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AP News Guide: Election Day 2020 in Maryland

Brian Witte | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years AGO
by Brian Witte
| November 3, 2020 5:27 AM

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — While more than half of Maryland’s registered voters had already mailed in their ballots amid the coronavirus pandemic or voted in person at early voting centers ahead of Election Day, more than 475,000 Marylanders voted on Tuesday.

Here’s a look at what happened in Maryland on Election Day:

PRESIDENTIAL RACE

Democrat Joe Biden defeated Republican President Donald Trump to win Maryland’s 10 electoral votes in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-to-1. Trump has been unpopular in Maryland, where even Republican Gov. Larry Hogan has distanced himself from the president. In 2016, Trump received 34% of the vote in Maryland. A Republican presidential candidate hasn’t won Maryland in 32 years. George H.W. Bush was the last to do so in 1988. Trump made national headlines last year when he described a Maryland district that includes a large portion of Baltimore as a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess.”

CONGRESS

All eight of Maryland's U.S. House incumbents won reelection. Rep. Kweisi Mfume, a Democrat, defeated Republican Kimberly Klacik to win a full term after winning an April special election to fill a vacancy created by the death of Elijah Cummings last year. The district includes an area of Baltimore and parts of two nearby counties. Maryland’s lone Republican Rep. Andy Harris fended off Democratic challenger Mia Mason in a district that includes all of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. And Democrat David Trone defeated Republican Neil Parrott, a state legislator, in the district that stretches from Montgomery County through western Maryland. Rep. Steny Hoyer, who is the House majority leader, also won reelection.

SPORTS BETTING

Voters approved legalizing sports betting in Maryland. Details on where sports wagering will be allowed and whether to allow it online will be decided later by state lawmakers. Legislation approved by the General Assembly to put sports betting on the ballot requires that the state would spend its proceeds primarily on education.

BUDGET POWERS

Voters approved a constitutional amendment to give the Maryland General Assembly more power over the state’s budget process. It will allow the legislature to increase, decrease or add items to the budget, as long as the changes don’t exceed the total proposed by the governor. For more than 100 years, when Maryland’s governor has submitted the state budget to the General Assembly each January, lawmakers have only been able to cut from the proposal.

SAME-DAY REGISTRATION

It was the first time Maryland had same-day voter registration on the day of the general election, since a constitutional amendment was approved in 2018 allowing it.

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