Donald Trump Leads GOP Contenders in Maryland: Poll

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Despite some setbacks in other states where he has lost delegates, New York businessman Donald Trump’s sizable lead in the Maryland GOP primary puts him on track to claim all 38 delegates available, says a new poll.

The Monmouth University Poll finds that concerns about Trump’s suitability for office expressed by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, also a Republican, hold little sway with voters.

Currently, 47% of likely Republican primary voters in Maryland support Trump compared to 27% who support Ohio Gov. John Kasich and 19% who intend to vote for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

Kasich has won only his home state, to date, but his supporters in recent days have talked about the likelihood that he could win the nomination at the Republican national convention as a divided GOP gathers in July with no clear favorite.

The Monmouth University Poll also found that Gov. Larry Hogan’s reservations about the frontrunner have little effect on Maryland voters. Just over half (53%) of likely primary voters have heard about Hogan’s comments that Trump should not be the party’s nominee. The vast majority (83%) of voters, though, say Hogan’s position will have no impact on their own vote.

»»»SEE ALSO: Maryland Early Voting Begins This Week: Where, How to Cast Ballot

Voters can cast their ballots ahead of Maryland’s primary election starting this week.

The state’s primary will be held April 26; polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day.

Early voting in Maryland begins Thursday, April 14, and runs through Thursday, April 21. Polling places are open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. those days.

Races from presidential contests to the state legislature will be on ballots across Maryland.

The Republican presidential campaign seems to become more jumbled every day, with much riding on the April 19 New York primary.

And the Democratic presidential contest in Maryland will be a close-fought primary, with Sen. Bernie Sanders cutting former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s lead in half since a poll a month ago.

An NBC/Marist poll done April 5-9 showed Clinton with 58 percent support among likely voters, compared to 36 percent for Sanders.

Both candidates have had recent appearances in the state, either in person or by surrogates. On Tuesday, Clinton’s campaign opened field offices in Bethesda and Bowie to help turn out the vote.

Along with Maryland, April 26 is primary election day in Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

Where to Vote, Ballot Preview

Maryland holds its presidential primary -- along with primary contests for U.S. Senate, Congressional seats and statehouse races -- on April 26.

You can vote in an early voting center in the Maryland county where you live. See a list of the 2016 Primary early voting sites (PDF).

» Photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr / Creative Commons