The state’s most significant result in Tuesday’s elections could come from the South and Southeast Baltimore neighborhoods that make up the 46th legislative district.

There, Senate President Bill Ferguson is facing a challenge from Bobby LaPin, a charter boat captain and social media influencer.

While Ferguson represents a sliver of Baltimore, his power extends to all corners of the state. He has a say in who gets appointed to the Maryland Stadium Authority, he can order his caucus to approve or disapprove of agency heads. Nothing happens in Annapolis without him.

Should Ferguson lose, which polling from both camps show is unlikely, it would set off a scramble within the General Assembly to fill his role running the state Senate.

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LaPin mounted a vigorous campaign. For months he has been in Ferguson’s head, forcing the Senate president off balance. Part of it was rust — Ferguson hadn’t had a real challenger since taking office. He had to spend part of his campaign relearning how, but found his footing and has pushed the pace up to the end — his campaign manager said in early May their goal was to crush their opponent.

Still, LaPin hit Ferguson where he was vulnerable, railing against Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. rates and telling his legion of online followers that Ferguson was in the pocket of the utility and other corporations.

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He sent electorate-specific signals, rejecting corporate donations and political action committee money while Ferguson raked in donations by the thousands. Ferguson had forgotten the people he was elected to serve, LaPin would say. Here was an everyman, ready to represent everyone.

Lacking LaPin’s online presence and salesman’s charisma, Ferguson used that money to plaster his face and message everywhere.

His TV commercials were a constant. His signs were omnipresent. His mailers piled up in people’s homes to the point of annoyance — every letter LaPin sent or door-hanger his campaign left was countered by what seemed like a dozen from Ferguson and the entities that backed him. He became inescapable.

The results of the race could have big implications for Baltimore — Ferguson has emphasized his ability to allot money for new schools, roads, fitness centers and other amenities purchased with state money.