Harlan Gets Sworn-in and Jumps into the Session

• Delegate Alexander M. Harlan was sworn in on Monday morning right before the start of the Special Session.

The 28-year-old takes over the District 42A seat after Delegate Nino Mangione  gave up his seat after being appointed to a Baltimore County Council seat.

Unfortunately for Harlan, he shouldn’t get too comfortable in his office as he will be replaced in January.

Mangione decided to not seek relection after the 2026 Session and decided to run for County Council.  That process was sped up when Councilman Wade Kach had to step down in the spring and Mangione was appointed to that seat.

That created an early opening in District 42A. Harlan, Charles Edward Murphy, III and Dan Katz had already filed for the Republican primary and fortunately no one was appointed until after the June 23 primary.

Murphy won the primary by 8 votes over Katz and 81 votes over Harlan. Murphy will face Democrat Jyoti Mohan in November and will likely to become the next delegate. Harlan was appointed to fill out Mangione’s term until Jan. 13.

There are many people appointed delegates and senators in the final year of a term. In most cases, the current delegate or senator gets elected to a new position and leaves a few weeks or months early.

Even though it’s the interim, someone needs to be technically appointed to fill that vacancy.

Those “appointed” delegates and senators usually fill out the final weeks and months of the term until the newly elected official takes over.

Harlan appeared to be another appointed delegate “keeping the seat warm” until January, but he actually is having a meaningful tenure with the Special Session.

Harlan got to take part in a rare Special Session during an election year. Not only did he get to vote on amendments and legislation, he also used the opportunity to speak on the floor in opposition to the Redistricting bill.

Not too many appointed delegates have that opportunity.