Malcolm Ruff and Bill Ferguson cruise to victory in Baltimore’s most contested races
Most city incumbents come through unscathed in the Democratic primary
Above: Delegate Malcolm Ruff (left) and State Senator Bill Ferguson were victors in two key Democratic primaries.
In the most closely watched Democratic Party races in Baltimore, Malcolm P. Ruff defeated incumbent Senator Dalya Attar in the 41st District, and Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson beat back populist challenger Bobby Lapin in the 46th.
With 57 of 58 election day precincts reporting, Ruff won 61% of the vote to Attar’s 39%. Initially considered the underdog, Ruff surged in recent weeks, backed by endorsements from Maryland Governor Wes Moore and other top Democrats, while Attar was plagued by controversy over her pending federal criminal charges.
Ferguson prevailed over social media personality and boat captain LaPin, with a final election day vote count of 56.6% to 43.4%
Ferguson’s campaign was bolstered by more than $700,000 in outside PAC money, much of it coming from iGaming and other online gambling interests, which translated into a blizzard of local TV ads and glossy mailers. Ferguson has not taken a clear stand on online casino gambling in Maryland, though bills to legalize it have stalled in the Senate. As Senate president, his support would be crucial to any changes in gaming laws.
Because Baltimore is overwhelmingly “blue,” the winners of the Democratic primary are automatically lined up to win the general election in November.
Senate President Bill Ferguson dodges raindrops while pitching voters today outside Arundel Elementary School in the Cherry Hill neighborhood. BELOW: Bobby LaPin speaks outside another Cherry Hill polling place. (Fern Shen)
Cogen Defeated
A major upset came in the Baltimore City Sheriff’s contest.
Sabrina Tapp-Harper, a former sheriff commander, defeated incumbent Sheriff Sam Cogen in a match-up animated by dueling endorsements by prominent players.
State’s Attorney Ivan Bates (who faced no challengers in the Democratic primary) backed Cogen, while Mayor Brandon Scott (a sometimes Bates rival) jumped into the race and endorsed challenger Tapp-Harper.
Bates wasn’t the only big name behind Cogen – he also had Gov. Wes Moore, Attorney General Anthony Brown and Congressman Kweisi Mfume on his side. But backed by city law enforcement unions as well as the mayor, Tapp-Hunter led Cogen 55.5% to 44.4% with 291 of 295 precincts reporting.
Another surprise was the defeat of five-term state Delegate Frank M. Conaway Jr. in West Baltimore’s 40th District.
Dogged by negative advertising from American Future, a Dallas-based PAC bankrolled by DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics, he came in fourth after Tiffany Welch, Marlon D. Amprey and Melissa Wells. In the senate race, incumbent Antonio Hayes easily defeated Steven Messner, a staff attorney at Maryland Volunteer Lawyers.
Upset winner in the race for Baltimore Sheriff, Sabrina Tapp-Harper at a campaign event earlier this month. (Fern Shen)
Other Races
In northwest’s 41st District, incumbent delegates Sandy Rosenberg and Sean A. Stinnett retained their seats. A third seat was filled by Ryan Turner, who ran on an environmental and workers’ rights platform.
In northeast’s 45th District, incumbent Senator Cory V. McCray ran unopposed. With 64 of 65 precincts reporting, incumbent Delegate Jackie Addison was the top vote-getter, followed Caylin A. Young, another incumbent, and Chanel A. Branch, who served as a delegate between 2020 and 2023.
In the southeast’s 46th District, all three Democrat incumbents – Luke Clippinger, Mark Edelson and Robbyn Lewis – ran without opposition.
The same was true in north Baltimore’s District 43A, where longtime state Senator Mary Washington was unchallenged, along with incumbent delegates Regina T. Boyce and Elizabeth Embry.
In statewide races, Governor Wes Moore and Lt. Governor Aruna Miller coasted to victory in the Democratic primary, as did Comptroller Brooke Lierman and Attorney General Anthony G. Brown.
Moore will face Dan Cox, who defeated businessman Ed Hale in the Republican primary. Moore and Cox vied for the governorship in 2022, with Moore winning by a landslide.
The two Democratic congressmen representing Baltimore – Johnny Olszewski and Kweisi Mfume – also won the primary. The 77-year-old Mfume faced a spirited challenge from City Councilman Mark Conway, who garnered 26% of the vote compared to Mfume’s 68%.
In the city School Board race, the top vote-getters for two at-large seats were Ashley “Ash” Esposito and Domonique A. Flowers.