What happened on primary election night in Baltimore County

Baltimore County’s political leadership is on the cusp of a sweeping makeover after primary voters cast ballots Tuesday for a new county executive, an expanding County Council and state’s attorney.

As of late Tuesday, officials had counted election day and in-person early votes, along with partial totals from mail-in and provisional ballots. Vote counting will resume Thursday.

Here’s at a look at the outcomes of key races:

County executive

Councilman Julian Jones led four Democratic rivals Tuesday night in the contest for the county’s top job. If his lead holds, it would put the Woodstock councilman on track to become the county’s first Black executive.

The Associated Press had not called the race as of early Wednesday. Mail ballots, which contained much of the outstanding vote, favored Pikesville Councilman Izzy Patoka.

Jones and Patoka were among three council Democrats who sought to succeed Democrat Kathy Klausmeier, who was appointed in 2025 to serve the remaining two years of Johnny Olszewski Jr.’s term after he was elected to Congress. Klausmeier had said she would not seek a full four-year term.

The field also included Councilman Pat Young of Catonsville, corporate attorney Nick Stewart and county parks employee Mansoor Shams. The five Democrats raised upwards of $3.4 million total in a long, bruising race.

In the Republican primary, Pat Dyer, owner of an investment brokerage firm, defeated Kimberly Stansbury, a community advocate and manager of a physical therapy practice.

Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-to-1 in Baltimore County, so the Democratic primary winner is favored to win in the fall general election.

Pikesville attorney Rob Daniels is seeking to have his name added to the general election ballot as an independent. To do so, he must file a petition by Aug. 3 with signatures from 1% of county voters, or approximately 6,000 people.

County Council

The primary was the first election based on redrawn political boundaries for the council, which is expanding from seven to nine members following a voter referendum authorizing the change.

Just three of the current council’s seven members filed for new terms. The result was a diverse crop of new candidates who spanned gender, race, age and political ideology.

District 1

In the Democratic primary, environmentalist and community activist Paul Dongarra held a wide lead over Mandy Remmell, who serves as Olszewski’s district director, and military veteran Nimrod Westcott V.

Rheagan Kindle, a childcare worker and tutor who serves as treasurer of the Baltimore County GOP, ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

Joe Hooe is attempting to qualify for the ballot as an independent.

The redrawn district spans the county’s southwest corner and includes Catonsville, Halethorpe and Arbutus.

District 2

In a crowded Democratic field, retired public school teacher and administrator Lawrence Williams was running neck and neck with Ruben Amaya, the president of the Young Democrats of Maryland. Trailing were Danita Tolson, a former president of the Baltimore County NAACP, and Tammy Soulama, who was a distant fourth.

Retired Maryland Capitol Police officer James Amos ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

The new 2nd District stretches along the county’s western border and includes Reisterstown, Woodlawn, Granite and parts of Randallstown.

District 3

Five Democrats ran to represent this northwest district that includes parts of Randallstown and Owings Mills.

Makeda Scott, former chair of the Baltimore County Board of Education, held a commanding lead over healthcare administrator Linda Dorsey-Walker and Mark Brewster, an analyst in the county health department. Federal government contractor Regg Hatcher Jr. and community advocate Tyrod Haynes were fourth and fifth, respectively.

Chike Anyanwu ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

The district is heavily Democratic. If Scott prevails in the primary, she will be on track to serve as the county’s first Black councilwoman.

District 4

Karson Kamenetz, a 25-year-old law student and the son of former County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, held a commanding lead in the Democratic primary over Aaron Barnett, a Navy veteran, longshoreman and youth nonprofit director.

Gary Schuman ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

The new 4th District combines predominantly Black and Jewish suburbs surrounding Northwest Baltimore, including Pikesville, Lochearn and Milford Mill.

District 5

Newly sworn-in Councilman Nino Mangione, a staunchly MAGA radio host and scion of a wealthy developer family, held a 3-to-1 lead in the Republican primary over Theaux Le Gardeur, a conservationist who founded the Gunpowder Riverkeepers.

District 5 is the county’s northernmost district. It includes Cockeysville and Lutherville-Timonium and extends through rural communities to the Pennsylvania border.

Mangione was appointed to finish the term of Wade Kach, who had represented the area for 12 years after decades as a state lawmaker. The Republican resigned in May, citing health reasons. The appointment granted Mangione incumbent status weeks before a competitive primary. Kach endorsed Le Gardeur.

Shawn McIntosh, administrator of a health nonprofit, ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Business owner Cory Shaffer is attempting to make the general election ballot as an independent candidate.

District 6

There were no contested primaries in this district, which borders Baltimore City and includes Towson, Parkville and Overlea.

Council Chair Mike Ertel, a Democrat, will face Republican Christine Vondersmith in the general election.

District 7

There were no contested primaries in this east-side district, which includes Perry Hall.

Republican Councilman David Marks will face Democrat Caridad “Cari” Santiago, a small-business owner and school volunteer, in November.

District 8

Three Democrats ran in the primary to represent a new east-side district, which borders Harford County and includes Essex, Middle River and White Marsh. Sharonda Dillard-Huffman, a policy professional focusing on disability and housing, held a wide lead over Crystal Cody, a public policy professional. Jack Carmody, a Towson University accounting student, was a distant third.

Josh Sines, a conservationist and president of the Essex Middle River Civic Council, ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

District 9

Three-term Republican Councilman Todd Crandell’s decision not to seek re-election created an opening in the new 9th District, which includes Dundalk, Rosedale and Edgemere.

The Republican primary drew a crowd. MAGA activist and former liquor store owner Tim Fazenbaker held a large lead Tuesday night over businessman J.D. Urbach and Russ “No Tax” Mirabile, president of the Rosedale Community Association. Jake Mohorovic III, a support center agent for Johns Hopkins Hospital, was running a distant fourth.

In the Democratic primary, community advocate Arkia Wade was locked in a close race with Mark McCluskey, owner of a marina and a local tugboat company. Two other candidates, Ed Crizer and marketing director William Barrios, trailed.

Two other candidates, A. Scott Pappas and Donna Eve Radtke Sekora, are attempting to qualify for the general election as independents.

State’s attorney

Democrat Sarah David, a prosecutor who specializes in political corruption and police misconduct, held a 2-to-1 lead over longtime incumbent Scott Shellenberger and veteran Baltimore City prosecutor Lauren Lipscomb.

David’s campaign had not yet declared victory, but she appeared on track to become only the third person to serve as the county’s top prosecutor in more than 50 years.

Shellenberger was first elected state’s attorney in 2006 and has served five terms. This year, he faced his toughest re-election challenge yet, as David outraised him 3-to-1 and secured Gov. Wes Moore’s endorsement.

An outside PAC affiliated with the progressive Working Families Party also spent more than $1 million backing David. The group issued a statement Tuesday night congratulating David on an “overwhelming victory.”

Lipscomb entered the race late and touted herself as the more experienced alternative to Shellenberger.

The race often turned contentious, with the three candidates sparring over how to modernize the office, handle sexual assault cases and prosecute juvenile crime.

No Republicans filed to run, so the winner of the Democratic primary is on track to serve as the county’s top prosecutor.

Sheriff

Clyde Boatwright, president of the Maryland Fraternal Order of Police, led by more than 2-to-1 in the Democratic primary over Adam Schuster, a former sheriff’s deputy, and William Merrill III, a longtime sheriff’s deputy. Boatwright had built a large fundraising advantage and was considered the favorite in the race.

Michael F. Burke ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

Retired Baltimore City police officer Dana Robinson announced an independent bid for sheriff and must submit a petition with enough signatures by Aug. 3 to qualify for the general election ballot.

The sheriff’s office is responsible for courthouse security, transporting inmates and serving warrants. The incumbent sheriff, R. Jay Fisher, a Democrat, is retiring after 24 years in office.

School board

Not enough candidates filed to trigger a primary, so the races for seven elected school board positions will be decided in the Nov. 3 general election.

Banner reporter Kristen Griffith contributed to this story.