Democrat April McClain Delaney looks chagrined as Republican Neil Parrott makes closing remarks during their 6th District congressional forum Sunday. Moments later, the two would be on their feet, arguing and jabbing at each other. Photo by Josh Kurtz.
For 57 minutes Sunday, the first candidate forum in Maryland’s most competitive U.S. House district was fairly staid and civil, with Democrat April McClain Delaney and Republican Neil C. Parrott sticking to their well-rehearsed talking points and mild partisan attack lines.
But the final three minutes of the forum, at Hood College in Frederick, erupted in fury and chaos, with the candidates angrily talking over each other and jabbing their fingers menacingly in the other’s direction. Parrott, a former state lawmaker, briefly stormed off the stage as a Hood political science professor sought to restore order, then returned in time to accept Delaney’s offer of a handshake.
The fracas began during Parrott’s two-minute closing statement. He complained to Delaney, an attorney and former U.S. Commerce Department official, that while she had been talking about civility and finding common ground for most of the forum, “what about the lies you put in your campaign ad about my record?” When Delaney attempted to respond to the criticism, Parrott began wagging his finger at his opponent and shouting, “This is my turn — my two minutes!” as two dozen of his supporters, wearing green campaign T-shirts, hooted and hollered their approval.