David Trone had just won the June 2018 Democratic primary in Maryland’s 6th Congressional District, defeating seven other Democratic candidates, including future Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna K. Miller.
But there was something clearly wrong.
David Trone was noticeably absent from the campaign trail.
And Maryland Democrats began questioning whether David Trone was sick based on their impression of Trone’s noticeably gaunt physical appearance.
The typically vigorous Trone, who turned 63 in September 2018, spoke alongside Ben Jealous, Maryland’s 2018 Democratic gubernatorial nominee, at a 2018 summary held at the Frederick County Democratic headquarters.
Some of the Democrats who attended the Frederick rally described Trone’s appearance as “pale” and “clammy.”
So, what was going on with Trone?
Another rally attendee remarked that Mr. Trone’s voice was hoarse and discordant, and another told A Miner Detail that Trone appeared to be “sickly.”
And there were pictures to show it.
Another image of Trone, the co-founder of Total Wine and More, inspired more and more Democrats to question whether Trone is battling an illness.
The photograph below is a screen capture from a video the Trone campaign posted on its Facebook page.
In the video, Mr. Trone is seen standing next to former Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez on August 7, 2018, for a National Night Out event.
Some have observed that Trone’s hair was noticeably thinning and patchy.
(See the in the photograph above.)
The photograph above starkly contrasts the one below, which was posted to Trone’s campaign Facebook page two days after Maryland’s June 26, 2018, primary election.
A source inside Mr. Trone’s congressional campaign said his staff told them that “Trone simply got a haircut” and that there was nothing wrong with him.
But it wasn’t just a haircut.
When asked for comment, Trone’s congressional campaign manager, Jerid Kurtz, dismissed concerns about Trone’s health as “gossip.”
“Always sorry to hear the gossip, but just yesterday we had David with 200 folks in Frederick for our unity event, was with Tom Perez of the DNC last week for National night out, and hosted AAPI leaders for a luncheon this past week. It’s a little slower since the primary, but he’s still hitting all cycles,” Kurtz wrote in a text message.
Some 6th District Democrats have noticed that Trone has been conspicuously absent from district events, many of which occurred in Western Maryland.
Mr. Trone was noticeably absent from the 2018 Washington County Democratic picnic, an annual event held every August that attracts candidates from around the state.
A Montgomery County Democratic insider told A Miner Detail on Thursday, August 23, that news of Trone’s health has reached Trone himself, who dismissed the chatter as nothing more than rumors and innuendo.
As a result of A Miner Detail’s Friday, August 24, 2018, reporting, David Trone announced on Monday, August 27, 2018, that he was being treated for cancer.
The following news outlets mentioned A Miner Detail as the first Maryland media outlet that reported on Trone’s health issues:
“The decision to reveal his diagnosis came three days after a political blogger published photos of Trone with thinning hair and appearing as though he had lost weight. The post in A Miner Detail said Maryland Democratic officials were concerned about Trone’s health and quoted Trone campaign manager Jerid Kurtz dismissing the speculation as “gossip.”
The candidate’s disclosure came just days after blogger Ryan Miner reported on “whispers” in political circles that Trone, who has kept a low profile since winning the primary, has appeared to be in ill-health of late.
His blog post included photos of Trone with what appeared to be thinning hair. When Miner asked the campaign about the rumors, campaign manager Jerid Kurtz dismissed them as “gossip.”
But his inquiry appears to have spurred the Trone team to make its disclosure.”
TRONE’s HEALTH QUESTIONED: A weekend whisper about David Trone’s physical appearance and his noticeable absence on the campaign trail is now audibly louder after several Maryland Democrats – and even some of Trone’s own supporters – this week have expressed genuine concern and alarm that the 6th Congressional District Democratic nominee’s health may be on the decline, Ryan Miner of A Miner Detail blog writes.
Maryland Reporter Editor Len Lazarick commended A Miner Detail on its reporting on Tuesday, August 28, 2018:
TRONE ADMITS CANCER TREATMENT: Following Ryan Miner’s piece on Democrats speculating about congressional hopeful David Trone’s health and Trone’s campaign manager dismissal of illness, Trone himself has admitted in a press release to undergoing treatment for cancer.
Paul Schwartzman of the Post writes that Trone, according to the press release, is scheduled for surgery in mid-September to remove a kidney. He said he plans to return to the campaign trail quickly and is confident he will make a full recovery.
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- Jeff Barker’s piece in the Sun also quotes heavily from the press release sent out Monday afternoon by the Trone camp.
- Bruce DePuyt of Maryland Matters writes that Whether Trone’s apparent reluctance to make his condition known becomes a campaign issue remains to be seen. Political analyst Stephen J. Farnsworth, a professor at the University of Mary Washington
Mary Washington University, said incumbency matters.“Prompt disclosure is a requirement for someone already in office,” he said. “For a candidate, it’s more of a gray area.” - Allen Etzler of the Frederick News Post writes that Trone’s Republican opponent Amie Hoeber was on her way to a funeral for a family member when she heard the news. “I just left a message on David Trone’s telephone to tell him that I hope he has a speedy recovery from his cancer,” she said. “In my message I also sent June and the Trone family my wishes for the strength to help him through this. It must be extremely difficult to deal with these matters while in the public spotlight.”
CONGRATS TO A MINER DETAIL: Congrats to Ryan Miner for uncovering the story about the suspect health of David Trone, the Democratic nominee in the 6th Congressional District.
This was a piece of sound journalism documented with photos that clearly showed Trone’s hair loss and gaunt appearance.
His campaign manager called it “gossip,” but the story, which we linked to Monday, forced Trone to admit he had cancer two months after he was diagnosed — on the day before he won the primary.
What a contrast to the forthright disclosure of Gov. Larry Hogan and his battle with cancer in 2015 a few days after he was diagnosed. Len Lazarick, MarylandReporter.com
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