Party Control in Maryland’s Counties

The 2018 LWVMD study found that in several Maryland counties, one-party dominance can exclude voters from meaningful electoral participation. This reality emphasizes the need for more inclusive systems.

Party Control of Maryland County Government

From study by League of Women Voters of Maryland - page 7

In many Maryland counties, the strength of one party may be so great as to exclude many voters from effective participation in local elections. A review of the party affiliation of 2017 local government officials in the Maryland Manual (such as County Executive, Council or Commissioner, Sheriff, and others) shows that a single party holds all or most of the offices in many Maryland counties.

Exclusively Republican (6)

Allegany, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Garrett, HarfordExclusively

Democratic (4)

Baltimore City, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George’sHeavily

Republican (8) Anne Arundel, Calvert, Frederick, Queen Anne’s, Saint Mary’s, Talbot, Washington, WorcesterHeavily

Democratic (3) Baltimore County, Dorchester, HowardEvenly

Divided (3) Kent, Somerset, Wicomico

In counties where one party is strongly dominant, the winner of the closed primary usually goes on to win the general election, which means that the candidate is essentially selected in the primary election. In these counties, the only way that voters can participate in the primary election and have a voice in local government is to choose to affiliate with the dominant party, even if their views do not align with that party or if they would prefer not to affiliate with any party.