Maryland Primary Election 2016
Live coverage from around Maryland, with news, notes and analysis the day after voters participated in the state's primary election. Baltimore voters selectd candidates for mayor, while voters around Maryland selected candidates for president, senate and congress, among others.
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Representing Edwards in the legal effort to keep Baltimore polls open is Billy Murphy, longtime atty who also represents Freddie Gray fam.by John Fritze via twitter 4/26/2016 9:16:42 PM -
Kenneth Davis, a 68-year-old Vietnam War veteran, said he voted for Elizabeth Embry (“the white woman,” he said) over Catherine Pugh and Sheila Dixon because he said City Hall needed an “outsider” to restore confidence in city government. “That would be healthy for the city,” Davis said. “I don’t want anyone who has been in the arena, especially not Dixon. I can’t trust her.”
—Doug Donovan
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From Southwest Baltimore
Carol McCoy, a 66-year-old city worker in Morrell Park, said she supported Catherine Pugh because she saw her as a protégé of the late Mayor William Donald Schaefer.
McCoy said she liked Elizabeth Embry but thought she should run for state’s attorney.
“The girl has no experience to be mayor,” she said.
One candidate McCoy had no use for was the former mayor, Sheila Dixon, whom McCoy could not forgive for being found guilty of embezzlement, which forced her from office.
“Dixon’s a crook. Why would we give her another chance?” she said. “She shouldn’t even have the right to run.”
—Michael Dresser
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From North Baltimore
One polling site in Hampden saw a steady stream of people voting around 3 p.m., some old, some young, some toting small children.
John Beauchamp, a grounds manager at Johns Hopkins University, said he was voting for Sen. Bernie Sanders for president because of his support for single-payer health insurance.
“The health insurance industry is robbing us, it’s eating us alive,” said Beauchamp, 56, a Democrat. “And we need change, so I’m for anybody that’s supporting that kind of change.”
John BeauchampEduardo Rodriguez, the owner of Gallery 788, an art gallery in Hampden, was also casting a ballot for Sanders.
“I’ve always been a Clinton fan, but I don’t know, something just changed along the way,” said Rodriguez, a Democrat. “It’s just apparent who the right choice is.”
Shawn Cherian, a 31-year-old engineer, voted Republican even as he acknowledged that
Republicans would have an uphill battle in Baltimore.“I probably should have switched to Democrat, just because I’m in Maryland,” he said.
Cherian voted for 79-year-old Alan Walden in the mayor’s race because “he seemed like the only viable Republican candidate” and Ohio governor John Kasich for president.
“He’s not going to win but he’s the only real candidate to me,” Cherian said of Kasich. “I can’t see myself voting for the other two.” -- Carrie Wells
Eduardo Rodriguez -
Baltimore Republican party didn't seem to know that one of their city council candidates had died. Here's his obit baltimoresun.com/news/obituarie…by Ian Duncan via twitter 4/26/2016 10:03:47 PM -
Committeeman just told me they were surprised when the candidate didn't show for meeting last week, but assumed he got lost or somethingby Ian Duncan via twitter 4/26/2016 10:04:21 PM
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From Southeast Baltimore
Elizabeth Embry appeared in Canton at the intersection of South Linwood and Fait avenues at around 4:30 p.m. to greet voters and encourage her volunteers. The Democratic candidate had been touring polling places since 7 a.m.
“I feel incredible,” she said. “I’m hearing great things.”
As Embry waved, a fire truck decked out in Catherine Pugh campaign signs and spewing bubbles barreled down Linwood, honking its horn and blowing its siren. Firefighter union members in yellow shirts dangled off the rear and the top of the truck shouting Pugh’s name.
—Doug Donovan
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From Southeast Baltimore
For immigrants casting their first vote in a U.S. election, there was a special thrill in exercising their new rights Tuesday.
CASA in Action, an affiliate of the immigrants’ rights group CASA of Maryland, had about 20 volunteers on the streets of Baltimore helping immigrant citizens get to the polls.
Lydia Walther-Rodriguez, a 26-year-old U.S. citizen born in Panama, said the people she was ferrying to the polls were excited.
“For them, going to the polls today and voting for the first time, it’s really that feeling of being a U.S. citizen is taking over,” said Walther Rodriguez, a citizen since 2004 and a CASA organizer.
Among those getting a ride from CASA to a Highlandtown polling place was Ramona Reyes, a 39-year-old immigrant from the Dominican Republic.
Reyes said she would support Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary.
“I think this United States needs a woman,” she said. Her native country has never elected a woman president, she said, because of the prevailing ethic of “macho.”
Among the issues motivating her was the minimum wage.
“I think the minimum wage is too low for people who are working very, very hard,” said Reyes, who owns a hairdressing business.
German Mercado, 76, was also voting in his first U.S. election. After living in the United States since 1999, the Dominican native finally achieved his citizenship in February 2015.
Through an interpreter, Mercado said he is concerned about the minimum wage as well. Other key issues, he said, included better benefits for immigrants and improved relations between the community and police.
Mercado declined to reveal who he intended to support for president. When a reporter asked whether it might be Donald Trump, Mercado made a cringing motion and laughed as he gave a loud “no.”
—Michael Dresser
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Happening now: I'm in Circuit Court where a hearing is abt to be held on injunction filed by Donna Edwards campaign to extend poll hours..by Justin Fenton via twitter 4/26/2016 10:09:39 PM -
.@SheilaforMayor supporters are fired up at Northwood Elementary School http://pbs.twimg.com/media/ChAFoUhWUAAfhgs.jpg
by Luke Broadwater via twitter 4/26/2016 10:15:19 PM -
There is a fire at the Mitchell Circuit Court House 100 N Calvert St 21202. Expect traffic delays around the building. #BalTrafficby Baltimore OEM via twitter 4/26/2016 10:17:21 PM -
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.@SheilaforMayor , wearing a campaign t-shirt, greets supporters (after picking up litter on the street of course) http://pbs.twimg.com/media/ChAHZIiWwAUi03E.jpg
by Luke Broadwater via twitter 4/26/2016 10:23:25 PM -
Just to make this clear: All of Maryland's primary results will be delayed an hour because judge ruled 4 Baltimore precincts must stay open.by Erin Cox via twitter 4/26/2016 11:46:02 PM -
Elections official said that locals could post results on their own sites, but "I think everyone’s going to follow our lead.":by Erin Cox via twitter 4/26/2016 11:47:02 PM
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Van Hollen spox: "All citizens deserve = rights and access to...polls. It is essential to our democracy that our election process be fair."by John Fritze via twitter 4/26/2016 11:51:36 PM
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Just spoke to Bishop again. He voted for @DonnaFEdwards, so there's one vote for her court effort. Also @SheilaforMayor and @BernieSandersby Kevin Rector via twitter 4/27/2016 12:51:38 AM -
There now appears to be 9 people who have showed up to vote in this extra hour at Oliver Multi-Purpose Center.by Kevin Rector via twitter 4/27/2016 12:51:40 AM
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Alice Saddler, 58, says she supports Szeliga because "she's a self made woman, I'm a businesswoman myself and it's bloody hard out there."by Jon Banister via twitter 4/27/2016 12:51:43 AM -
Derrel Jones, 29, "got lucky" and voted for @SheilaforMayor at 8:45. More in our live blog: bsun.md/1TunUi8 http://pbs.twimg.com/media/ChApY5JW4AEF7EP.jpg
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.@WhipHoyer who was ostensibly neutral in #mdsen showed up at @VanHollenForMD party, notes @Rgreenwald94 .by John Fritze via twitter 4/27/2016 12:54:54 AM
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In the middle of all this, the following AP headline just came up on my screen: "Tribune calls Gannett 'erratic,' but still reviewing deal."by John Fritze via twitter 4/27/2016 12:59:22 AM
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From Central West Baltimore
Ericca Ellis rushed into John Eager Howard Elementary School at about 8:15 p.m., asking campaign workers outside: "Is it too late to vote presidential? I've got to vote for Bernie!"
After voting, the 24-year-old Ellis said she didn't know that voting had been extended by an hour. "I got lucky," she said.
Ellis, who manages a GameStop store, said she supports Bernie Sanders' efforts to raise the minimum wage and provide more rights for workers.
Derrel Jones, 29, also was lucky to learn that the John Eager Howard polling site stayed open late. He voted at 8:45 p.m. with his daughters De'aja, 8, and Ava, 2. He was excited to cast a vote for Sheila Dixon for mayor.
"We got to bring Sheila back in office," he said. "I like everything about her."
A couple candidates stopped by the extended voting at John Eager Howard, including Kim Trueheart, running for city council president, and council candidate Marshall Bell.
"I'm checking on my troops," Bell said. "They've been holding it down all day. How can I go back when they're still out here?"
-- Pamela Wood -
In hotly contested 1st district early results show, Zeke Cohen leads with 27%. Scott Goldman at 24% and @1stDistrictMark with 18%.by Yvonne Wenger via twitter 4/27/2016 1:24:47 AM -
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In District 3, based on early results, @electryandorsey is at 40% with Jermaine Jones at 29% and @VoteVanHook at 9%,by Yvonne Wenger via twitter 4/27/2016 1:26:37 AM
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.@Scott4baltimore is crushing it in the 2nd District with 78 percent, based on early voting.by Yvonne Wenger via twitter 4/27/2016 1:27:01 AM
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At this point Brandon Scott, Sharon Middleton and Eric Costello look pretty safe.by Ian Duncan via twitter 4/27/2016 1:27:35 AM
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.@CouncilmanHenry has lead over Democratic challenger Brian Hammock with 43% to 36%. #BaltimoreElectionby Yvonne Wenger via twitter 4/27/2016 1:28:52 AM
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Should add Mary Pat Clarke to the people who seem to be sitting prettyby Ian Duncan via twitter 4/27/2016 1:29:54 AM
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Top contenders in the 5th District where Rikki Spector is retiring are @VoteSchleifer has 44% to Betsy Gardner's 27%.by Yvonne Wenger via twitter 4/27/2016 1:31:46 AM
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Early returns show Szeliga leading big. Campaign spox Leslie Shedd: "We're happy about the results we see so far." http://pbs.twimg.com/media/ChAywfCW4AAxfOh.jpg
by Jon Banister via twitter 4/27/2016 1:32:03 AM -
Bill Henry and Ed Reisinger each well under 50% in early voting, but votes against them are splitby Ian Duncan via twitter 4/27/2016 1:32:30 AM
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In the 6th District, @CCMiddleton6 looks more and more safe. She's got 76% of the vote to closest Democratic challenger Mark Hughes w/ 18.5%by Yvonne Wenger via twitter 4/27/2016 1:35:27 AM
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After Early Voting, the Baltimore sitting judges are all leadingby Luke Broadwater via twitter 4/27/2016 1:35:32 AM
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From West Baltimore
A few people showed up to Catherine Pugh's West Baltimore campaign headquarters in hopes of getting paid for Election Day jobs that never materialized. People milled about outside the building, where security guards were posted at the entrance.
Tearria Edmonds and her fiancé Keith Robason said they signed up to work for the Pugh campaign during early voting, even filling out tax forms. When they showed up at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday as instructed, there was no work for them.
Despite assurances Tuesday morning from a campaign spokesman that everyone who signed up to work would be paid, that wasn't the case, Robason said. "They ain't give us our money," he said.
Edmonds said she was frustrated that she paid for a babysitter for the day she signed up with the campaign then again on Tuesday, putting her in a hole without the $100 that she and her fiancé had each been promised.
"I feel like I was cheated. It was disorganized," she said.
Workers at Pugh headquarters would not answer questions from a reporter, saying: "You'll have to call the campaign."
-- Pamela Woodr -
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District 7 is very competitive: @leonfpinkett at 24%, @ShawnZTarrant at 21%, Marshall Bell at 20%, @Pastor__West at 18%. #BaltimoreElectionby Yvonne Wenger via twitter 4/27/2016 1:37:17 AM
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