What to Look for During Today’s GOP Primary

Election Day is here and we will finally find out which Republicans are going to the General Election. Here is the top Primary Races in the state Senate, House of Delegates and other races to watch for on Tuesday. If I missed any key races, let me know at editor@redfreestate.com

SENATE

District 1
State Senator George Edwards announced that he was not seeking reelection in 2022. District 1C Del. Mike McKay filed to run for the vacant senate seat and appeared to be the favorite in the race until Edwards endorsed Allegany County Commissioner Jake Shade.

District 34
Republican state Sen. Bob Cassilly is running for Harford County Executive. That creates an opening. Former Perry Hall resident and former 8th District delegate Christian Miele is running for the GOP nomination against Walter “Butch” Tilley.

District 37
Johnny Mautz wants to go from a Delegate to a state Senator and he is challenging District 37 state Senator Addie Eckardt on the Eastern Shore.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES

District 5

Del. April Rose is the only incumbent seeking reelection as Susan Krebs is retiring and Haven Shoemaker is running for Carroll County State’s Attorney.

Overall seven new Republicans (Christopher Eric Bouchat, Dennis Frazier, Scott Jendrek, Sallie B. Taylor, Chris Tomlinson, Stephen A. Wantz, Scott Willens ) have a great opportunity and are vying for two seats in Carrol County.

District 7A

This is a new two-member district and it includes four heavyweight Republicans battling for those two seats. Incumbent delegates Kathy Szeliga, and Joe Boteler and Ryan Nawrocki and Steve Redmer are the four candidates in that race.

District 7B
As a result of redistricting, Delegates Lauren Arikan and Rick Impallaria are now in a single member district and only one will go to the general election in November. Three other Republicans are in this race too.

District 31
Incumbent Delegates Nic Kipke and Brian Chisholm and Rachael Munoz are seeking reelection and LaToya Nkongolo is trying to take a seat. Since Munoz was appointed, Nkongolo might be able to take her seat.

District 34A
District 34A also has an interesting delegate race. Democrat Maryanne Lisanti is running for state senate and Democrat Steve Johnson is beatable. Republican Glen Glass is seeking reelection after losing in 2018. Shekinah Hollingsworth, David A. Martin and Teresa Walter are newcomers in this race.

District 37B
Since Del. Johnny Mautz is running for state senate, there is an open delegate seat to likely join Del. Chris Adams. The Republican candidates in this lower Eastern Shore district include: Nicole L. Acle, Tom Hutchison and Ron James.

District 42B
Former County Councilman Todd Huff is looking to get back into politics after being defeated in 2014. He will face political newcomer Jay Walton. Huff might appear to be the favorite in this race, but Walton has near $7,000 cash on hand compared to Huff’s $2,500. Unlike most of these Republican primary races, the winner will have a tough battle in November against Democrat Michelle Guyton.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Anne Arundel County
As far as central Maryland, I don’t think there is a bigger County Executive primary than in Anne Arundel County. Former Delegate Herb McMillan is facing County Councilwoman Jessica Haire. This has been a competitive race, but all sides need to come together after Tuesday because it will take a united Republican Party to defeat Democrat Stu Pittman in November.

Baltimore County
Bob Cassilly (Harford) and Allan Kittleman (Howard) are going to win their respective primaries but the only other local GOP County Executive race of interest for me is in Baltimore County. Former Del. Pat McDonough was the heavy favorite to win the Republican nomination, but “sign gate” took place. The scandal has hurt McDonough but can anyone else in that race beat him? The establishment favorite is Darren Badillo. He has been endorsed by some elected officials, but Henry Ciezkowski has come on strong in the closing weeks. Do Badillo and Ciezkowski split the anti- McDonough vote? If so, does McDonough still win the race?

GOVERNOR
Dan Cox vs. Kelly Schulz. What more can be said???