Maryland 2024 primary election voter guide: Everything you need to know
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2024 is shaping up to be a big year politically — especially in Maryland. In addition to the presidential contest, voters in Maryland’s May 14 primary will be asked to weigh in on a slew of statewide and local races, including a Senate race with a crowded field of contenders and a few jam-packed House contests.
Here’s everything you need to know about voting in Maryland’s primary.
Dates at a glance
- Deadline to apply for mail-in ballot: May 7 in most cases
- In-person early voting: Thursday, May 2 — Thursday, May 9. Locations open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Primary Election: Tuesday, May 14. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
What to know about early voting
Early voting for the primary election runs Thursday, May 2, through Thursday, May 9. Early voting locations will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
There will be 97 early voting centers across the state, including 14 locations in Montgomery County and 11 in Prince George’s County. You can find a list of early voting centers online.
You can register to vote and then vote during early voting. To do so, go to an early voting center in the county where you live and bring a document that proves where you live. This can a Maryland driver’s license, ID card, change of address card, paycheck, bank statement, utility bill or other government document with your name and current address.
More information on early voting can be found on the Maryland State Board of Elections website.
What do I need to know about registering to vote?
You can register to vote online.
You can also register to vote in person at your local board of elections, Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration offices and other state agencies.
You can also register to vote during early voting or on the day of the primary. You will need to go to an early voting center in the county where you live during early voting or your regular polling place on the day of the primary, and bring a document that proves where you live.
You will need to be registered with either the Republican or Democratic parties in order to vote in those primaries.
The last day to update your registration in advance of the primary is April 23.
How do I request a mail-in ballot?
You can request a mail-in ballot online.
You will need a Maryland driver’s license or ID card issued by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration.
Most people who sign up for a mail-in ballot have it mailed to them. You can then return your ballot with prepaid postage. However, you can also have a link emailed to you, which will allow you to print your ballot at home.
What’s the deadline to request a mail-in ballot
The deadline to request a mail-in ballot depends on if you want a ballot mailed to you or if you want to print out your ballot at home.
If you plan to receive your mail-in ballot by mail or fax:
- The deadline to request a mail-in ballot for the primary is Tuesday, May 7. If you apply online, you have until 11:59 p.m. If you are sending a request by mail, your application must be received by May 7.
If you plan to print your ballot from an email:
- The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is May 10. If you apply for this option, you have until 11:59 p.m.
Where do I return my mail-in ballot?
Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by or before 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14. If returned by hand, ballots must be dropped off at your local board of elections or dropped in a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on the night of the primary.
There are 286 ballot boxes located across Maryland. A list of ballot box locations is available online.
What’s on the ballot?
Voters in Maryland will be asked to weigh in on a slew of local races, and there are some extremely competitive contests.
Senate
The retirement of longtime Sen. Ben Cardin has touched off a competitive and crowded race to succeed him.
On the Democratic side, a total of 10 candidates are vying for the seat. Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Rep. David Trone are seen as the leading contenders.
Trone, the multimillionaire co-owner of Total & Wine who has held his congressional seat in the 6th District since 2019, has poured millions into his Senate campaign. Maryland Matters Executive Editor said Trone has spent between $45 million and $60 million of his own money on the race.
Alsobrooks, the two-term executive of Prince George’s County — Maryland’s second largest county — has won the endorsement of most major Democratic officeholders in the state, including Gov. Wes Moore, Rep. Steny Hoyer and others.
Alsobrooks would be only the third Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate if she were to win the general election.
Recent polls have indicated it’s a tight race amid questions about which candidate is best poised to take on former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan in the fall, and prevent Republicans from winning control of the Senate.
Full list of Democratic candidates
- Angela Alsobrooks
- Michael W. Cobb, Sr.
- Marcellus Crews
- Brian E. Frydenborg
- Scottie J. Griffin
- Robert K. Houton
- Joseph Perez
- Steven Henry Seuferer
- David J. Trone
- Andrew Jaye Wildman
On the Republican side, there are a total of five candidates, including Hogan, who jolted the race when he announced his candidacy earlier this year.
Hogan, who left the Maryland governor’s mansion in January 2023 with sky-high popularity ratings, was a popular GOP figure in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1.
However, he has been criticized by some in his own party for his anti-Trump stance.
Full list of Republican candidates:
- Moe H. Barakat
- Chris Chaffee
- Robin Ficker
- Lorie R. Friend
- Larry Hogan
- John A. Myrick
- Laban Y. Seyoum
U.S. House
District 6
There are primary contests for all eight U.S. House seats.
The most crowded is in the 6th District. Trone, who was reelected in 2022 by a comfortable margin, is giving up the seat to make his Senate run.
A contentious redistricting process has made it potentially more promising ground for Republicans.
Under the current borders, the district includes all of Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington counties, and a portion of Montgomery County.
On the Democratic side, there are a whopping 16 candidates running, including a number of state lawmakers.
April McClain Delaney, a former U.S. Commerce Department official — whose husband, John Delaney, held the seat before Trone — “is probably the nominal front-runner,” according to Kurtz, with Maryland Matters.
She has been endorsed by Rep. Jamie Raskin, who represents the 8th District.
But she is facing an aggressive challenge by State Del. Joe Vogel, 27, who would be one of the few members of Generation Z elected to Congress were he to win. Vogel also has support from unions and activist groups
Full list of Democratic candidates
- Peter Choharis
- George Gluck
- Geoffrey Grammer
- Ashwani Jain
- Lesley J. Lopez
- Tekesha A. Martinez
- April McClain Delaney
- Stephen R. McDow, II
- Mohammad S. Mozumder
- Adrian Petrus
- Joel Rubin
- Laurie-Anne Sayles
- Joe Vogel
- Destiny Drake West
- Kiambo “Bo” White
- Altimont Mark Wilks
On the Republican side, there are seven candidates, including former Del. Neil Parrott, who lost to Trone in 2022, and former Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Cox.
Full list of Republican candidates:
- Dan Cox
- Chris Hyser
- Neil C. Parrott
- Todd A. Puglisi
- Mariela Roca
- Tom Royals
- Brenda J. Thiam
Other House seats:
District 2
Maryland’s 2nd District includes parts of Carroll and Baltimore counties as well as part of Baltimore City.
Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger who has held the seat since 2003 but is retiring, touching off a race to succeed him.
Full list of Democratic candidates:
- Harry Bhandari
- Sia Kyriakakos
- John “Johnny O” Olszewski, Jr.
- Sharron Reed-Burns
- Jessica Sjoberg
- Clint Spellman, Jr.
Full list of Republican candidates:
- Kim Klacik
- John Thormann
- Dave Wallace
District 3
Maryland’s 3rd District includes all of Howard County and parts of Anne Arundel and Carroll counties. Rep. John Sarbanes, who has held the seat since 2007, is stepping down, kicking off another set of very crowded primaries.
Full list of Democratic candidates:
- Mark S. Chang
- Michael Coburn
- Malcolm Thomas Colombo
- Abigail Diehl
- Juan Dominguez
- Lindsay Donahue
- Harry Anthony Dunn
- Sarah Elfreth
- Mark Steven Gosnell
- Terri Hill
- Aisha Khan
- Clarence Lam
- Matt Libber
- Kristin Anne Lyman Nabors
- John H. Morse, III
- Jake Pretot
- Don Quinn
- Mike Rogers
- Danny Craig Rupli
- Gary Schuman
- Stewart Fred Silver
- Jeff Woodard
Full list of Republican candidates:
- Arthur Radford Baker, Jr.
- Ray Bly
- Berney Flowers
- Thomas E. “Pinkston” Harris
- Jordan Mayo
- Naveed Mian
- Joshua M. Morales
- John Rea
- Robert J. Steinberger
Presidential election
The May 14 primary includes both the Democratic and Republican contests. While other names may appear on the ballot — the race for president has narrowed to a two-person contest between Democratic President Joe Biden and former Republican President Donald Trump.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story misstated David Trone’s margin of victory over Neil Parrot in 2022. It was not a “razor-thin margin.” Trone won by more than 9.5%. This story has been corrected and updated.