Md. House majority whip won’t seek reelection

Maryland Del. Talmadge Branch (D-Baltimore City), majority whip for more than a decade, withdrew his candidacy for another term in office late Friday, about two hours ahead of a deadline for candidates to file to run. Branch, who has been a member of the House of Delegates since 1995, had filed in February, declaring his intent to seek another term. But he opted Friday to withdraw. An East Baltimore resident, Branch represented the 45th District, and had served as majority whip in the House since 2007.