Delegate Kathy Szeliga Wins Republican Senate Nomination

Delegate Kathy Szeliga, a state lawmaker from Baltimore County, won the Republican Senate primary with 36 percent of the vote.

Szeliga said she was "humbled and thankful" on Facebook Thursday night.

The owner of a Perry Hall construction company with her husband, Szeliga said that she thought citizens saw value in being represented by a businesswoman.

"[Gov.] Larry Hogan is doing such a great job, and voters have confidence in that, putting a businessman in office," Szeliga told WBAL. "I feel pretty good that in November they're going to choose a businesswoman to go down there to Washington and get things done."

Szeliga said she had confidence heading into the November election because voters were discontent with the status quo.

"Voters think Washington's broken," Szeliga said in an interview with WBAL. "I think voters know if you want to change Washington, you have to change the people there."

Maryland has not had an open U.S. Senate seat since 2006, when Democrat Paul Sarbanes retired.

In the race in November, Szeliga will be pitted against against Rep. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat, who has been a congressman for 14 years.

Maryland will elect a senator in the Nov. 8 general election.

Capital News Service contributed to this report.

Photo courtesy of the Maryland State Archives.