Interesting State Senate & Delegate Primaries in Harford County District 34

District 34 in Harford County is going to be a fun district to watch on Primary Night and on Election Day in November. There is an interesting battle for the State Senate seat on both the Democratic and Republican sides and a competitive two-member district race in District 34A.

Republican state Sen. Bob Cassilly is running for Harford County Executive. That creates an opening and an interesting primary on both sides. Former Perry Hall resident and former 8th District delegate Christian Miele is running for the GOP nomination against Walter “Butch” Tilley.

Miele gave up his delegate seat in 2018 and ran unsuccessful against 8th District state Sen. Kathy Klausmeier that year.

He has now moved to Bel Air. Tilley is a business owner and received an endorsement from Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler.

According to voters in that district, mailers have been sent out criticizing Miele for moving into the district from Baltimore County. Tilley has also branded himself as a “Homegrown Conservative Leader”

Campaign finance reports revealed that Miele has around $74,000 and Tilley has around $65,000 in their respective accounts.

Since two of the three delegate seats in District 34 are now occupied by Democrats (District 34A), some Democrats believe they can take Cassilly’s old seat and the Democrats have an interesting primary too.

District 34A Del. Mary Ann Lisanti is running on the Democratic side and she is being challenged by Mary-Dulany James. That is a high-profile race because James served as delegate in District 34A for 16 years and she is the daughter of former Maryland Senate President William James.

Lisanti was censured by the Maryland General Assembly after allegations surfaced that she used a racial slur in 2019 and this is her first election since that incident.

With all due respect to Lisanti and James, the winner of the Republican primary should easily win the General in November.

District 34A also has an interesting delegate race. Democrat Steve Johnson is looking to maintain his seat in Annapolis. Democrats Sarahia Benn and Andre Johnson are looking to fill Lisanti’s open seat.

This was a split district in 2014 as Lisanti was paired with Republican Glen Glass to represent District 34A. Glass lost his seat to Johnson, who was Glass’s neighbor.

Republicans believe they can take both District 34A seats in 2022. Glass is seeking re-election again.

Shekinah Hollingsworth is a newcomer to the scene. She is huge supporter of former president Donald Trump and is running as An America First candidate.

Havre de Grace Police Department Chief of Police Teresa Walter is also running and has been endorsed by law enforcement. Former state police officer David Martin is the other candidate running on the Republican side.

The Republican establishment does not like Glass and Hollingsworth has also been the center of controversy with some of her rhetoric.

The establishment probably wants Walter and Martin to win the primary with their backgrounds in law enforcement, but Glass and Hollingsworth might be better candidates to defeat the Democrats in November. This 34A District House of Delegates race will be a battle in November.

District 34B is still solid Republican. Del. Susan McComas is seeking re-election and will face Jay Ellenby in the GOP primary. The winner should easily defeat the Democrat in November.