Analysis of the 2012 General Elections

Item Type Report

Authors University of Maryland, . Office of Government & Community Affairs

Publication Date 2012-11

Keywords Analysis; Elections--United States--Maryland

Download date 02/10/2021 05:30:58

Item License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10713/4670

G

E N

ANALYSIS E OF THE R 2012 MARYLAND GENERAL ELECTIONS A L

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS R HTTP://WWW.UMARYLAND.EDU/OFFICES/GOVERNMENT/ E BALTIMORE: 620 WEST LEXINGTON STREET, FIRST FLOOR ANNAPOLIS: 60 WEST STREET, SUITE 220 S

U NOVEMBER 2012 L T S

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE Analysis of 2012 Maryland General Elections

This summary report reflects the unofficial results of the November 6, 2012 general election for public office and statewide ballot issues in Maryland. Election results will be certified as final by the Maryland Board of State Canvassers on December 11, 2012. Results can be verified at the Maryland State Board of Elections.

President of the United States

Barack Obama and Joe Biden were re‐elected by popular and electoral vote as the President and Vice President, respectively. According to the Maryland State Board of Elections (unofficial results), the Obama/Biden ticket received 61.4% of the popular vote in Maryland, excluding absentee and provisional ballot results. On December 17, 2012, Maryland’s Electoral College delegates will officially cast their votes. Maryland has ten Electoral College delegates. Delegates typically cast their vote in conformance with the popular vote, but several states do not require delegates to do so. Presidential candidates must win at least 270 out of 538 Electoral College votes. Based upon early voting and election night results, the Obama/Biden ticket thus far has 303 Electoral College votes, with only Florida’s 29 electoral votes still remaining undecided.

Congressional Races – See Exhibit I

 U. S. Senator: , Democrat was re‐elected as U.S. Senator for Maryland’s third congressional district, defeating, Republican Daniel John Bongino and independent, S. Rob Sobhani. Maryland last held a U.S. senatorial election in 2010, when Barbara Mikulski, Democrat, was re‐elected to the Senate over Eric Wargotz, Republican. In the , each state is equally represented by two members. Senators serve six‐year terms that are staggered, so elections are held for approximately one‐third of the seats every second year. Senators may serve an unlimited number of consecutive terms.

 Representatives in Congress: Of the eight Maryland incumbent congressional representatives who ran to retain their seat, seven were re‐elected. Congressman Roscoe Bartlett, Republican, lost his seat to John Delaney, Democrat. Seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are apportioned among the states on the basis of population, as determined by the census conducted every ten years. Currently, Maryland has eight members in the U.S. House of Representatives. Each Representative serves a two‐year term and may be re‐ electedd an unlimite number of times.

Judicial Races – See Exhibit II

Maryland held judicial races for the Circuit Court, Court of Appeals, and Court of Special Appeals. In the 2012 General Election, all sitting judges who ran were re‐elected. The only contested judicial race was for the St. Mary’s County Circuit Court seat, which was won by the sitting judge, the Honorable David Densford. In Maryland, all judges are appointed by the governor. The Judicial Nominating Commission recommends potential candidates for appointment after a search and interview process. The governor appoints appellate judges with the advice and consent of the Maryland Senate. Appointed appellate judges must run for election in the first general election after their appointment and every ten years thereafter. Circuit court judges must run in the first general election after their appointment and every fifteen years thereafter. Elections for circuit court judges may be contested. District Court judges are appointed by the governor to ten year terms and with the advice and consent of the Maryland Senate.

1

Statewide Maryland Ballot Issues in General Election – See Exhibit III

There were three constitutional amendments and four widely publicized referendums, all of which were approved by Maryland voters. Two of the three constitutional amendments related to the qualifications necessary to be an Orphans’ Court judge and the third amendment related to the timing of a suspension or removal of an elected official charged with certain crimes. The four referendums described in more detail below related to congressional redistricting, same‐sex marriage, expansion of gaming, and extending in‐state tuition rates to undocumented immigrants who meet certain eligibility criteria (aka DREAM Act).

1. In‐state tuition: (Question 4) Undocumented immigrants applying to public institutions of higher education in Maryland would qualify to receive in‐state tuition rates if they meet certain requirements, including attending and graduating from a Maryland high school, filing income taxes, intent to apply for permanent residency, and registration with the selective service system if eligible.

2. Congressional redistricting: (Question 5) Maryland must re‐evaluate and, if necessary redistrict, to reflect population changes every ten years pursuant to U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 2 and Maryland Constitution, Article III, Section 5. Under the new map, the University of Maryland, Baltimore falls into District 40, which is represented by Senator Catherine E. Pugh (D) and Delegates Frank M. Conaway, Jr. (D), Barbara A. Robinson (D), and Shawn Z. Tarrant (D).

3. Civil/ Same‐sex marriage: (Question 6) Same‐sex couples in Maryland, who are otherwise not prohibited from marrying, may obtain a civil marriage license. The referendum would not require religious institutions from conducting, participating in, condoning, or otherwise providing goods or services to the marriage of same‐sex couples.

4. Gaming expansion: (Question 7) Gambling in Maryland would expand to include table games, additional slot machines and licenses to operate slot machines, and geographic expansion into National Harbor, located in Prince Georges County.

Statewide Races

Statewide races for the office of governor, comptroller, attorney general, and treasurer occur every four years, with the last election held in 2010. There were no statewide races for these offices in the 2012 election. The next elections for statewide offices will be held as follows: Primary Election ‐ June 24, 2014; General Election ‐ November 4, 2014.

Maryland General Assembly

According to the Maryland General Assembly calendar, the 433rd Session begins January 9, 2013 and adjourns sine die on April 8, 2013. There were no Maryland House of Delegates or Senate races in the 2012 election. The next primary and general elections are the same as for the statewide offices listed above. As the legislative body directly representing the electorate, the Maryland General Assembly passes public general and local laws, raises revenues and appropriates funds to pay for State government services, and oversees the operation of State executive agencies. The Maryland Constitution requires the General Assembly to convene on the “second Wednesday of January” for 90 consecutive days. During this period the legislature typically considers over 2,300 pieces of legislation, including the State’s annual operating and capital budgets. The General Assembly consists of 188 members with 47 senators and 141 delegates elected from 47 districts. Find your legislator.

2

Further Information

Please follow the below links for additional information. ‐ Maryland State Board of Elections ‐ Maryland Board of State Canvassers ‐ Maryland General Assembly ‐ Maryland Department of Planning ‐ Redistricting ‐ Maryland Ballot Initiatives

This report was prepared by Ms. Teja Rau with the Office of Government and Community Affairs, University of Maryland, Baltimore. For more information, please contact Ms. Barbara Klein, Chief Government and Community Affairs Officer and Associate Vice President at [email protected] or 410‐269‐5087.

3 EXHIBIT I ‐ 2012 General Election Results Congressional Races

* = Incumbent

U. S. SENATOR

DEMOCRAT REPUBLICAN UNAFFILIATED

Ben Cardin* Daniel John Bongino S. Rob Sobhani WINNER

REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS

DISTRICT/COUNTY DEMOCRAT REPUBLICAN 1 Anne Arundel, Baltimore County, Caroline, Cecil Rosen, Wendy (withdrew) *Andrew Harris Dorchester, Harford, Kent, WINNER Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester 2 Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, *Ruppersberger, C.A. Dutch Jacobs, Nancy C. Baltimore County, Harford WINNER

3 Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, *Sarbanes, John Knowles, Eric Delano Baltimore County, Howard WINNER

4 Montgomery, Prince George’s *Edwards, Donna Loudon, Faith WINNER

5 Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, *Hoyer, Steny O’Donnell, Tony Prince George’s, St. Mary’s WINNER

6 Allegany, Baltimore County, Delaney, John *Bartlett, Roscoe Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, WINNER Hartford, Montgomery, Washington 7 Baltimore City, Baltimore *Cummings, Elijah Mirabile, Frank C. County, Howard WINNER 8 Montgomery, Prince George’s *Van Hollen, Chris Timmerman, Ken WINNER

More information available at http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/2012/index.html

4 EXHIBIT II ‐ 2012 General Election Results Judicial Races

** Current judge and winner

CIRCUIT COURT

County Candidates

Anne Arundel Pamela L. North**

Baltimore City Kendra Ausby** Jeannie Hong** Charles Peters** Michael Reed** Yolanda Tanner** David Young**

Baltimore County Nancy Purpura**

Calvert Marjorie Lynn Clagett**

Cecil Keith Baynes** Jane Murray**

Frederick William Rogers Nicklas, Jr.**

Harford M. Elizabeth Bowen**

Howard Lenore Gelfman** William Tucker**

Montgomery Anne K. Albright** Michael Mason** Louise G. Scrivener**

Prince Georges Krystal Alves** DaNeeka Varner Cotton** John Davey** Hassan A. El‐Amin** Sherrie Krauser**

St. Mary’s David Densford** Joseph Michael Stanalonis

Wicomico Leah Seaton**

Worcester Brian Daniel Shockley**

5

COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS

Circuit Candidate

At Large Stuart R. Berger**

4th Appellate Circuit Judge Michele D. Hotten**

6th Appellate Circuit Shirley M. Watts**

COURT OF APPEALS

Circuit Candidate

2nd Appellate Circuit Robert N. McDonald**

3rd Appellate Circuit Lynne A. Battaglia**

6th Appellate Circuit Robert M. Bell, Chief Judge**

6 EXHIBIT III‐ 2012 GENERAL ELECTIONS RESULTS STATEWIDE BALLOT QUESTIONS

Constitutional Amendments and Select Ballot Questions ‐ Unofficial Results of November 6, 2010 General Election OUTCOME Constitutional Amendment: Qualifications for Prince George’s County Orphans’ Court Judges: (Question 1) Requires judges of the Orphans’ PASSED Court for Prince George’s County to be admitted to practice law in this State and to be a member in good standing of the Maryland Bar. (Amending Article IV, Section 40 of the Maryland Constitution)

Constitutional Amendment ‐ Qualifications for Baltimore County Orphans’ Court Judges: (Question 2) Requires judges of the Orphans’ Court for PASSED Baltimore County to be admitted to practice law in this State and to be a member in good standing of the Maryland Bar. (Amending Article IV, Section 40 of the Maryland Constitution)

Constitutional Amendment‐ Suspension and Removal of Elected Officials: (Question 3) Changes the point at which an elected official charged PASSED with certain crimes is automatically suspended or removed from office. Under existing law, an elected official who is convicted or pleads no contest is suspended and is removed only when the conviction becomes final. Under the amended law, an elected official is suspended when found guilty and is removed when the conviction becomes final or when the elected official pleads guilty or no contest. (Amending Article XV, Section 2 of the Maryland Constitution) Referendum Petition ‐ Public Institutions of Higher Education – Tuition Rates: (Question 4) Establishes that individuals, including PASSED undocumented immigrants, are eligible to pay in‐state tuition rates at community colleges in Maryland, provided the student meets certain conditions relating to attendance and graduation from a Maryland high school, filing of income taxes, intent to apply for permanent residency, and registration with the selective service system (if required); makes such students eligible to pay in‐state tuition rates at a four‐year public college or university if the student has first completed 60 credit hours or graduated from a community college in Maryland; provides that students qualifying for in‐state tuition rates by this method will not be counted as in‐state students for purposes of counting undergraduate enrollment; and extends the time in which honorably discharged veterans may qualify for in‐state tuition rates.

Referendum Petition ‐ Congressional Districting Plan: (Question 5) Establishes the boundaries for the State’s eight United States Congressional PASSED Districts based on recent census figures, as required by the United States Constitution.

Referendum Petition ‐ Civil Marriage Protection Act: (Question 6) Establishes that Maryland’s civil marriage laws allow gay and lesbian couples PASSED to obtain a civil marriage license, provided they are not otherwise prohibited from marrying; protects clergy from having to perform any particular marriage ceremony in violation of their religious beliefs; affirms that each religious faith has exclusive control over its own theological doctrine regarding who may marry within that faith; and provides that religious organizations and certain related entities are not required to provide goods, services, or benefits to an individual related to the celebration or promotion of marriage in violation of their religious beliefs.

Referendum ‐ Gaming Expansion: (Question 7) Do you favor the expansion of commercial gaming in the State of Maryland for the primary PASSED purpose of raising revenue for education to authorize video lottery operation licensees to operate “table games” as defined by law; to increase from 15,000 to 16,500 the maximum number of video lottery terminals that may be operated in the State; and to increase from 5 to 6 the maximum number of video lottery operation licenses that may be awarded in the State and allow a video lottery facility to operate in Prince George’s County?

7