Ruben Amaya and Arkia Wade secured victories in two closely contested Democratic primaries for Baltimore County Council after the county’s election board on Monday certified last month’s primary results.

The June 23 election ushered a new era for the council, which is expanding to nine seats and is losing four incumbents who aren’t seeking reelection. Although most of the primaries were effectively decided on election night, Amaya’s victory in District 2 and Wade’s in District 9 weren’t settled until election workers canvassed tens of thousands of additional mail ballots over several days.

Amaya, the 25-year-old president of the Young Democrats of Maryland, defeated retired public schoolteacher and administrator Lawrence Williams by 28 votes in a westside district that spans Reisterstown, parts of Randallstown and Woodlawn.

The son of Central American immigrants, Amaya is likely to become the council’s first Latino member. He and 24-year-old Karson Kamenetz, the Democratic nominee in District 4, are on track to become the council’s first Gen Z members.

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“I think residents are ready for bold change, new ideas, new perspectives,” Amaya said Monday. “Karson and I are grappling with housing affordability, wanting to start a family one day in our county, and making sure that we can create roots here. That’s something that a lot of other residents are also grappling with.”

Amaya faces Republican James Amos, a retired Maryland Capitol Police officer, in November. The district is heavily Democratic.

Wade, who founded a nonprofit that serves seniors, defeated marina and tugboat company owner Mark McCluskey by 41 votes in a southeast district that includes Dundalk. Wade is the granddaughter of William C. Wade, a longtime Turner Station physician who provided free care to Black families during segregation and has a street named after him in Dundalk.

A Black woman has never been elected to the council. Wade, Makeda Scott in District 3, and Sharonda Dillard-Huffman in District 8 now each have a chance to become the first.

“I run a Girl Scout troop, and for my Girl Scouts to see that they could be on the county council because I laid the foundation, I’m proud of that,” Wade said. “But I also think it’s just really sad that it’s taken this long.”

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Wade faces Republican Tim Fazenbaker, a MAGA acolyte and former liquor store owner, in the general election. Former Republican county executive candidate A. Scott Pappas and restaurant owner Donna Sekora are running as independents. They must submit petitions with enough signatures by Aug. 3 to qualify for the ballot.

Maryland does not have automatic recounts. Candidates can request one within three days of the election’s certification.

The remaining districts will feature the following matchups in the general election:

  • District 1: Democratic environmentalist and community activist Paul Dongarra is running against Republican Rheagan Kindle, a childcare worker and tutor. Small-business owner Joe Hooe is attempting to qualify for the ballot as an independent.
  • District 3: Scott, a Democrat and former school board chair, will face Republican Chike Anyanwu.
  • District 4: Kamenetz, a law student and the son of former Democratic county executive Kevin Kamenetz, faces Republican Gary Schuman.
  • District 5: Democrat Shawn McIntosh, a public health professional, is challenging incumbent Republican Nino Mangione. Cory Shaffer is attempting to qualify as an independent.
  • District 6: Democrat Mike Ertel, the incumbent council chair, is running against Republican Christine Vondersmith.
  • District 7: Democrat Caridad “Cari” Santiago, a small-business owner and school volunteer, faces incumbent Republican David Marks.
  • District 8: Dillard-Huffman, a Democrat and disability manager in a housing nonprofit, is running against Republican Josh Sines, a conservationist and president of the Essex Middle River Civic Council.