QUESTION 3 PASSES HANDILY; NOW WHAT? The most contested statewide race was not for an office — but a map. Voters had to decide how they felt about Question 3, the Democrats’ plan to redraw district lines and make it easier for the party to sweep all of the state’s congressional seats. Recent polling showed most voters opposed the measure. But when push came to shove, many seemed to hold their noses and vote in favor of it. The measure passed easily, reflecting a larger triumph for Gov. Wes Moore and a dominant day for Democrats. Hayes Gardner, John-John Williams IV and Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
- Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed Question 3, a ballot question that amends the state constitution to permit more forms of partisan gerrymandering. Democrats already enjoy a 7-1 advantage, but what’s one more among a uni-party state that enjoys a supermajority in the legislature? Lee O. Sanderlin/The Baltimore Banner.
- When polls opened Tuesday morning, the fate of Question 3 was still up in the air. As returns started rolling in, however, it became clear that Question 3 was headed to an easy passage. In unofficial returns, a little less than 1.1 million people had voted for the constitutional amendment that could open the door to new congressional maps as early as next year, while 717,646 had voted against it. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
MOORE BEATS COX IN REPEAT OF 2022: It was a very good night for Gov. Wes Moore—often mentioned as a possible contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028. Moore handily defeated Republican opponent Dan Cox in a rematch of their 2022 race. With more than 70% of the vote reporting, Moore led Cox 63% to 33%, similar to the 65-32% margin by which Moore defeated Cox four years ago. Louis Peck/Bethesda Today.
- As soon as polls closed at 8 p.m., the Associated Press called the governor’s race for the Democrat over Republican challenger Dan Cox. A roar went up from the standing-room-only crowd at Moore’s victory party at the M&T Bank Exchange in Baltimore when the result was announced. An ebullient Moore ascended the stage two hours later, with his wife and children by his side, and grinned as he took the mic. Pamela Wood and Céilí Doyle/The Baltimore Banner.
- Around 11 p.m., Cox took the stage for the first time Tuesday night to address the crowd. Though he continued to harp on ballot counts not being official, he emphasized that it has been a “privilege of a lifetime” to campaign to be Maryland’s governor. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters.
VOTE TALLIES FOR MARYLAND RACES: Vote counts for Maryland’s redistricting Question 3 and other state, local and federal midterm election contests are mostly in. Tallies from early voting and earlier arriving mail-in ballots were released first, followed by in-person Election Day counts. Staff/The Baltimore Sun.
FEW CHANGES IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS DEMS RETAIN FIRM CONTROL: The balance of power in the Maryland General Assembly will not change as a result of Tuesday’s voting, with Democrats all but guaranteed to maintain firm control of both the Senate and House of Delegates. But a handful of seats were in play from both parties, in both the House and Senate. While no senator was unseated, despite come close calls, it appears the Democrats may have picked up two seats in the House. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
RASKIN EYES AGENDA AS HEAD OF JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Takoma Park) was easily re-elected to a sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday—positioning him to become one of the highest profile members of that chamber when the new Congress takes office in January. With Democrats expected to regain the House majority that they lost in 2022 once the votes are counted across the country, Raskin is in line to chair the Judiciary Committee—giving him jurisdiction to launch numerous investigations of the Trump administration. Louis Peck/Bethesda Today.
- From that perch, he said, he would try to close gun-sale loopholes, scrutinize antitrust deals and — perhaps — pursue another impeachment of President Donald Trump. “We’re not afraid to impeach Donald Trump. We’ve done it twice. He has 50% of all the presidential impeachments in American history,” Raskin, a Democrat who lives in Takoma Park, said in an Election Day interview. “It’s Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and two for Donald Trump.” Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Banner.
HARRIS HOLDS ONTO HOUSE SEAT DESPITE BLUE WAVE, STRONGER OPPONENT: Rep. Andy Harris won his ninth term in Congress on Tuesday, maintaining Maryland’s sole Republican presence in the House of Representatives despite Democrats sweeping races across the country. The Associated Press called the election result at 11:45 p.m., with Harris defeating Democrat Dan Schwartz and ending the first-time candidate’s bid to flip the seat. Brenda Wintrode/The Baltimore Banner.
- In unofficial returns, Harris had 150,615 votes to 119,088 for Schwartz. That’s a 55% to 44% advantage over Schwartz, a first-time candidate who quit his job to run full time in the deep-red district that covers the Eastern Shore and spills over into eastern Baltimore County. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
WITH 78% OF VOTE, JAWANDO NEXT MONTGOMERY COUNTY EXEC: Will Jawando, the 43-year-old Democratic nominee for Montgomery County executive who took nearly a month off from campaigning after suffering a heart attack on Sept. 5, held a commanding lead in the race for the county’s top job on Tuesday night. With 251 of 257 precincts reporting, Jawando garnered 77.8% of the vote compared with Republican nominee Esther Wells’ 21.9%. Ceoli Jacoby/Bethesda Today.
JULIAN JONES PROMISES TO BE AN ACTIVE BALTIMORE COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Julian Jones will shimmy down the slide. He will grip the steering wheel of the $300,000 McLaren. He’ll march in the parade, dance at the victory party, run toward the fire, command the microphone and pull the unsuspecting audience member in for a selfie. Jones, the first Black man set to be elected Baltimore County executive, is not going to be a fade-into-the-background leader. It’s not how he’s lived his life. Rona Kobell and Céilí Doyle/The Baltimore Banner.
ATTERBEARY TO BE FIRST BLACK WOMAN HOWARD COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Vanessa Atterbeary officially became the first Black woman and the first woman in four decades elected as Howard County executive Tuesday. Atterbeary, whose only opposition was a Green Party candidate, had about 82% of county votes when the Associated Press called the race for her just before midnight. Jess Nocera/The Baltimore Banner.
ELECTION USHERS IN YOUNGER, MORE RACIALLY DIVERSE BALTIMORE CO. COUNCIL: It’s a new era for the Baltimore County Council. After Tuesday’s election, the council is on its way to becoming younger and more racially and ideologically diverse. At least one Black woman appears poised to become the first ever elected to the council. So are at least two members of Gen Z. The council is also set to expand for the first time since it was established in 1956, from seven to nine members. Olivia Bensimon/The Baltimore Banner.
- The election also marked two historic milestones for representation in Baltimore County. Democrat Makeda Scott became the first Black woman elected to the council, while Democrat Ruben Amaya became its first Latino member. Natalie Jones/The Baltimore Sun.
