Hutzell: The best, worst and just plain weird of Maryland’s weak primary

Maryland’s 2026 primary election is almost in the books, so it’s time to recognize the –ests among the results — best, worst and weirdest.

Hear me roar

Tie: Vanessa Atterbeary, Aisha Braveboy, Allison Pickard

If these Democrats win in November — almost a sure thing given the weakness of their opponents — women will be the executives of Howard, Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties. That’s a first.

If incumbents Julie Giordano in Wicomico and Jessica Fitzwater in Frederick also win in November, at least five of the nine county executives will be women. That’s another first.

The results also put Black women and men — Braveboy, Atterbeary, Will Jawando in Montgomery County and Julian Jones in Baltimore County — in four of the executive offices, one more first.

The results set up an interesting tier of possible candidates for governor in 2030, the highest office in the state that’s still male-only territory.

Runner-up: Pam Beidle. The retiring state senator funded a slate of candidates that almost swept the Anne Arundel primary.

Small fortune

David Trone

Ever hear the one about the best way to make a small fortune? Start with a big one and then run for office.

Trone, the liquor store magnate, loaned himself $25 million for his Democratic campaign to win back the 6th Congressional District seat. He lost to his successor, Rep. April McClain-Delaney.

That’s on top of $57 million he loaned to his campaign for the U.S Senate seat in 2024. He lost that one to U.S. Sen Angela Alsobrooks.

It’s proof of many things. Most notably, the liquor business is very profitable.

Runner-up: Quincy Bareebe. The business owner loaned her 5th Congressional District campaign $8 million.

Clout and about

Wes Moore

The governor’s campaign says 93% of the candidates he endorsed won, and this election solidifies his leadership of the Maryland Democratic Party.

In an email titled “Wes Moore is Maryland’s Kingmaker,” spokesman Carter Elliott said the governor pushed candidates over the top across the state. In some cases, he wrote, the winners were lagging in polls until Moore’s boost.

Among the 200 endorsements, the campaign highlighted Del. Adrian Boafo in the 5th Congressional District primary, McClain-Delaney in the 6th, and Atterbeary, Jawando and Jones in county executive races.

Others he mentioned include Sarah David’s win for the Baltimore County prosecutor’s office, Malcolm Ruff in a Baltimore state Senate race and Tara Jackson in the Democratic primary for Prince George’s state’s attorney

Runners up: Cryptocurrency and pro-Israel super PACS. They spent $8.8 million to elect Boafo.

Nonliving candidate

Nancy Jane Taylor

The Republican candidate for governor was one of nine in the primary that 2022 candidate Dan Cox won.

Taylor passed away May 23, but her family used her obituary for one final pitch, asking friends and loved ones to remember her by voting for her.

The Hagerstown woman and her running mate, daughter Rachel Hannah “Mohawk” Swift, earned 2,618 votes. That was good enough to beat one other candidate.

Runner-up: Ralph Jaffe. The Baltimore County perennial candidate died in February.

Best for everyone

Dalya Attar

Whatever the outcome of salacious charges involving alleged sex tapes and blackmail facing the state senator from Baltimore, voters shouldn’t be dragged into it.

Ruff defeated Attar in a contentious Democratic primary that included accusations of antisemitism.

Now she can focus on her defense.

Runner-up: Marc Knapp. Removed from the Anne Arundel Orphans Court for misconduct, voters rejected his bid to regain his seat.

Public financing

Will Jawando

Jawando won the Montgomery County executive Democratic primary, tantamount to taking the office, on a publicly financed campaign. It’s the biggest victory this year for a candidate using the system.

The state and five counties now offer this option.

Runner-up: Gavin Buckley. The former Annapolis mayor was one of two candidates in Anne Arundel’s new system, and the only one to win.

Stuntastic

Bobby LaPin

The social media phenom’s campaign was in some ways a stunt, although one good enough to make Senate President Bill Ferguson change his approach to the election and, maybe, his job.

Runner-up: Mark Conway. The Baltimore councilman used guerrilla tactics in his unsuccessful challenge to Rep. Kweisi Mfume, notably an April debate challenge at the congressman’s office.

See you in court

Gabriel Acevero

The Montgomery County delegate won likely reelection to the General Assembly, but he’s got to go to court first.

The delegate exchanged punches with local union leader Gino Renne at an early voting site in Gaithersburg. Both men say the other started it, and both said they would file assault charges.

Runner-up: Jared DeMarinis. The state elections director blocked President Donald Trump’s attempt to seize Maryland voter rolls, but now faces a Republican lawsuit to block certification of primary results.

Political toast

Ed Hale

Party switching, delusions of grandeur and ethically gray AI ads do not a statesman make. The former banker should take his Republican primary loss to Cox in the governor’s race as an invitation to exit stage right.

Runner-up: Nancy King. The 76-year-old Senate majority leader from Montgomery County lost a surprise squeaker to Amar Mukunda, 33.

Runner-runner-up: Harry Dunn. A hero of Jan. 6 to be sure, but twice defeated in runs for Congress is a sign that maybe it’s time to move on.

Biggest loser

Independent voters

Many winners in the Democratic primaries now go on to almost certain election in November.

Maryland has closed primaries, so all taxpayers fund elections that only party members decide. In races where one party has an unbreakable majority, primaries serve as the general election.

So when turnout sinks to an anemic 20% as it did in this primary, a teensy portion of the electorate is calling the shots. If you’re an unaffiliated voter, you’re silenced.

If it sounds like taxation without representation, it’s not. It just sounds like it.

Runner-up: Republicans. Maryland’s perennial runner-up is on a path to finish second, again.

Did I miss something? Absolutely.

Now it’s your turn. Look forward to your comments below.