Baltimore County choose new council members in redrawn districts

It’s a new era for the Baltimore County Council.

After Tuesday’s election, the council is on its way to becoming younger and more racially and ideologically diverse. At least one Black woman appears poised to become the first ever elected to the council. So are at least two members of Gen Z.

The council is also set to expand for the first time since it was established in 1956, from seven to nine members. That follows a 2025 voter referendum authorizing the change, with candidates representing districts under the redrawn district boundaries.

Two closely watched races — one in the northern part of the county, the other in the county’s southeast corner — appeared to be close.

It’s not just the council that will change. Voters are electing a new county executive, a new state’s attorney and a new sheriff.

“I think starting new is better,” 38-year-old Shamika Thompson said outside a polling location in Reisterstown on Election Day. She hopes the newly elected county officials will prioritize residents’ needs.

“My big thing with the county is being more positive,” she said. “School issues. Closed businesses just sit without being used for so long that could actually be turned into something that’ll be good for us. Fixing things that need to be fixed.”

Diane Schmutzler, 47, was more ambivalent: “As much as I voted a party line, I still don’t necessarily think we’ve got the greatest party representatives in Baltimore County.”

Schmutzler, who lives in Halethorpe and works for the federal government, said the county is so diverse that she sometimes wishes “we were three counties.”

She hopes the new officials will improve the education system, expand access to affordable housing and build “appropriate” developments. She said she wanted “smarter development” that is transit-oriented and walkable.

District 1

Democrat Paul Dongarra, an environmentalist and community activist, had a wide lead Tuesday night over the Republican candidate, Rheagan Kindle, a childcare worker and tutor who serves as treasurer of the Baltimore County GOP.

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

District 2

Ruben Amaya, the president of the Young Democrats of Maryland, was leading Republican James Amos, a retired Maryland Capitol Police officer, almost 5 to 1. Amaya would be the first Latino to serve on the council and one of its youngest members.

The new district runs along the county’s western border and includes Woodlawn, Reisterstown and parts of Randallstown. It’s a heavily blue district where registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by more than 5 to 1.

District 3

Democrat Makeda Scott led Republican Chike Anyanwu by more than 6 to 1 to represent the redrawn District 3, which includes parts of Randallstown and Owings Mills.

It’s one of two majority-Black districts, where more than 56% of the population is Black. Registered Democrats make up almost two-thirds of the voting population.

Baltimore County has never elected a Black woman to the council.

District 4

Democrat Karson Kamenetz, a 25-year-old law student and the son of former County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, held a 5-to-1 lead over the Republican candidate, Gary Schuman.

He declared victory in an Instagram post on Tuesday night. “This county gave me everything, and I’ve been given an extraordinary chance to give something back,” he wrote.

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

District 5

Nino Mangione, the staunchly MAGA Republican incumbent whose grandfather was a multimillionaire real estate magnate, was virtually tied with Democrat Shawn McIntosh, an administrator at a health nonprofit. Cory Shaffer ran as an independent.

District 5, the county’s northernmost district, is also its purplest, with close to an even split between registered Democrats and Republicans. Its residents live between Cockeysville and the Pennsylvania state line.

District 6

Incumbent Mike Ertel, a Democrat serving as the council’s chair, held a 3-to-1 lead over Republican Christine Vondersmith.

The district borders Baltimore City and includes Towson, Parkville and Overlea.

District 7

Republican council member David Marks held a commanding lead over Democrat Caridad “Cari” Santiago, a small business owner and school volunteer.

The district runs from Carney to Kingsville and includes Perry Hall.

District 8

Republican Josh Sines, a conservationist and president of the Essex Middle River Civic Council, narrowly led Democrat Sharonda Dillard-Huffman, an inclusive housing manager in Montgomery County.

The new east-side district borders Harford County and includes Essex, Middle River and White Marsh. Democrats outnumber Republicans in the new 8th District, although 1 in 4 voters are registered as independent, and the Essex/Middle River area is currently represented by a Republican.

District 9

Republican Tim Fazenbaker, a MAGA activist and former liquor store owner, held a narrow lead over Democrat Arkia Wade, a community advocate.

District 9 includes Dundalk, Rosedale and Edgemere.

It’s one of the county’s more conservative districts, with the Dundalk area voting reliably Republican for more than a decade. About a third of the district’s voters are registered Republicans. Independents make up about a quarter of registered voters, and although registered Democrats make up a higher proportion of the voting population, they tend to be more moderate.