MD Special Election Results: Kweisi Mfume Is Projected Winner

BALTIMORE, MD — Democrat Kweisi Mfume is the projected winner of the special election to fill the vacancy left by the late U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings.

Mfume, a former Baltimore City councilman, held the seat before Cummings. He was the District 7 congressman for five terms, from 1987 to 1996, leaving the post to become chairman of the NAACP from 1996 until 2004.

Cummings held the congressional seat until his death in October.

Mfume's challenger in Tuesday's special election was Republican Kimberly Klacik, a Middle River woman who runs a nonprofit for underserved women called Potential Me. She got the attention of President Donald Trump last year when she shared photos of Baltimore's trash situation on Twitter.

Klacik, who was hopeful after gaining supporters during the course of her campaign, reported on Twitter on Election Day it "hits you like a ton of bricks" that Democrats outnumber Republicans four to one in District 7.

"Perhaps one day District 7 will want a change," the Baltimore County resident tweeted Tuesday night. "Proud of my team & the work we put in. We will continue to wait for the final results."

Here are the overall unofficial results for District 7 before 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Maryland Board of Elections, which stated these numbers include vote-by-mail ballots received through April 27:

Due to the new coronavirus pandemic, voters were encouraged to cast their ballots by mail to determine who would represent District 7. Ballots had to be postmarked by April 28.

Voters were told only to vote in person if they did not get their mailed ballot, needed assistance or did not have an address, to prevent the coronavirus from spreading.

The votes from Tuesday's polling places and vote-by-mail ballots received after April 27 will be posted as they are available, with more results expected Wednesday, April 29, according to the state board of elections.

Social distancing measures were in place at the three polling places that were open, one in each jurisdiction included in District 7 — Baltimore City as well as Baltimore and Howard counties — where there were also ballot boxes for those who preferred to drop their ballots outside.

Foot traffic was light at all three locations, where about 1,000 people turned out to the polls Tuesday altogether, the Baltimore Sun reported.

"It is imperative that the people of this congressional district have a voice in the House of Representatives and that Maryland has a full delegation representing our state in Congress," Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said in March, when he ordered the special election to proceed without delay, despite the virus. "We will be moving forward with the special general election."

Polls closed at 8 p.m., and the Associated Press called the election before 8:45 p.m. Tuesday.

These are unofficial results reported by the Maryland Board of Elections as of 8:45 p.m.:

Baltimore City preliminary results

Baltimore County preliminary results

Howard County preliminary results

The results reported Tuesday night are preliminary and do not include ballots cast in person.

This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.

Related:

• District 7 Special Election: Kweisi Mfume Wins Democratic Race
• Coronavirus Postpones Maryland Primaries From April: Hogan
• Who Could Succeed Elijah Cummings in Maryland's 7th District?
• Rep. Elijah Cummings Remembered: Watch The Service Again