WASHINGTON – This Nov. 4, Maryland voters will choose a new governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general among other offices.
Voters will also consider whether to prevent transportation funds from being used for other purposes.
Also on the ballot are local elections and candidates for the state Senate and House of Delegates.
How to Vote
On Election Day, polls in Maryland are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Early voting in Maryland began on Thursday, Oct. 23 and runs through Thursday, Oct. 30. Early voting centers are open across the state from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voters who want to cast an absentee ballot have until Tuesday, Oct. 28 to request a ballot to be received in the mail, or until Friday, Oct. 31 to request a ballot that can be downloaded from the internet.
The ballot must be mailed back with a postmark of Nov. 4 or earlier, or hand delivered by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Click here to learn more about early voting and find links to local county election boards for local voting locations.
Key races
Governor
The first decision for Maryland voters will be to choose the Free State’s next governor and lieutenant governor.
Democrat Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown is facing a tough challenge from Republican Larry Hogan, a former appointments secretary under Republican Gov. Bob Erlich.
Both Brown and Hogan have called in high-powered support with President Barack Obama campaigning for Brown, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie attending several events for Hogan.
Both sides have also fired off bitter attack ads on spending, gun control and other issues. They have also sparred over transportation and taxes.
Brown’s running mate is Howard County Executive Ken Ulman. Hogan is running with Boyd Rutherford, another member of Erlich’s administration.
Libertarian Shawn Quinn is also running for governor with lieutenant governor candidate Lorenzo Gaztanaga.
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Other Statewide Races
Maryland voters are also casting ballots for comptroller and attorney general.
Incumbent Peter Franchot, a Democrat, is running for another term as comptroller against Republican William Campbell and write-in candidate Anjali Reed Phukan.
Democrat Brian Frosh is looking to leave the state Senate to serve as attorney general. He faces Republican Jeffrey Pritzker and Libertarian Leo Wayne Dymowski.
U.S. House of Representatives
Maryland’s delegation to Congress is not likely to change much. The most serious challenge to any of the eight sitting members of Congress may be in the 6th District, which covers Western Maryland and includes large parts of Montgomery County.
Democrat John Delaney is seeking re-election in the sprawling district against Republican Dan Bongino and Green Party candidate George Gluck.
General Assembly
Maryland voters will choose members of the House of Delegates and state Senate.
Find a complete list of candidates running for the state Senate by district here and by House district here.
Find maps of Maryland legislative and congressional district maps here.
Statewide ballot questions
Question 1 would limit the ability of the state to dip into the Transportation Trust Fund to pay for projects that aren’t related to road, bridge or transportation maintenance or improvements.
The constitutional amendment would create a so-called “lockbox” on the fund. Lawmakers could only take money from the fund to pay for something other than transportation if the governor declares a fiscal emergency, and the General Assembly approves the money transfer by a three-fifths majority vote.
Question 2 would amend the Maryland constitution to allow counties to hold special elections for county executive. Currently, the law requires counties to hold elections for county executive only every four years. But special elections are allowed for vacancies on the county council.
Montgomery County
Democratic County Executive Ike Leggett is facing a challenge from Republican Jim Shalleck.
Incumbent Democrats are also the favorites for the four at-large seats on the county council with nine candidates running for the posts.
Montgomery voters will also choose a state’s attorney and members of the board of education.
There is also a charter amendment on the ballot that would clarify that candidates for the county council must live in the district that they represent for their entire term unless the district boundaries change while they are in office, moving their home out of the boundaries.
Prince George’s County
Prince George’s County voters will elect a county executive and members of the county council, although most candidates are running unopposed after winning Democratic primaries.
County Executive Rushern Baker faces four independent challengers on the ballot.
Voters will also choose a sheriff, board of education members and Orphans’ Court judges.
One of the more contentious items on the ballot is Question J, which would change the county’s term limits for the county council and county executive.
Currently, elected officials serving in those roles are limited to two terms. But the proposed charter amendment would increase that to three terms in each role.
Question I would ban the county from discriminating in employment based on disability or sexual orientation.
Howard
Howard County voters will choose a new county executive to replace Ken Ulman.
Democrat Courtney Watson and Republican Allan Kittleman are competing for the post. Watson is a member of the county council, while Kittleman is a state senator.
Howard County voters are also choosing members of the county council, Orphans’ Court judge, sheriff and board of education.
Anne Arundel
Republican Steve Schuh won a tough primary against appointed County Executive Laura Neuman to earn a spot on the general election ballot. She faces Democrat George Johnson.
Neuman was appointed after John Leopold resigned in February.
Voters will also select members of the county council, state’s attorney, register of wills, Orphans’ Court judge and sheriff.
WTOP’s Max Smith contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and on Facebook.
