Political Climate of Frederick (Baltimore, Gaithersburg: transplants, 2014, movers)

[ksanbuena]

Hi All,

We are moving to Frederick this summer from Denver, Colorado. I was curious if the city of Frederick leans a certain way in terms of politics. My husband is originally from Gaithersburg and said when he was living in Maryland, Frederick was nicknamed "Fred-neck" and was overall pretty conservative. I am aware that the city has grown exponentially since he lived there ~7 years ago, so I was curious if the boom has made it a little more left leaning or moderate? I know the county as a whole is probably still quite red with all of the farms, so I am just asking about the residential neighborhoods.

We, of course, do not need to live in a blue bubble like Denver. I am simply curious how much of a shock we are in for coming from a city like ours. We are an interracial couple with a mixed daughter, but I'm assuming even if it's still on the conservative side that that wont be an issue (right??).

Thanks!

[HoCoMom]

The Fredneck name I still hear occasionally, but as the new developments have been built and as parts of the area becomes more a bedroom community I believe it is less conservative by individuals. As a county I think it still votes mainly Republican and is conservative.

As for being an interracial couple with a child I do not believe you would have problems.

[MidValleyDad]

It somewhat dependent on whether you mean Frederick CITY or Frederick COUNTY. Frederick County is consevative with some areas leaning VERY right wing (ALT right). Frederick City is more liberal, this extends somewhat down the road to the Urbana area. Just look at how the Congressional districts were drawn. The pimple of Frederick City was included in the 6th district ro raise the Democratic vote count high enough to deny the Republicans a congressional seat.
That all said I have always believed that Frederick County as a whole tends to be realatively moderate. I predicted that Frederick would vote in favor of the 'Gay Marriage' proposal x few years back because I believe when most people got intoi the voting booth they would realize that it was a fair proposal and would not affect them directly. Frederick County voters did vote in favor of the question (one of 3 counties that did) defying the feeling that a Republican dominated are would see it favorabaly.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by MidValleyDad

It somewhat dependent on whether you mean Frederick CITY or Frederick COUNTY. Frederick County is consevative with some areas leaning VERY right wing (ALT right). Frederick City is more liberal, this extends somewhat down the road to the Urbana area. Just look at how the Congressional districts were drawn. The pimple of Frederick City was included in the 6th district ro raise the Democratic vote count high enough to deny the Republicans a congressional seat.
That all said I have always believed that Frederick County as a whole tends to be realatively moderate. I predicted that Frederick would vote in favor of the 'Gay Marriage' proposal x few years back because I believe when most people got intoi the voting booth they would realize that it was a fair proposal and would not affect them directly. Frederick County voters did vote in favor of the question (one of 3 counties that did) defying the feeling that a Republican dominated are would see it favorabaly.

What also needs to be mentioned is that many of Maryland's rural based Democrats are just a bit to the right of Atilla the Hun in their political beliefs. That's not true of most of the more urban based Democrats, some of whom make Bernie Sanders look like a right wing nut job.

[westsideboy]

I more or less agree with the other posters. Frederick city and the bedroom communities down the I-270 corridor are purple, tinting a bit bluer every cycle as the transplants from Montgomery County move in. The rural parts of the county are very conservative.

[LittleBlackDogs]

I agree, you should be fine, especially if you stick to Frederick city or some of the newer developments in the county. Frederick County is more purple than I think some of the older "fredneck" residents want to admit. Trump won the county, but only by like 3% points. And our County Executive is a Democrat who beat her Republican challenger by a much wider margin in 2014.

Out of curiosity, I just checked the breakdown of party affiliations for the county. It's like approximately 60,000 registered Democrats; 65,000 registered Republicans; 36,000 unaffiliated; and less than 2,000 other.

Voter Registration Statistics

https://www.frederickcountymd.gov/65...ntial-Election

Good luck with the move from Denver!

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

I more or less agree with the other posters. Frederick city and the bedroom communities down the I-270 corridor are purple, tinting a bit bluer every cycle as the transplants from Montgomery County move in. The rural parts of the county are very conservative.

What's funny is we here in Calvert have had a similar influx of rural pioneers and turned dark red from a previous 9-1 Democratic advantage 30 years ago.

[westsideboy]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

What's funny is we here in Calvert have had a similar influx of rural pioneers and turned dark red from a previous 9-1 Democratic advantage 30 years ago.

That is funny/odd. I would guess your transplants are less likely to be from Montgomery County, and more likely to be from the Baltimore metro. Of course, the native substrate population has probably dropped the Dems like a hot potato, much like we did up here over the last 20 years.

Allegany County went for Glendening in 1996. 20 years later we do not have a single Democrat serving in any county or state level partisan office (BOE is a non-partisan race so a few Dems still slip in there.)

As for Frederick County, I am skeptical the changes in around the city and down I-270 have done much to change the political character of the rural parts of the county, especially north of Walkersville.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

That is funny/odd. I would guess your transplants are less likely to be from Montgomery County, and more likely to be from the Baltimore metro. Of course, the native substrate population has probably dropped the Dems like a hot potato, much like we did up here over the last 20 years.

Allegany County went for Glendening in 1996. 20 years later we do not have a single Democrat serving in any county or state level partisan office (BOE is a non-partisan race so a few Dems still slip in there.)

As for Frederick County, I am skeptical the changes in around the city and down I-270 have done much to change the political character of the rural parts of the county, especially north of Walkersville.

Actually, in order for intrastate movers, it's Prince George's, Montgomery and Howard.

[westsideboy]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Actually, in order for intrastate movers, it's Prince George's, Montgomery and Howard.

Well, so much for my theory. I'm at a loss. Is there something about Calvert that attracts more conservative types?

Maybe it has to do with density. Much of the growth in Frederick is around Urbana and Frederick City, both of which are fairly dense. Maybe that attracts Montgomery County left-wingers who still want some of the conveniences of urbanity, but cheaper prices.