicians. When I made this trip, Anthony Brown was considered a shoe in for the governor's race (in MOCO and the state).
This sign looks prophetic now. In the gubernatorial election, 37% of MOCO voters supported the state's Republican candidate, and eventual winner Larry Hogan. That's a 6% point gain over the share earned in the county by Bob Ehrlich, the 2010 Republican gubernatorial candidate.
What this change means and how permanent it is remain unclear. But, one thing is for certain--there are multiple ways to take a place's political temperature. Here's one of them!
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