ANNAPOLIS — After every primary election in Montgomery County, the Woman's Suburban Democratic Club hosts a "Kiss and Make-Up Party" to foster party unity and allow candidates and their supporters to reconcile.

There's no shortage of wounds to heal this year.

After a bloody primary season that featured contentious races for state legislative seats and the County Council, Democrats face the difficult task of mending fences.

The club's party, which was held Thursday night in Rockville, is the first step in that process.

"It's hard to forgive and forget when there have been huge lies that people may believe, but I'll just be quiet about that," said Sen. Jennie M. Forehand, who beat back a primary challenge from former Del. Cheryl C. Kagan. "I don't want to prolong this agony."

Kagan called Forehand (D-Dist. 17) of Rockville on Wednesday to officially concede the race, and the two women had a friendly conversation, Forehand said.

Similar discussions were taking place in other districts in Montgomery and elsewhere across Maryland.

"It was a very gracious phone call, and I think we're ready to move on," Sen. Nancy J. King said of her talk with Del. Saqib Ali, who conceded late Tuesday night.

Sen. Mike G. Lenett acknowledged the hostility and the need to unite in his public concession letter to Del. Roger Manno (D-Dist. 19) of Silver Spring.

"I hope that Democrats across Montgomery County wake up this morning committed to healing quickly from an unfortunately overly-contentious primary season and re-uniting to help our Governor Martin O'Malley in a close general election battle that will determine whether Maryland retreats backward or moves forward to advance the values we hold so dear," wrote Lenett (D-Dist. 19) of Silver Spring.

Democrats must quickly rally around O'Malley and put aside lingering differences, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. said Thursday.

He said the concession statements by Lenett and Ali (D-Dist. 39) of Gaithersburg were genuine, and he appreciated that they both emphasized the importance of burying the hatchet.

"As long as moods like this prevail upon the elected officials, we're going to be able to put differences aside and move forward in the general election, which is all-important," said Miller (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach.

But not every hostile primary race has given way to harmony.

Del. Charles A. Jenkins (R-Dist. 3B) of Frederick said this week that he is not supporting the man who beat him in the primary.

"Michael Hough does not have the ethics or morals I want in my candidate," he said of the Republican nominee. "I encourage folks who share my concerns to support Democrat Paul Gilligan."

Hough defeated Jenkins by a 2-to-1 margin. Jenkins attributed the loss, in part, on what he said were Hough's often-erroneous attacks on Jenkins' record as a county commissioner and delegate.

Hough, who said earlier that Republicans would come together regardless of the outcome, expressed disappointment in Jenkins' stance.

"I was fully prepared to endorse him if he won. If there's someone you agree with 80 percent of the time, he's your friend, not your enemy," Hough said.

Ideally, the candidates would shake hands and move on, but in bitter races, it's not easy to forget everything that happened, said Sen. David R. Brinkley (R-Dist. 4) of New Market.

"When you get into politics it's a contact sport, and when a person's feelings are raw, you get some reaction in the short term," he said.

It's all about doing what's best for the party and for the people you represent, said King (D-Dist. 39) of Montgomery Village.

"I think it's the realization that people who weren't successful at least want the Democratic Party to be successful," she said.

Comptroller Peter V.R. Franchot (D) bemoaned the "gutter politics" that pervades electoral contests and takes attention away from important policy debates. He also suggested it's one reason why voter turnout — about 24 percent statewide — might have been so low.

Montgomery County, home to some of the most acrimonious primaries, had the lowest voter turnout — 18.1 percent — of any jurisdiction in the state, according to state election board figures.

"I think the lesson from the primaries is the public is frustrated by the economy and they are frustrated by the partisan, negative campaigning and they want to see their elected officials working together," Franchot said. "Maybe it (negative campaigning) works, but it's a tainted win."

Even if the hurt feelings don't go away immediately, it's most important that everyone is back on the same page when the General Assembly convenes in January, Forehand said.

"We have so much to be working on now," she said. "When the issues start coming for our county and municipalities, we will be in lockstep in very short order, and I really do believe bygones will just be bygones."

Staff Writer Katherine Heerbrandt contributed to this report.

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