Maryland Election 2018: Hogan Claims 'Political Upset,' PG Snags

ANNAPOLIS, MD — While Republican Gov. Larry Hogan is the incumbent, he called his win Tuesday the "biggest political upset in America" over Democratic challenger Ben Jealous. While the Associated Press called Hogan the winner shortly after 9 p.m., vote totals were not released by the state election board until all polls closed after 10 p.m.

In his victory speech, Hogan thanked Jealous for "giving Marylanders a real choice," and said that "while we disagreed on the issues, he has my respect and I sincerely wish him well in his future pursuits."

Incomplete results at 10:30 p.m. showed Hogan had 954,775 votes compared to 690,136 for Jealous. The challenger thanked everyone for "the incredible support you all have given me in this uphill fight." He said after 10:50 p.m. that he called Hogan "moments ago to congratulate him on his re-election."

Jealous tweeted about 9 p.m. that supporters at sites with lines should "Stay in line. Keep voting." Voters were still in line in Prince George’s County well after polls closed due to several precincts running out of ballots, forcing people to wait as more were delivered.

Voters who arrived at polling places early Tuesday reported some issues in at least three polling places in the city of Baltimore. Hogan is the first member of his party to win re-election as governor of Maryland in more than a half century.

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Hogan has been applauded for his bipartisanship in his first term, so that voters like James Minor, a Hyattsville resident who said he’s worked for the Department of Homeland Security for 15 years, told Capital News Service on Tuesday afternoon he voted for Hogan despite identifying as a Democrat.

“He doesn’t seem like he has a big ‘R’ on his forehead to me,” said Minor, adding that he appreciated Hogan’s goals of giving more money to school systems in Maryland, and said Hogan seemed to have the state’s best interests at heart.

But later at that same polling place, some voters experienced frustration and long waits.

While Hogan was declared victory, Prince George’s County was still awaiting some results due to a ballot shortage. On Wednesday morning, the state Board of Elections had not yet reported all precincts in Prince George’s and Baltimore City.

Marjee Chmiel, 42, of Hyattsville, on Tuesday night told CNS the line quickly grew when the polling place, Hyattsville Middle School, ran out of paper ballots about 5:30 p.m. Chmiel said she was one of the last few to get an electronic ballot, and soon after, the line built up to more than 200 people as everyone was waiting for more ballots to be delivered.

Chmiel estimated she and her husband waited nearly two hours to vote. Others in line behind them likely had to wait longer for the additional ballots to be delivered.

More than 1,000 people waited to vote in Prince George’s County about 9 p.m. NBC Washington reported. Brandywine Elementary ran out of ballots around 4 p.m. and more ballots weren't delivered until four hours later. The station says it has confirmed these voting sites ran out of ballots: Faith United Methodist Church in Accokeek, Green Valley Academy in Temple Hills, Brandywine Elementary School and Upper Marlboro Community Center.

"Let me assure you that I will continue to be a governor for all Marylanders," Hogan said. "Thanks to you, I just became the second Republican governor re-elected in the entire 242-year history of our state."

In a turbulent election day, Maryland voters showed "what unites us...is always greater than that which divides us," Hogan said. "The politics that divide our nation need not divide our state. Maryland has always been a state of middle temperament."

Jealous and his running mate Susie Turnbull conceded just before 11 p.m., the Capital News Service reports. “We looked at the numbers,” Jealous said to his supporters gathered at the Hippodrome Theater in Baltimore. “Calling right now is the right thing to do.”

Democrat Ben Cardin, 75, was elected to a third term in the United States Senate Tuesday, capturing the lion's share of the vote and earning an early call from the television networks. "I can tell you that rain did not stop the enthusiasm of the voters," Cardin told Capital News Service Tuesday evening outside Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt. "Voters are anxious to come out to vote, and they're here," the senator said.

Two amendments to the Maryland Constitution — one on how gambling revenue must be spent and one on same-day voter registrstion — both passed. The first amendment requires that education funding from gaming revenues must be supplemental, and cannot be used as a substitute for other schools funding already required by state law. The second question allows residents to register and vote on the same day, including Election Day.

The gaming revenue amendment received 89 percent of the vote, earning more votes than any other candidate or measure on the entire ballot.

“Educators are thrilled that such an overwhelming number of Marylanders voted for increased funding for our public schools,” said Baltimore County elementary school teacher and Maryland State Education Association President Cheryl Bost, in a news release. “The $500 million annually that Question 1 will add is the first step to closing the $2.9 billion annual funding gap that negatively impacts students, educators, and schools across the state. Keeping the promise on casino revenues was the easy part. To meet the commitments our students and schools deserve will take the continued support and activism of Marylanders to make sure that the Governor and legislature permanently closes this gap when the General Assembly convenes in January.”

Ritsaart Marcelis, 34, a voter in Silver Spring, said the governor's race is the most important race to him, and he voted for Jealous. "It's the only one where I can see a real big change happening in terms of policy," Marcellis told Patch. "And Hogan's okay, but I prefer if it was somebody else."

It was not about party for some voters. Will Jovel of Baltimore cast his ballot as a way to "express my dissatisfaction on both sides" of the aisle, he told Patch. Voting was an attempt at "trying to push things in the right direction," Jovel said, such as keeping "money out of politics."

Eboni Woodard, who came to the polls in Locust Point around 7:30 a.m., said she researched the candidates and voted for Jealous because she "liked what he stands for."

Said Woodard: "We need change."

Others disagreed. Dawn and Marian Bruce said in unison that what brought them to polls was "Larry Hogan."

The one new member of Congress elected is Democratic businessman David Trone, who won the Sixth District seat tonight, telling the crowd at his election night party that “we need more compassion, competence, and civility in Washington, and I pledge to lead the way.” Trone defeated Amie Hoeber to fill the seat being vacated by John Delaney, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Winning re-election were Sen. Ben Cardin, along with Rep. Elijah Cummings, Rep. Andy Harris, the lone Republican in the Maryland delegation, Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, Rep. John Sarbanes, Rep. Anthony Brown, Rep. Steny Hoyer, and Rep. Jaimie Raskin.

More than 80,000 absentee ballots were received by Nov. 5 at the Maryland Board of Elections. Polling places were busy on Election Day, Nikki Charlson, deputy adminstrator for the state’s Board of Elections, told WTOP.

Karen Probasco, 44, voted in Silver Spring said she was galvanized to vote,"I would say about 45 percent issues and 55 percent frustration."

"I'm really angry with the Republican Party," Probasco told Patch. "I wish that political dialogues were more academically-oriented on both sides. I'm kind of beside myself with the rhetoric that I am seeing from the Republican side."

Vandalism, a missing page and delayed starts have been reported at polling places around Baltimore City. By 10 a.m., there were three locations that had experienced hiccups on Election Day. The Baltimore City Board of Elections announced an emergency polling place change after the Towanda Recreation Center was vandalized. Then the Central Library in midtown Baltimore, had two problems. First, voters had to wait because of a technical difficulty. Then some were given incomplete ballots, according to voters.

"It was a little frightening," Alexandra Adams told Baltimore Patch of the problems at the polling place on Cathedral Street. She said she "was making eye contact with other voters — how could there be a second page that they didn't know about?"

SEE ALSO:

• Election Day 2018: Anne Arundel Sample Ballot, Problem At Deale
  
• Howard County Election Guide 2018
  
• Baltimore County Election Guide 2018
  
• Baltimore City Election Guide 2018
  
• Election 2018: Prince George's County Candidates, Voting Info
  
• Elections 2018: Montgomery County Candidates, Sample Ballot

One problem was reported mid-morning in southern Anne Arundel County when a voter reported that when she went to turn in her ballot at Deale Elementary School she was told the sole scanner was not working, so election workers were collecting the ballots and will scan them later. An Anne Arundel County election official confirmed to Patch that the scanner at Deale Elementary is broken, and they're working to fix it.

Upsets aren't expected in the legislature or Congressional delegation, given the strongly blue tradition of Maryland voters. Incumbent Sen. Ben Cardin is expected to score a victory, with RealClear Politics polls showing he has a 27 percent lead in his race. Voters will rule on two ballot items about gambling revenues for schools and same-day voter registration.

And voters will also make choices in county council races, for school board seats and other local contests. The most high-profile local race may be for Baltimore County executive, where Republican Al Redmer is running against Democrat Johnny Olszewski. Anne Arundel, Howard and Montgomery counties all have county executive, and the Montgomery race has a wrinkle: Three candidates for the office. Former Democratic Council member Nancy Floreen is running as an independent, against Democrat Marc Elrich and Republican Robin Ficker.

There was an emergency polling place change Tuesday in Baltimore City after the Towanda Recreation Center was vandalized. Those who had planned to vote at the rec center at 4100 Towanda Avenue should instead go to Creative City Public Charter School #384 at 2810 Shirley Avenue.

Here's what you need to know about candidates, key races, polling places and more ahead of Tuesday.

Return to Patch tonight for the latest vote tally. Subscribe to free News Alerts for election results.

Hogan stunned Democrats four years ago when his pro-business, anti-tax campaign defeated Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, due in part to Democrats who crossed party lines. The state has about 270,000 more registered Democrats. "Maryland is open for business," Hogan said during his inauguration speech in January 2015. He is still preaching that same message of fiscal responsibility and business-friendly policymaking.

"All of the bipartisan progress we’ve made over the last four years, all of the work we’ve done to keep Maryland out of the petty partisan battles that are destroying Washington and the rest of the country, WILL be destroyed if Ben Jealous becomes our next governor," Hogan said Tuesday in an email blast to supporters. "It’s up to us to make sure that Maryland stays on this new path of prosperity."

And he observed a Maryland Election Day tradition.

Every poll conducted since Jealous won the Democratic nomination in June has shown Hogan winning by 15 points or more. A Washington Post-University of Maryland poll from October had him winning by 20.

"Today, we have the opportunity to start leaping forwards again. We can fully fund our public schools, pass Medicare-for-All, end the student debt crisis and pay for it by ending mass incarceration in our state," Jealous said Tuesday morning. "With so much at stake today, I need your help to propel our movement across the finish line to make Maryland’s government truly of the people, by the people, and for the people. You are part of our Blue Wave—so make your plan to vote today by finding your polling place!"

Some Democratic leaders in the state have supported Gov. Hogan this time around. One of them, state Sen. James Brochin, D-Baltimore County, endorsed Hogan because he was frustrated by the past two administrations, whom he called "blatantly partisan."

Jealous, a civil rights leader, educator and community organizer, upset Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker III in the primary to win his party's nomination. The candidate says he optimistic he'll pull another upset. "We'll defy every pollster and every pundit. Then we'll win," Jealous said.

Jealous said taking on a popular incumbent is tough, but he is proud to run a clean campaign — taking no money from pharmaceutical companies or corporate political action committees as well as investing in few negative ads against Hogan. This strategy appeals to independents and undecided voters as well as working-class voters, he said.

"Too long our party has allowed corporations to have too much influence on its agenda," Jealous told Capital News Service. "And frankly to mute the voices of working people in the working people's party. It's important that we increasingly move towards a place where we center (on) the demands of working people."

Actress Rosario Dawson and comedian Dave Chappelle stumped for Jealous this weekend at Los Chorros, a Salvadorean/Mexican restaurant in Wheaton. Dawson and Jealous criticized Hogan for opposing a federal measure to restrict police departments’ cooperation with the federal government on immigration enforcement.

Dawson said that while she can’t vote in Maryland, “if I could, I would” vote for Jealous, the Baltimore Sun reports. “This is a man who’s willing to stand up and fight for us,” Dawson said.

She also praised Jealous for his support of bills to ensure that all rape kits are tested and the abolition of cash bail as the key factor in pretrial release, the newspaper reports.

SEE ALSO: Election 2018: Maryland Voting Guide

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VOTING

What to bring to polls

• If you've voted in Maryland before, you don't need to provide ID to vote.
• If you're a first-time voter who registered by mail, and didn't provide a copy of your Maryland driver's license, state or federal ID card, student, employee, or military ID, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and address when you registered, you may need to show one of these documents to vote.
• Voters without ID: If you are unable to provide ID, you will be able to vote a provisional ballot. For your ballot to count, you must provide ID to your local board of elections before 10 am on the 2nd Wednesday after election day.

If you need a ride to the polls, here's how to get one.

If you encounter any difficulties while voting — unusually long lines at the polling place, insufficient ballots, harassment or intimidation by overzealous advocates as you enter — tell Patch about it and we'll investigate it with our nonprofit partners at ProPublica.

There are two Constitutional Amendments that will appear statewide on the election ballots. Additionally, local ballot questions may appear in certain counties. The state and local ballot question language is available here.

Sample Ballots

Curious about what your ballot will look like on Nov. 6? Check the links below for a glance at what you'll find inside the voting booth on Election Day. The county ballots are broken down by municipality and precinct.

• Anne Arundel County
• Baltimore City
• Baltimore County
• Carroll County
• Cecil County
• Harford County
• Howard County
• Montgomery County
• Prince George's County

You can find every county's ballot on the State Boad of Elections website.

Race for Governor, State Offices

In what is the marquee matchup in this year's election, Republican Gov. Larry Hogan hopes to become the first member of his party to win re-election as governor of Maryland in more than 50 years. Democrat Ben Jealous wants to make history as the state's first African-American governor.

• Affable Tax-Cutting Gov. Hogan Fights For Re-Election
• Ben Jealous Hopes His 'Maryland Story' Translates To Governor Win

Pundits give slim odds for upsets in two other statewide races. Attorney General Brian Frosh has lead over GOP challenger and political newcomer Craig Wolf — and the race has gotten tighter over the last few months.

Frosh, who was elected to the position in 2014 after a 28-year legislative career, has consistently pursued environmental protection issues, and has sued the federal government more than 20 times since the power of his office was expanded last year.

Wolf, who has been a federal, state and Army prosecutor and a CEO for Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America, has focused his campaign on reducing crime in Maryland through increasing prosecution and strengthening the state's bail system.

A Gonzales Maryland Poll released in October put Wolf 9 percentage points behind Frosh, with Frosh at 43 percent of the vote, and Wolf at 34 percent, with 23 percent of respondents still undecided.

• Maryland Attorney General Candidates Clash Over Role
• MD Comptroller Race An Apparent Mismatch: Franchot Vs Phukan

The incumbent, Peter V.R. Franchot, will win a fourth term in office if he is re-elected as state comptroller. Although he often finds himself at odds with establishment Democrats, he has suffered few political consequences for his estrangement from the status quo.

The only person to step up and challenge him for the comptroller's seat this election cycle is Republican candidate Anjali Reed Phukan, a 40-year-old Montgomery County native who lives in Ocean City, Maryland. Phukan, a certified public accountant, describes herself as expertly qualified to hold the office because of a career of over 20 years auditing federal and state government agencies and private sector businesses.

Races for Senate, Congress

Democrat U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin handily won his party's nomination for a third term over seven challengers. He faces Republican Tony Campbell, who teaches politics at Towson University and is focused on national security and smaller government. He said his top focus is "securing America's infrastructure against foreign actors."

A Gonzales Research poll released Oct. 6 showed Cardin with the support of 49 percent of likely voters, while Campbell had 22 percent support.

Congressional races:

• District 1: Democrat Jesse Colvin vs Republican incumbent Andrew Harris
• District 2: Democratic incumbent Dutch Ruppersberger vs Republican Liz Matory
• District 3: Democratic incumbent John Sarbanes vs Republican Charles Anthony
• District 4: Democratic incumbent Anthony G. Brown vs Republican George McDermott
• District 5: Democratic incumbent Steny Hoyer vs William Devine III
• District 6: Democrat David Trone vs Republican Amie Hoeber (This seat is currently held by John Delaney, who is seeking his party's presidential nomination.)
• District 7: Democratic incumbent Elijah Cummings vs Republican Richmond Davis
• District 8: Democratic incumbent Jamie Raskin vs Republican John Walsh

You can find more information on these candidates, and third-party candidates seeking office, on the Ballotpedia website.

SEE ALSO:

• Maryland Voters To Decide On Two Statewide Ballot Questions
• Larry Hogan Is 2nd Most Popular Governor In America: Poll

(For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

This story includes reporting by Patch Editors Elizabeth Janney, Alessia Grunberger and Chris Gaudet.

Image via Shutterstock; top photo: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, center, celebrates as he speaks at an election night party, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Annapolis, Md. Hogan earned a second term after defeating Democratic opponent Ben Jealous. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)