On November 6, after a week of early voting beginning on October 25, Montgomery County voters headed to the polls to cast their ballots for offices throughout the county and state. Here are some of the key results:
National Congressional Races:
Democrat victories in House races nationwide have resulted in the Democratic party taking control of the House of Representatives for the first time since 2010. House minority leader and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave a speech Tuesday night celebrating the Democratic victory, referencing the House’s “responsibility for oversight.” The Democratic Party has indicated that, with a majority in the House, they are prepared to launch investigation into the Trump administration and its policies moving forward.
The “Blue Wave” of Democratic House victories did not extend to the Senate. Republicans flipped seats in North Dakota, Missouri, and Indiana, retaining and widening a Republican majority. Several Senate races remain uncalled in Arizona and Florida, and a special Senate election in Mississippi has advanced to runoff, as no candidate received over 50% of the vote. In Maryland, Sen. Ben Cardin won his bid for re-election, carrying 64.2% of the vote.
Maryland Gubernatorial Race: Larry Hogan (R)
The Associated Press reports that incumbent Republican governor Larry Hogan defeated Democratic challenger and former NAACP president Ben Jealous by 13.4%, with almost 1.2 million votes cast for Hogan to just under 910,000 votes for Jealous. Voter turnout in this race exceeded that of the 2014 gubernatorial election by almost 400,000 votes. He will begin his second term on January 16, 2019. Hogan has stated that he will seek to cut taxes, protect the Chesapeake Bay, and promote accountability in the Maryland educational system throughout his upcoming term.
Montgomery County Executive Race: Marc Elrich (D)
Democrat and former County Council member Marc Elrich claimed victory over the county executive seat Tuesday night, with 64% of the vote. He received over triple the votes of his nearest competitor, Independent and former colleague on the County Council, Nancy Floreen. Elrich also easily won over Republican nominee Robin Ficker.
In his victory speech Tuesday night, Elrich stated, “I’m not going to apologize for my support for working people.” Elrich drew endorsements from many of the county’s unions and labor organizations. In his speech, Elrich emphasized equity for Montgomery County residents from all backgrounds, saying, “You get the same respect. You get the same honor. You get the same sense of worth.” Elrich will be sworn in as county executive on December 3.
House of Representatives, MD-6: David Trone (D)
In the most closely watched Maryland congressional seat of this cycle, Democrat and multimillionaire David Trone defeated Republican Amie Hoeber 57.6% to 39.3%. The seat was previously occupied by Democrat John Delaney, who is stepping down from his role in congress to run for President in 2020. Trone is the only new member of Maryland’s representation in the House.
Although Trone may have won his seat in District 6 this year, he may face challenges in the future. On Wednesday, federal judges in Maryland declared the district map unconstitutional, stating that District 6 is intentionally drawn to target Republican voters because of their political affiliation, as reported by the Washington Post. This decision in the result of a long-running partisan gerrymandering case, and promises to greatly impact the political demographics of the district in the coming years.
Maryland Attorney General: Brian Frosh (D)
Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh secured his re-election Tuesday night over Republican challenger Craig Wolf. Frosh has been a strong opponent of the President Trump over the past two years. As a part of a coalition of Democratic State Attorneys General, Frosh has participated in about 20 legal challenges against the Trump administration and their policies, as reported by the Baltimore Sun. Frosh’s 2018 victory may be a seal of approval from Maryland voters who wish for the Attorney General’s continued opposition to the current Presidential administration.
Article by MoCo Student staff writer Elliot Davey of Wheaton High School.