Maryland Opportunity - Mikulski Retiring

Senator Barbara Mikulski's (MD) retirement means Republicans could pick up a Senate seat in what is known as deep blue Maryland. Larry Hogan's victory in the 2014 governor's race over liberal Democrat Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown showed a Republican can win in Maryland.

Mikulski, known for being one of the most outspoken and foul mouthed liberals in the Senate, leaves when the state's Democrat party is in disarray. Former Governor Martin O'Malley helped foster this. He pushed and passed tax increase after tax increase hurting Maryland's business environment. Maryland voters had enough of O'Malley -- just look at O'Malley's approval at the end of his term, 41 percent and 48 percent disapproval. (No wonder O'Malley has taken himself out of the race to succeed Mikulski.)

Even in this bluest of blue states, a Republican who is a fiscal conservative can win.

With a slew of liberal Democrats running, there are several prominent Republicans being mentioned as possible contenders: talk show host and former Secret Service Agent Dan Bongino, former Governor Bob Ehrlich (if he foregoes his presidential aspirations), and conservative U.S. Congressman Andy Harris.