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Home » 2018 Election Report – National and Maryland Overview

The 2018 election was one for the record books, both nationally and in Maryland. Votes were tallied for weeks after Election Day and the results of races changed around the nation and in Maryland as time went on.

National Election Results

As the vote counts continued, Democrats grew their margins in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The Democrats picked up 40 seats.  The Democrats will now hold 235 seats and the Republicans will hold 200 seats when the 166th Congress convenes on January 3, 2019.

In the U.S. Senate, Republicans defeated Democrat incumbents in Indiana, North Dakota, Missouri, and Florida while Democrats picked up victories in Arizona and Nevada.  The Republicans will hold 53 Senate seats and the Democrats will hold 47 Senate seats.

In governors’ races, the Democrats picked up 7 governorships.  In 2019, there will be 27 Republican governors and 23 Democrat governors.  Democrats won gubernatorial races in the important electoral states of Michigan and Wisconsin.

Maryland Election Results

Maryland Republican incumbent Governor Larry Hogan easily defeated his Democrat challenger, Ben Jealous, by a margin of 56-43% in a race which saw a record turnout of 55% of voters.  With this win, Governor Hogan became the first Republican to win a second term in Maryland since Theodore McKeldin in 1954.

Despite the strength of Governor Hogan, the Republicans lost 8 seats in the Maryland House of Delegates and in 2019 there will be 100 Democrat delegates and 41 Republican delegates.  In the Maryland Senate, the Republicans picked up a net of 1 Senate seat.  The Democrats will have 32 Senate seats and the Republicans will have 15 Senate seats in 2019.  Both the House of Delegates and the State Senate will continue to have the ability to override any veto by Governor Hogan.

Incumbent Democrat Attorney General Brian Frosh defeated his Republican opponent Craig Wolf by a 65-35% margin.  Democrat Comptroller Peter Franchot defeated Republican Anjali Reed Phukan by a margin of 72 to 28%.

In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Democrat Senator Benjamin L. Cardin received 65% of the vote.  Republican challenger Tony Campbell received 30% of the vote, and Independent Neil Simon received just less than 4% of the vote.

In Maryland’s 8 House of Representative seats, all incumbents won.  In District 6, where Congressman John Delaney retired to seek the Democrat nomination for U.S. President, Democrat David Trone defeated Republican Amie Hoeber 59-38%.

Maryland Democrats picked up County Executive offices in Anne Arundel and Howard counties.  Steuart Pittman defeated Republican incumbent Steve Schuh in Anne Arundel County by a margin of 52-47%.  Howard County Councilman Calvin Ball defeated Republican incumbent Allan Kittleman by a margin of 53 to 47%. 

Regional Overview of Maryland 2018 Elections

Anne Arundel County

In addition to the victory of Steuart Pittman as County Executive, Democrats had other successes in Anne Arundel County.  Democrat Anne Colt Leitess defeated incumbent Republican State’s Attorney Wes Adams by a margin of 53-47%.  The 7 member Anne Arundel County Council has 6 new members and a new 4-3 Democrat majority.

In General Assembly races, Anne Arundel County Democrats picked up 2 seats in the House of Delegates.  In District 30A, Democrat Alice Cain will replace retiring Delegate Herb McMillan.  In District 33, Democrat Heather Bagnall defeated Republican incumbent Tony McConkey to be the first Democrat to represent the Crofton/Severna Park area since 1998.

There will be 2 new State Senators representing Anne Arundel County.  In District 32, Democrat Delegate Pam Beidle defeated Republican Councilman John Grasso to succeed retiring Senator Ed DeGrange.  In District 30, Democrat Sarah Elfreth defeated former Republican Delegate Ron George to succeed retiring Senator John Astle.

Baltimore City

Baltimore City will once again send an all Democrat delegation to Annapolis.  Four of Baltimore City’s Senators will be newcomers.  Delegates Cory McCray, Antonio Hayes, and Mary Washington defeated incumbent Senators Nathaniel McFadden, Barbara Robinson and Joan Carter Conway in the June Democrat primary.  Former Delegate Jill Carter will be the new Senator representing District 41.  She will replace Senator Nathaniel Oaks.

Baltimore County

Former Democrat Delegate John Olszewski Jr. defeated Republican Al Redmer in the County Executive race to succeed Don Mohler who finished the term of the late Kevin Kamenetz.  Olszewski had won a three-way Democrat primary race by 17 votes in June.  He will return to elected office 4 years after losing a State Senate race to Johnny Ray Salling.

The Baltimore County Council will continue to have a 4-3 Democrat majority. 

In District 8, incumbent Democrat Senator Kathy Klausmeier defeated Republican Delegate Christian Miele.  Republican incumbent Delegate Joe Cluster lost his bid for re-election.  The winning delegates from District 8 were incumbent Democrat Eric Bromwell, former Republican Delegate Joe Boteler, and Democrat newcomer Harry Bhandari.

In District 42, Republican Delegate Chris West defeated Democrat Robbie Leonard to replace Democrat Senator Jim Brochin who lost in the Democrat primary for County Executive.  District 42 will have 2 new Delegates – Republican Nino Mangione and Democrat Michelle Guyton.  These were open seats.

In District 11, former Delegate Jon Cardin will replace retiring Delegate Dan Morhaim.  In District 7, Republican Lauren Arikan will replace Delegate Pat McDonough who lost a primary bid for County Executive.

Carroll County
Carroll County remains a solidly Republican County.  All 5 County Commissioners are Republican as is the entire delegation to the Maryland General Assembly.

Cecil County
Like Carroll County, Cecil County is solidly Republican.  The County Council is comprised of 5 Republican members and its General Assembly delegation is all Republican.

Frederick County
Incumbent Democrat County Executive Jan Gardner defeated Republican Delegate Kathy Afzali by 52-43%.  Incumbent Senator Ron Young defeated Republican Craig Giangrande by 58-41%.

The Democrats added a seat in the House of Delegates as incumbent Republican Bill Folden lost to Democrat Ken Kerr 52-47%.

Harford County
The Harford County General Assembly delegation will now have 2 Democrats as Steve Johnson defeated incumbent Republican Delegate Glen Glass.  In a State Senate rematch, Republican incumbent Bob Cassilly defeated former Democrat Delegate Mary Dulany James by 189 votes.  Jason Gallion will represent District 35 replacing Linda Norman who temporarily filled the seat of her late husband Wayne Norman.   

Republican County Executive Barry Glassman easily won a second term.  Republican Councilman Pat Vincenti was elected President of the County Council which will have 6 Republicans and one Democrat.

Howard County
As noted earlier, Democrat Councilman Calvin Ball defeated incumbent Allan Kittleman for County Executive.  The County Council will once again have 4 Democrats and one Republican member.

In the General Assembly races, incumbent Republican Senator Gail Bates lost to Democrat Katie Fry Hester 53-46%.  In District 12, Delegate Clarence Lam defeated Republican Joe Hooe to succeed retiring Senator Ed Kasemeyer.  Incumbent Republican Delegate Bob Flanagan lost to former County Councilwoman Courtney Watson.

Montgomery County
Democrat Marc Elrich received nearly 65% of the vote to win the race for County Executive.  Independent and former Democrat candidate Nancy Floreen received 19% of the vote just ahead of Republican Robin Ficker who received 16% of the vote.  The County Council and its delegation to Annapolis will be comprised of all Democrats.

Prince George’s County
Prince George’s County will have a new County Executive.  Former State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks will succeed two-term County Executive Rushern Baker.  Former Delegate Aisha Braveboy will succeed Alsobrooks as the State’s Attorney.  The Prince George’s County Council and its delegation to Annapolis will once again be comprised of all Democrats.

Eastern Shore Region
In a highly competitive State Senate race in District 38 on the lower shore, Republican Delegate Mary Beth Carozza defeated incumbent Democrat Jim Mathias 52-47%.

Southern Maryland Region
In District 28 in Charles County, Democrat Arthur Ellis easily defeated his Republican challenger Bill Dotson by a 2-1 margin.  Senator-elect Ellis had defeated Finance Committee Chairman Thomas “Mac” Middleton in the Democrat primary.

In District 29B in St. Mary’s County, incumbent Delegate Deb Ray lost 53-46% to Democrat Brian Crosby.

Western Maryland Region
Western Maryland will once again send an all Republican delegation to Annapolis.   

Contact Information
Kevin O’Keeffe
Law Offices of Kevin O’Keeffe, LLC
[email protected]
Cell – 410-382-7844