Trone in Recovery Following Successful Kidney Removal Surgery, Campaign Says

Democratic 6th District congressional nominee expects to return to campaign trail in a ‘few weeks’

David Trone File photo

Democratic congressional candidate David Trone, who went public last month with his cancer diagnosis, is reportedly doing well after undergoing kidney removal surgery Tuesday.

In a statement released Wednesday, the 6th District candidate’s campaign reported the procedure was successful.

“[H]e’s recuperating with his family, and he expects to be back on the campaign trail within a few weeks,” the statement said.

Trone, co-owner of Total Wine & More and a Potomac resident, is facing off against Republican candidate Amie Hoeber, also of Potomac, and a couple of third-party contenders in his bid to succeed outgoing U.S. Rep. John Delaney, a Democrat who is leaving office to run for president.

Doctors in late June confirmed Trone had a tumor in his urinary tract. He’s since been through chemotherapy at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, and his tumor has shrunk substantially as a result, according to the campaign. The kidney operation represented the next phase of his treatment.

Trone’s physician, Dr. Phillip Pierorazio, earlier this month gave the candidate an “excellent” prognosis and said he didn’t anticipate any complications from the kidney surgery.

The candidate spent the Saturday before the surgery campaigning in the congressional district that stretches from Western Maryland to southern Montgomery County, making appearances in Frederick, Hagerstown and Allegany County.

While Trone’s diagnosis raised questions about whether he’d stay in the running, he told the Washington Post on Monday that he’s never discussed dropping out of the race.

“David is committed to doing everything he can for the people of the 6th District, his prognosis is excellent, and he’s fully committed to this race,” Jerid Kurtz, Trone’s campaign manager, said in a prepared statement.

Kurtz noted that Republican Gov. Larry Hogan continued to serve in office while undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Reached by phone Wednesday, Hoeber said she was “delighted” to hear Trone was doing well after his surgery.

“I would never wish this sort of an illness on anyone ever, and I look forward to discussing campaign issues once he gets back on the trail,” she said.

Scott Goldberg, chair of the Montgomery County Democratic Party, said Wednesday that there is “zero talk of anyone but David Trone being the Democratic nominee for Congress in district 6.”

“His surgery went well and he was back to campaigning the same day. What this conversation should be about is how we make sure every single person living in this great country has access to affordable, world class medical care. Sending David Trone to Congress gets us closer to that goal,” Goldberg wrote in an email.

Maryland Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Matthews and party leaders from across the district released a statement Wednesday reaffirming their support for Trone as the party nominee.

“David Trone has shown an exceptional commitment to the voters of the 6th district, will carry this race to success in November and beyond, and will be a tremendous representative for everyone,” Matthews said in the joint statement with Goldberg and party chairs from Frederick, Washington and Allegany counties.

A state elections official said the deadline for a candidate to decline a party nomination was Aug. 28, and the deadline for a central committee to fill a vacancy on the ballot was Sept. 7. At this point, the general election ballots have been certified and sent to the printers, said Donna Duncan, assistant deputy for election policy for the Maryland State Board of Elections.

Bethany Rodgers can be reached at bethany.rodgers@bethesdamagazine.com.