Maryland governor pushes April 28 primary back to June 2
Brian Witte | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 8 months AGO
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announces the postponement of the state's April 28 primary to June 2 during a news conference on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 in Annapolis, Md. Hogan said a special general election for the congressional seat left vacant by the death of Elijah Cummings in October will proceed on April 28 in a vote-by-mail election. Deputy Health Secretary Fran Phillips is standing left. Dennis Schrader, the chief operating officer and Medicaid director for the state's health department is standing right. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
Anne Arundel County, Md. residents receive free breakfast, lunch and dinner, at a mobil stop in Annapolis, Monday, March 16, 2020. Anne Arundel County is providing free meals for students while schools are closed for two weeks due to coronavirus concerns. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan closed all public schools in the state from March 16 to March 27. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Clay Colehouse of Crownsville, Md., second from left, gives the dog Marty a treat as he and his friends, from left, Erin Carroll of Severna Park, Md., Jessica Goblin of Severna Park, Md., Travis Victorio of Millersville, Md., and Mary Fitzell of Millersville, Md., have lunch during a visit to Annapolis, Monday, March 16, 2020. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan ordered the closure of bars, restaurants, gyms and movie theaters across the state in response to coronavirus beginning at 5 p.m. Monday. Drive-thru, carryout and delivery service will still be allowed. The friends gathered for lunch because th…
A downtown Bethesda, Md. restaurant is closed as Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's executive order takes effect, closing bars, restaurants, gyms and movie theaters across the state in response to coronavirus, Monday, March 16, 2020. Hogan's executive order took effect Monday at 5 p.m. Drive-thru, carryout and delivery service will still be allowed. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — As the coronavirus spreads worldwide, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan postponed the state's April 28 primary to June 2 on Tuesday, but said the state is moving forward with a vote-by-mail special general election April 28 to fill the congressional seat left vacant by the death of Elijah Cummings.
Maryland is the latest state to postpone primary elections amid the global pandemic, following Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana and Ohio.
The Republican governor said his two main priorities are keeping Marylanders safe and protecting their constitutional right to vote. Hogan said Maryland has confirmed 57 cases of the coronavirus, a 54% increase from the day before.
“It would endanger public health to allow thousands of people to assembly in places like schools and senior centers which are already closed under the state of emergency, and it would put Marylanders at risk, especially the poll workers and election judges, most of whom are retirees and in the most vulnerable population,” Hogan said at a news conference.
Meanwhile, Hogan also announced other actions. He said the state is ceasing vehicle emission inspection programs and preparing them to become drive-thru virus testing centers across the state.
For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. Most people recover, but some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, can suffer severe illness, including pneumonia, which can lead to death.
The congressional district Cummings represented includes a significant portion of Baltimore as well as Baltimore and Howard counties. He died in October. In February, Democrat Kweisi Mfume and Republican Kimberly Klacik won special primary elections.
Hogan said a mail-in vote for the entire state could not be done, “but we didn't want to have people without representation for that long in that district.”
“We're going to encourage people to vote absentee as much as possible,” Hogan said.
Any voter in Maryland can cast their ballot by mail.
Hogan made the announcements at a news conference at the governor's residence. Blocks away, the U.S. Naval Academy was scheduled to close to the general public at 5 p.m. Tuesday as a precaution. No cases of the cornonavirus have been reported at the school, the academy said.
Hogan also announced reductions in service for MARC trains, local buses and light rail service.
The governor also noted discussions to postpone the Preakness Stakes horse race, the second leg of the Triple Crown, to sometime in September, after the announcement that the Kentucky Derby has been postponed to Labor Day weekend.
Hogan said he has sent a letter to President Donald Trump to request extending the deadline for federal Real ID compliance.
___
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
___
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.