By Steve Crane | Editor-in-chief
“For more than a year, I’ve been clear: If other states were going to redraw their congressional maps in the middle of the decade, Maryland should be part of that conversation. My position has not changed. Donald Trump does not get to rewrite the rules for his allies and then tell Maryland to sit on its hands.” - Gov. Wes Moore (D), on the success of Question 3, the constitutional amendment that opens the door to partisan congressional redistricting in the state.
There were surprises, and a couple of close races, but Election Day shaped up pretty much as expected Tuesday, with big wins for most incumbent elected officials in the state. Welcome to the day after.
The surprise — to some analysts, but not to supporters, if they’re to be believed — was not just the passage of Question 3, the constitutional amendment that will take the restrictions off congressional redistricting, but the margin of that victory. A proposal that performed poorly in early polls passed with 60% of the vote, as Democrats threw their weight behind it and called in former President Barack Obama to help. Bryan P. Sears has that story.
Hold off on the new stationery. In the not-surprising part of the evening, most incumbents cruised to reelection wins Tuesday. Gov. Wes Moore won, again, by an almost 2-1 margin, Rep. Andy Harris (R-1st) pulled out a double-digit win and Sen. Shaneka Henson survived a campaign that included a bitter party feud. Christine Condon, Danielle J. Brown and William J. Ford report.
Those stories, plus a failed emergency attempt to keep Prince George’s polling places open, are below for your post-election hangover perusing. Enjoy, while we try to figure out what we’re going to do with ourselves now.
Supporters of ballot Question 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that would ease restrictions on congressional redistricting, frame it as a vote against President Donald Trump. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters)
By Bryan P. Sears
A Democrat-backed proposal in a Democratic state that was framed as a rebuke to President Donald Trump should have been a slam-dunk, but the fate of Question 3 was still up in the air when polls opened Tuesday.
As returns started rolling in, however, it became clear that Question 3 was headed to an easy passage. In unofficial returns, a little less than 1.1 million people had voted for the constitutional amendment that could open the door to new congressional maps as early as next year, while 717,646 had voted against it.
It was the most contested and most high-profile of three ballot questions -- all three were winning by comfortable margins in unofficial results -- put before voters Tuesday, and one that Gov. Wes Moore had a large stake in. Early polls indicated Question 3 might be in trouble, but a relentless campaign by Democrsts appeared to turn the tide.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) embraces Charlene Dukes, vice chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, onstage after his victory speech on Nov. 3, 2026. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/ Maryland Matters)
By Christine Condon
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) declared victory Tuesday night, and appeared to be sailing to his second straight win against Republican Dan Cox, his 2022 challenger.
The state's first Black governor had earned a commanding 62.6% of the vote, with all precincts reporting, to Cox’s 33.2% of the vote, a virtual copy of their 2o22 race when Moore wone 64-32. Green Party nominee Andy Ellis and Working Class Party nominee Cathy White each earned about 2% of the vote for governor.
Moore took the stage to a cacophony of cheers in downtown Baltimore Tuesday night, in a speech that was equal parts nostalgic and triumphant. "If anyone thinks I am slowing down, I want to be very clear to you. You have got another thing coming. That's not what Maryland voted for," Moore said.
While Moore was wrapping up his victory speech in Baltimore, Cox’s supporters were just starting to hit the dance floor at their watch party, saying nothing was finalized and that the votes were still being tallied. But around 11 p.m., Cox took the stage to tell his supporters that it’s been a "privilege of a lifetime” to campaign to be Maryland’s governor.
IN OTHER NEWS
Harris holds on, House incumbents cruise: Republican Rep. Andy Harris held off a tough 1st District challenge from Democrat Dan Scwhartz Tuesday to win a ninth term, the tightest race among Maryland members of Congress, who all won easy reelection.
Democrats gain two in House of Delegates: Sen. Shaneka Henson survived a bitter party feud to become the first elected Black senator from Anne Arundel County and Democrats picked up two seats in the House of Delegates in legislative races Tuesday.
Judge rejects extending poll hours: A Prince George's County judge rejected an emergency request to extend voting in a Laurel precinct until midnight, after hours of delays turned some voters away, the biggest problem in an overall smooth day of voting.
MATTERS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
Call for help: The social isolation and loneliness of the COVID-19 era took a physical and emotional toll. While the social distancing may be gone, the loneliness remains, so some health groups are running innovative programs to fight that loneliness.
Ball bounces to BCCC: After making history as Howard County’s first Black county executive, Calvin Ball announced Monday he will step down this month to become interim president at Baltimore City Community College, where he worked before being elected.
‘Forever’ and everywhere: “Forever chemicals” are polluting a majority of tested Chesapeake Bay waterways, says a new report, which found PFAS in 100% of waterways tested in the District, 95% in Pennsylvania, 70% in Virginia and 67% in Maryland.
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