Karla Daniels with MSU Spokesman
Tuesday’s midterm election created history across much of the United States, yet most of Maryland’s races were called before 10:00 p.m.
Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, was re-elected, defeating his Republican challenger, Dan Cox in a rematch of their 2022 meeting. The Associated Press called the race at 8:01 p.m., one minute after Maryland polls closed.
Moore, who made Maryland history by becoming the first Black governor, was not the only Democrat to be reelected to statewide office. Both Attorney General Anthony Brown and Comptroller Brooke Lierman will serve a second term, easily defeating their Republican opponents.
Marylanders also approved an amendment to the state’s constitution that will make it easier for more partisan activity in drawing legislative boundaries.
Ballot Question 3, which drew support from Moore, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and former President Barack Obama, was approved, winning 60% of the vote.
In other Maryland election developments, Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D), won reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives from the 7th District. Mfume, a Morgan alum, who serves as chair of the university’s Board of Regents, easily defeated Scott M. Collier (R).
Rep. Andy Harris (R-1st) will return to Congress as the only Republican member of the Maryland delegation. Harris, who defeated Dan Schwartz, had been thought to be vulnerable, but won reelection 56%-44%.
Also, locally, history was made in the Baltimore suburbs as Julian Jones (D), a Baltimore County Councilman, became the county’s first Black county executive. Meanwhile, Maryland Del. Vanessa Atterbeary (D-13th) will become Howard County’s first Black woman county executive.
Nationally, the Democrats won back control of both the House and Senate, setting Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D- N.Y.) up to be the first Black Speaker of the House in the nation’s history. Jeffries has served as the House minority leader since 2023.
Sen.-elect Juliana Stratton (D-Ill.) will join Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) as Black women holding seats in the U.S. Senate.
Alsobrooks is Maryland’s first Black senator, elected two years ago. She was joined by Blunt Rochester- Delaware’s first Black woman senator.
Keisha Lance Bottoms (D-Ga.), Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), David Crowley (D-Wis.) and Aaron Ford (D.-Nev.) all became the first Black elected governors in their respective states.
Texas elected Democratic state Rep. James Talarico into the U.S. Senate, while Gina Hinojosa defeated three-time incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott. Hinojosa will be Texas’ first Latina governor. Texas had not elected a Democratic senator nor governor in over three decades.
Kansans elected Adam Hamilton (D) to the Senate, making him the first Democratic senator from that state since 1932.
Across the country, Abdul El-Sayed became the nation’s first Muslim U.S. senator, winning his Michigan race. Xavier Becerra won election as California’s first Latino governor in modern times.
Chris Pappas swept to victory in New Hampshire’s U.S Senate race, thus becoming the first openly gay senator in the nation’s history, while Deb Haaland will become the first Native American governor in U.S history when she takes over in New Mexico.
