Democrats make gains in some Harford County races after first canvass of mail-in ballots

Jason Fontelieu, The Aegis, Bel Air, Md.
·3 min read

Nov. 12—After the first day of mail-in ballot canvassing in Harford County, most of the general election races have maintained the same results, while some races have tightened.

Del. Steve Johnson, a Democrat, is now second among four candidates in the race for District 34A's two seats in the Maryland House of Delegates, with 25.5% of the vote. Steve Johnson trails former Harford County Council member Andre Johnson, a Democrat, who has 28.6% of the vote.

Republican Glen Glass now has 24.5% after the first day of mail-in ballot canvassing, falling behind Steve Johnson. Republican Teresa Walter has 21.1% of the vote.

Another close race is Harford County council's District F seat. Republican incumbent council member Curtis Beulah leads over his opponent, Democrat Jacob Bennett, but the two are now separated by just 481 votes. Beulah has 48.8% of the vote, Bennett has 45.5%.

[ Maryland election returns ]

Of the 1,675 mail-in ballots counted in the County Council race, 64.5% were for Bennett, while 31.9% went to Beulah. The Harford County Board of Elections will continue canvassing mail-in and provisional ballots next week.

Democratic state Senate candidate Mary-Dulany James has narrowed the gap with Republican Christian Miele in theDistrict 34 race. Miele now only leads James by about three percentage points, 51.3% to 48.4%, or 1,149 votes.

Of the 4,563 mail-in ballots counted in the race, James has received 66.6% of the votes, while Miele has received 33.1%.

In almost all Harford races, Democratic candidates have received a higher percentage of votes from mail-in ballots, but Republicans still maintain leads in many of the races.

Republican Bob Cassilly is currently sitting at about 66.3% of the vote for the Harford County executive race over Democrat Blane Miller III.

Republicans lead in six of the seven races for Harford County Council positions. In addition to Beulah, two other incumbent council members, Council president Patrick Vincenti and District C council member Tony Giangiordano, both Republicans, ran for re-election. Both lead their Democratic counterparts by sizable margins.

Vincenti leads Wini Roche with 63.1% of the vote, and Giangiordano leads Evan Schaule with 66.4% of the vote.

The remaining Republicans leading their races are: James Reilly of District D, who leads Democrat Jean Salvatore with 77.8% of the vote; and Jessica Boyle-Tsottles of District E, who leads Democrat Rachel Gauthier with 59.8% of the vote.

The Morning Sun

Dion Guthrie, of District A, is the only Democrat leading in a race for a council seat, with 55.6% of the vote over Republican David Woods.

Republicans maintain leads in other county races. Michelle Karczeski has 65.4% of the vote in the race for the county's clerk of the circuit court over Democrat Barbara Osborn Kreamer. Derek Hopkins has 66.7% of the vote for the county's register of wills over Democrat Jo Wanda Strickland Lucas.

Republicans Alison Healey, Jeff Gahler and Aaron Penman ran unopposed for state's attorney, sheriff and County Council District B, respectively.

While the race for District 34′s Senate seat remains close, the county's other two state Senate races are going to Republican incumbents J.B. Jennings of District 7 and Jason Gallion of District 35, both of whom ran unopposed.

While Democrats Andre Johnson and Steve Johnson lead in the race for District 34A's two House of Delegates seats, Republicans lead in the county's remaining seats in the chamber.

Incumbent Del. Lauren Arikan of District 7B leads over Democrat Medford Campbell III, with 70.2% of the vote. Incumbent Del. Susan McComas of District 34B leads over Democrat Gillian Miller with 63.2% of the vote.

District 35A has two seats in the House of Delegates, and two candidates ran: Republican incumbent Dels. Mike Griffith and Teresa Reilly.