District 5’s Republican delegation has gone public with a rare and very pointed demand: they want one of their own to step aside.
Sen. Justin Ready and Delegates April Rose and Chris Tomlinson on Wednesday called on Delegate Christopher Eric Bouchat to resign, arguing that his recent conduct has effectively left the district short a voice in Annapolis. In a one-page letter, the three Republicans said Bouchat confirmed he had stepped away from his Judiciary Committee assignment and had been showing up only for morning roll calls before heading back home to run his business. They urged him to step down so a replacement could be appointed for the rest of the term.
According to WMAR-2 News, Ready wrote on social media that Bouchat’s habit of checking in for attendance and then leaving Annapolis “deprives the citizens of District 5 the full representation they deserve.” The delegation’s public notice cites what it calls a week-long pattern of missed votes and absences.
The letter from the District 5 team also reminds constituents that “the job of state legislators does not end with the conclusion of session in April,” and presses Bouchat to resign so someone else can serve until January. The full text of the notice, including a list of votes and community events the lawmakers say Bouchat skipped, is posted on Scribd.
Even as colleagues say he has stepped away from Judiciary Committee work, Bouchat’s official branding is looking far down the road. His site features a “Bouchat for Governor 2030” page and still lists his District 5 office and Judiciary Committee role. The banner appears on his Friends of Bouchat campaign page, and the Maryland General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee roster continues to list him as a member on the Maryland General Assembly site.
What Happens If He Steps Down
If Bouchat does resign, the state’s usual process would kick in. As outlined in the Maryland Manual, the relevant county party central committee would recommend a successor, and the governor would appoint that person to serve the remainder of the term. In this case, Carroll County Republican leaders would be expected to take the lead on a short-term pick until the new legislative term starts in January.
WMAR-2 News reports that the District 5 delegation described its public call for resignation as something it did not undertake lightly. The station also noted that its reporters reached out to Bouchat for comment and had not yet received a response. For now, local party officials and District 5 residents are left waiting to see whether the embattled delegate answers his colleagues or tries to ride out the term in relative silence.
