The Maryland League of Conservation Voters on Thursday released its first list of candidate endorsements, giving the nod in 16 Senate and 41 House races.

Four challengers in Senate races received endorsements. All are current or former delegates.

The group backed Del. Karen Montgomery, who is challenging Sen. Rona Kramer in District 14, and endorsed Del. Jim Mathias for the open Senate seat in District 38, where Sen. Lowell Stoltzfus is retiring.

Del. Saqib Ali received the group's endorsement as a candidate in his bid to unseat Sen. Nancy King in District 39.

Former Del. Cheryl Kagan, who served two terms in the House before deciding not to seek re-election in 2002, got the group's nod to unseat Sen. Jennie Forehand in District 17, although the league's literature shows Kagan might have some work to do on name (or at least spelling) recognition. It spells her name "Kagen."

The environmental group also endorsed the re-election bids of Comptroller Peter Franchot and Attorney General Doug Gansler. It endorsed Gov. Martin O'Malley in January, not waiting for — or caring about — former Gov. Bob Ehrlich's announcement that he'd seek the Republican nomination for governor.

The complete list can be viewed at www.mdlcv.org.

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