Scott Edges Out Dixon In Race For Democratic Nomination: AP

BALTIMORE, MD — City Council President Brandon Scott has won the Democratic nomination for mayor in Baltimore, according to the Associated Press.

Scott had 29.4 percent of the votes, while former Mayor Sheila Dixon had 27.7 percent, the Maryland Board of Elections reported Tuesday night.

"Change is not just possible but long overdue," Scott said in a statement following Tuesday night's preliminary election results, a week after in-person voting.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the primary election was mostly held by mail, and the canvass continues Wednesday, according to the Baltimore City Board of Elections.

Here are the preliminary election results as of 10:25 p.m. on Tuesday:

"As a son of Baltimore, I could not be more honored to lead our great city in this critical moment and carry the work forward with you," said Scott, who has been the president of the City Council since 2019. After graduating from Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School (Mervo) and St. Mary's College of Maryland, he was the youngest person elected to the council in 2011, at age 27.

"Our city stands at a crossroads," said Scott, now 36. "Baltimore will only move forward as a city united, not divided. It will take all of us to build a city that is safe, equitable and accountable."

During his time on the council, Scott has called for a holistic approach to public safety and has repeatedly asked for transparency in government.

"He brings an exciting vision of hope and unity to the great City of Baltimore," U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat, said in a statement following the news that Scott secured the Democratic nomination.

"During these challenging times, I am confident that he will unite the City behind an agenda of equal justice and equal opportunity — and deliver real results for every person in every neighborhood," Van Hollen said. "I pledge to do everything I can to support his mission of building an inclusive city with expanding opportunities and growing prosperity for all."

A leader with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) also congratulated Scott in a written statement. Scott advocated in Annapolis for improving wages and health care access on behalf of the workers at the Port of Baltimore, BWI and Penn Station, according to the SEUI.

"He has always been there for the men and women who keep Baltimore office buildings safe and clean, and he’s supporting the fight to increase wages and access to health care for essential workers at BWI," Jaime Contreras, vice president at 32BJ SEIU, said Tuesday night. "Brandon Scott will bring a fresh, untainted, authentic and passionate commitment that’s long-overdue and needed now, more than ever in Baltimore."

On the Republican side, Shannon Wright won the nomination for mayor, based on preliminary results from the board of elections, which show she had 29 percent of the votes in the Republican primary as of Tuesday night.

See Also:

• Brandon Scott Takes Lead Over Sheila Dixon In Baltimore’s Mayoral Race
• Some Baltimore City Voters Received Wrong Ballots, Advocates Say
• 9 Races To Watch Primary Day In Maryland
• Baltimore Ballot Mistake Leads To Uncountable Votes: Report

The Associated Press contributed to this report.