Ruff defeats Attar in contentious West Baltimore state Senate race

Del. Malcolm Ruff defeated state Sen. Dalya Attar Tuesday night in a contentious Democratic state Senate primary that included federal extortion charges and accusations of antisemitic rhetoric.

With early votes, some mail ballots and nearly all election day votes counted, Ruff held a wide lead over Attar to represent state Senate District 41, which includes Northwest, West and Southwest Baltimore neighborhoods. The Associated Press called the race shortly after midnight.

Standing before several hundred supporters at Forest Park Golf Course, Ruff claimed victory shortly before 11 p.m.

“We love you, son!” a man yelled. Ruff pumped his fist in the air. His wife stood by his side.

“Senator Malcolm!” one woman shouted.

Ruff acknowledged “some significant divisiveness” that had occurred as a result of living in such a diverse district.

”I look in this room tonight, and what I see is Black neighbors," said Ruff, who is Black. “I see Jewish neighbors. I see Christian neighbors. I see Muslim neighbors. I see some of y’all agnostic neighbors. I see people of every hue, race, creed and belief. But that is what we need in order to have the most beautiful place in the state of Maryland.”

The race was among the state’s most contested. Black residents make up 63% of the 41st District’s population, according to data compiled by Census Reporter, but the district also includes Jewish neighborhoods.

The race was upended in October when Attar, her brother, and a Baltimore Police officer were indicted on federal extortion charges. Prosecutors say the three tried to blackmail a former campaign consultant, covertly recorded the consultant in bed with a married man, and threatened to share the tape with the consultant’s family.

Attar pleaded not guilty to the charges and continues to serve in office while awaiting trial. Attar did not respond to requests for comment.

Attar was elected to the House of Delegates in 2018 and was reelected in 2022. Outside of the legislature, she is an attorney in private practice. Attar became the first Orthodox Jewish woman to serve in the Senate after she was picked — over Ruff — to fill a vacancy in January 2025.

Ruff was appointed to fill a vacancy in the House of Delegates in the summer of 2023. He’s an attorney with the law firm Murphy, Falcon & Murphy.

Ruff picked up endorsements from Gov. Wes Moore, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume, state Sen. Antonio Hayes, former Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and seven Baltimore City Council members.

Attar’s most prominent endorsement came in October from Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates, before her indictment. Bates backed the 41st District Unity Team, a slate that included Attar, Del. Sandy Rosenberg and Del. Sean Stinnett.

But Bates distanced himself from the endorsement in May, saying in a statement he “will not become involved in this state senate race due to the ongoing legal proceedings.”

Many in the district — particularly Black residents — have pointed out what they see as a double standard in the treatment of Attar and Black politicians who also faced legal challenges.

But community members have also questioned how opposition to Attar and her political support was expressed.

“It’s one thing to have a debate about ideas, to have a debate about what the district needs,” Howard Libit, executive director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, told The Banner earlier this month. “It’s another thing to say: ‘We can’t let the Jews control this district.’ That crosses the line in terms of antisemitism.” Libit said those concerns did not apply to Ruff’s campaign.

The highlight of Tuesday evening occurred when Rep. Kweisi Mfume, fresh off his congressional win, stopped by with famed lawyer and professor Larry Gibson.

The two men embraced Ruff in an intimate moment before joining the room. Mfume later told the crowd that he had been following this race. He also hinted that Gibson had been involved in Ruff’s campaign behind the scenes.

“You’ve been such a mastermind over the years going back 50 years in terms of delivering elections in this country, in this state, in other states, and around the globe,” Mfume told Gibson, who was standing in the crowd. “Larry says this is his last campaign. And you picked a good one to close it out.”

The day, much like most of the cycle, was not without theatrics.

Hours earlier, Moore was delivering remarks at the Forest Park Senior Center in Gwynn Oak when music from a nearby speaker interrupted him.

The tune was familiar — Attar’s campaign song, said George Buntin, a Ruff ally.

“No one responded to her directly,” he said. “The energy seemed to be, ‘It’s not worth giving her attention.’”

Ruff told The Banner that Attar called to congratulate him and wish him luck.