Initially, Maryland Democrats said they would be able to pick a new candidate to replace Rosen on the ballot as long as they did so by Sept. 27, 40 days before Election Day. But while Maryland Election Law allows a ballot vacancy to be filled up to 40 days before the election, a candidate can only voluntarily withdraw up to 70 days before the election. That deadline was Aug. 28.
So while Rosen’s name will appear on the ballot in the Eastern Shore-based 1st district, Democrats plan to name a write-in candidate as their de facto nominee. The odds will be stacked against the party choice anyway, as the district was redrawn to be more hospitable to Republicans.