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House Environmental Matters Chairwoman Maggie L. McIntosh will head the coordinated campaign of the Maryland Democratic Party, Gov. Martin O'Malley announced Thursday.

"My objective is going to be a planning process that puts in place a great and talented staff to put together the kind of coordinated efforts that Democrats will need to hold the top spots in Maryland," said McIntosh (D-Dist. 43) of Baltimore.

O'Malley and Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski of Baltimore head the list of Democrats up for re-election in 2010.

All eight congressional seats, the offices of comptroller and attorney general, the General Assembly and county executive posts also will square off at the polls.

As chairwoman of the coordinated campaign, McIntosh will oversee strategic planning and execution for the state party in support of Democratic nominees in the November general election.

In a statement, O'Malley called McIntosh "an outstanding legislative leader" who "will help Democrats continue to win and build on the 2008 victories of President Obama and our other Democratic winners."

McIntosh was appointed to the House of Delegates in 1992. In 2001, she was named the first women to serve as House Majority Leader. She relinquished the post in 2003 when she was appointed chairwoman of the Environmental Matters Committee.

As coordinated campaign chairwoman, McIntosh said she will use the 2006 campaign as a model. She expects to pay particular attention to races for two congressional seats: the District 4 seat held by Donna F. Edwards of Fort Washington and the District 1 seat held by Frank M. Kratovil Jr. of Stevensville.

"That will be, I'm sure, the most competitive race," McIntosh said of the District 1 race.

Last year, Kratovil won a hotly contested campaign over Sen. Andrew P. Harris (R-Dist. 7) of Cockeysville, after Harris unseated incumbent Wayne T. Gilchrest in the primary.