Maryland state Sen. John Giannetti saves the life of his political rival by performing the Heimlich maneuver on the choking man.

The Associated Press reports victim Jim Rosapepe is running against Giannetti in the Democratic primary for the Washington district.

Giannetti saw him hunched over and upset so he performed the Heimlich and dislodged a piece of seafood.

Giannetti tells The (Annapolis) Capital, "It's one of those really weird, cosmic things."

Rosapepe thanked his political rival for saving his life.

He says, "Obviously, it's an incredible coincidence, and a happy coincidence."

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller says he hopes the incident will take the edge of the competition.

He says to The Washington Post, "Maybe this means we'll see a more uplifting campaign as a result... I mean, I would think you'd be very hard-pressed to say anything bad about a man who saved your life."