2018 United States Senate election in Maryland

The 2018 United States Senate election in Maryland took place on November 6, 2018, in order to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Maryland. It was held concurrently with other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Ben Cardin was re-elected to a third and ultimately final term by a landslide margin of almost 35 points, the largest margin in any election for this seat since Maryland began holding direct elections for Senate in 1913.

2018 United States Senate election in Maryland

← 2012 November 6, 2018 2024 →
Turnout58.17% Decrease 10.03 pp
 
Nominee Ben Cardin Tony Campbell
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,491,614 697,017
Percentage 64.86% 30.31%

Cardin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Campbell:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%      No data

U.S. senator before election

Ben Cardin
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Ben Cardin
Democratic

The primary election for the Senate race was held on June 26, 2018.[1] The incumbent, Ben Cardin, won the Democratic Party primary. In the general election, Cardin was reelected to a third term.[2] Tony Campbell, a professor of political science at Towson University and former Army Chaplain, won the Republican Party primary. If elected, Campbell would have become Maryland's first African-American U.S. Senator.[3][4] Businessman Neal Simon ran as an independent and Arvin Vohra was the Libertarian Party nominee in the general election. There were also several official write-in candidates. With Republican governor Larry Logan winning re-election in the same year, this was the first election since 1974 in which Maryland simultaneously voted for a gubernatorial nominee and a U.S. Senate nominee of opposite parties.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Declared

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Declined

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Endorsements

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Chelsea Manning

Individuals

Polling

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Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Ben
Cardin
Chelsea
Manning
Other Undecided
Goucher College[22] February 12–18, 2018 409 ± 4.8% 61% 17% 3% 19%

Results

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Results by county:
Cardin
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
Democratic primary results[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ben Cardin (incumbent) 447,441 79.24%
Democratic Chelsea Manning 34,611 6.13%
Democratic Jerome Segal 20,027 3.55%
Democratic Debbie Wilson 18,953 3.36%
Democratic Marcia H. Morgan 16,047 2.84%
Democratic Lih Young 9,874 1.75%
Democratic Richard Vaughn 9,480 1.68%
Democratic Erik Jetmir 8,259 1.46%
Total votes 564,692 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Declared

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  • Tony Campbell,[5] of Baltimore County,[9] political science faculty member at Towson University[24]
  • Chris Chaffee,[5] candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2016[25]
  • Evan M. Cronhardt,[5] of Anne Arundel County
  • Nnabu Eze,[5] of Baltimore County,[9] Green nominee for MD-03 in 2016[26]
  • John Graziani, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2016 and candidate for MD-04 in 2014[5]
  • Christina J. Grigorian, attorney[5]
  • Albert Howard[5]
  • Bill Krehnbrink, perennial candidate[5]
  • Gerald I. Smith, Jr., conspiracy theorist,[5] of Cecil County[9]
  • Blaine Taylor, perennial candidate,[5] of Baltimore County[9]
  • Brian Charles Vaeth, perennial candidate[5]

Withdrew

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Declined

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Endorsements

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Tony Campbell

State legislators[29]

Individuals

Sam Faddis (withdrew)

State Senators

Individuals

Results

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Results by county:
Campbell
  •   <40%
Chaffee
  •   <40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
Republican primary results[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tony Campbell 51,426 29.22%
Republican Chris Chaffee 42,328 24.05%
Republican Christina J. Grigorian 30,786 17.49%
Republican John Graziani 15,435 8.77%
Republican Blaine Taylor 8,848 5.03%
Republican Gerald I. Smith, Jr. 7,564 4.30%
Republican Brian Vaeth 5,411 3.08%
Republican Evan M. Cronhardt 4,445 2.53%
Republican Bill Krehnbrink 3,606 2.05%
Republican Nnabu Eze 3,442 1.96%
Republican Albert Howard 2,720 1.55%
Total votes 175,981 100.00%

Libertarian Party

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Candidates

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Declared

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Independents

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Candidates

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Declared

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  • Michael B Puskar, property manager
  • Edward Shlikas, home care compliance manager[35]
  • Neal Simon, businessman[36][37]

General election

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Candidates

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Endorsements

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Tony Campbell (R)

U.S. Executive Branch officials

State Senators[29]

State Delegates

Individuals

Organizations

Neal Simon (I)

Organizations

Individuals

Debates

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On October 7, 2018, Cardin, independent candidate Neal Simon, and Republican candidate Tony Campbell participated in the sole televised debate of the campaign.[49][50][51]

Predictions

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Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[52] Safe D October 26, 2018
Inside Elections[53] Safe D November 1, 2018
Sabato's Crystal Ball[54] Safe D November 5, 2018
Fox News[55] Likely D July 9, 2018
CNN[56] Safe D July 12, 2018
RealClearPolitics[57] Safe D June 2018

Polling

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Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Ben
Cardin (D)
Tony
Campbell (R)
Neal
Simon (I)
Other Undecided
Gonzales Research (I-Simon)[58] October 1–6, 2018 806 ± 3.5% 49% 22% 18% 11%
Goucher College[59] September 11–16, 2018 472 ± 4.5% 56% 17% 8% 1%[60] 14%

Results

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2018 United States Senate election in Maryland[61]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ben Cardin (incumbent) 1,491,614 64.86% +8.88%
Republican Tony Campbell 697,017 30.31% +3.98%
Independent Neal Simon 85,964 3.74% N/A
Libertarian Arvin Vohra 22,943 1.00% −0.22%
Write-in 2,351 0.10% N/A
Total votes 2,299,889 100.00% N/A
Democratic hold

By county

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County Ben Cardin

Democratic

Tony Campbell

Republican

Neal Simon

Independent

Arvin Vohra

Libertarian

Write-ins

Independent

Margin Total

Votes

Cast

# % # % # % # % # % # %
Allegany 8597 36.82% 13790 59.06% 746 3.19% 196 0.84% 20 0.09% -5193 -22.24% 23349
Anne Arundel 122910 53.74% 92401 40.40% 10528 4.60% 2674 1.17% 190 0.08% 30509 13.34% 228703
Baltimore (City) 160370 86.95% 16184 8.77% 5596 3.03% 1917 1.04% 375 0.20% 144186 78.17% 184442
Baltimore (County) 197530 60.85% 106275 32.74% 17192 5.30% 3313 1.02% 290 0.09% 91255 28.11% 324600
Calvert 17372 44.51% 19901 50.99% 1273 3.26% 458 1.17% 27 0.07% -2529 -6.48% 39031
Caroline 4265 37.73% 6474 57.27% 451 3.99% 105 0.93% 9 0.08% -2209 -19.54% 11304
Carroll 25986 34.89% 42479 57.03% 5020 6.74% 966 1.30% 38 0.05% -16493 -22.14% 74489
Cecil 13237 38.05% 19851 57.06% 1267 3.64% 412 1.18% 24 0.07% -6614 -19.01% 34791
Charles 44874 69.54% 17872 27.69% 1284 1.99% 462 0.72% 41 0.06% 27002 41.84% 64533
Dorchester 5928 48.23% 5864 47.71% 397 3.23% 95 0.77% 8 0.07% 64 0.52% 12292
Frederick 55256 51.67% 47038 43.99% 3242 3.03% 1292 1.21% 105 0.10% 8218 7.69% 106933
Garrett 2817 25.75% 7801 71.31% 216 1.97% 98 0.90% 7 0.06% -4984 -45.56% 10939
Harford 45921 41.63% 56749 51.45% 6185 5.61% 1352 1.23% 100 0.09% -10828 -9.82% 110307
Howard 96067 66.97% 38797 27.05% 6621 4.62% 1819 1.27% 144 0.10% 57270 39.92% 143448
Kent 4588 53.49% 3490 40.69% 411 4.79% 86 1.00% 3 0.03% 1098 12.80% 8578
Montgomery 314568 77.29% 74924 18.41% 13333 3.28% 3655 0.90% 517 0.13% 239644 58.88% 406997
Prince George's 286975 90.10% 24140 7.58% 5031 1.58% 2031 0.64% 346 0.11% 262835 82.52% 318523
Queen Anne's 8463 37.21% 12813 56.34% 1230 5.41% 232 1.02% 6 0.03% -4350 -19.13% 22744
St. Mary's 16849 41.93% 21393 53.24% 1361 3.39% 559 1.39% 18 0.04% -4544 -11.31% 40180
Somerset 3652 47.09% 3882 50.06% 172 2.22% 45 0.58% 4 0.05% -230 -2.97% 7755
Talbot 9054 50.12% 8050 44.56% 796 4.41% 154 0.85% 12 0.07% 1004 5.56% 18066
Washington 19956 39.59% 28319 56.18% 1598 3.17% 507 1.01% 26 0.05% -8363 -16.59% 50406
Wicomico 16539 49.09% 15644 46.43% 1133 3.36% 351 1.04% 24 0.07% 895 2.66% 33691
Worcester 9840 41.37% 12886 54.17% 881 3.70% 164 0.69% 17 0.07% -3046 -12.80% 23788
Total 1491614 64.86% 697017 30.31% 85964 3.74% 22943 1.00% 2351 0.10% 794597 34.55% 2299889

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

[62][63]

By congressional district

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Cardin won 7 of 8 congressional districts.[64]

District Cardin Campbell Elected
Representative
1st 40% 54% Andy Harris
2nd 65% 30% Dutch Ruppersberger
3rd 67% 27% John Sarbanes
4th 79% 18% Anthony Brown
5th 68% 29% Steny Hoyer
6th 60% 35% David Trone
7th 75% 20% Elijah Cummings
8th 67% 28% Jamie Raskin

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "United States Senate election in Maryland, 2018". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  2. ^ "Maryland Primary Election Results". The New York Times. June 28, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  3. ^ Dresser, Michael (October 7, 2018). "U.S. Senate challengers fault Cardin in debate for not solving problems". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on October 12, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  4. ^ Hall, Tom; Sivak, Rob (October 15, 2018). "Tony Campbell: Republican for US Senate". WYPR. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "2018 Candidate Listing". 2018 Gubernatorial Election. Maryland Board of Elections. June 15, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Candidates (criteria: 2018+Senate+Maryland)". Campaign finance data. Federal Election Commission. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  7. ^ Jouvenal, Justin; Portnoy, Jenna (January 13, 2018). "Chelsea Manning files to run for U.S. Senate in Maryland". The Washington Post. Katherine Shaver contributed. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  8. ^ "Chelsea Manning officially files for US Senate race". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. January 18, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Divilio, Daniel (February 22, 2018). "Candidate filing last call Feb. 27 (Pt. 2: Filing)". Kent County News. Chestertown, Maryland. p. A15. Retrieved June 27, 2018 – via Newspapers.com (Publisher Extra).
  10. ^ a b "Somebody's already using the 'E' word". Community. The Enterprise. St. Mary's County, Maryland. June 28, 2017. p. A8. Retrieved June 27, 2018 – via Newspapers.com (Publisher Extra).
  11. ^ Delaney, John (July 28, 2017). "John Delaney: Why I'm Running for President". The Washington Post.
  12. ^ Siegel, Rachel; Wiggins, Ovetta (October 5, 2017). "Former Maryland congresswoman Donna Edwards to run for county executive". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  13. ^ a b c Shurberg, Jonathan (June 7, 2016). "2018: Whither Ben Cardin?". Maryland Scramble.
  14. ^ a b "AFSCME Maryland Council 3 2018 Primary Guide". June 8, 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Afro 2018 endorsement guide". June 6, 2018.
  16. ^ a b "LCV Action Fund Endorses Ben Cardin for Reelection". League of Conservation Voters. May 30, 2018.
  17. ^ "NRDC Action Fund announces first wave of 2018 Senate endorsements". www.nrdcactionfund.org. January 5, 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Sierra Club #ClimateVoter Guide: Endorsements". March 19, 2021.
  19. ^ ContraPointsLive (March 24, 2018). "Discussion with Chelsea Manning" – via YouTube.
  20. ^ The Jimmy Dore Show (January 15, 2018). "Chelsea Manning Announces Senate Run – Democrats Smear Her" – via YouTube.
  21. ^ "Linda Sarsour endorses Chelsea Manning for U.S. Senate". The Washington Times. January 16, 2018.
  22. ^ Goucher College
  23. ^ a b "2018 Maryland primary election results". Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  24. ^ "Faculty" (PDF). Faculty Resources. Towson University. October 31, 2016. Political Science. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  25. ^ "2016 Candidate Listing". Maryland State Board of Elections. April 26, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  26. ^ "2016 Candidate Listing". Maryland State Board of Elections. April 26, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  27. ^ Murphy, Jack (May 31, 2017). "Former CIA Officer Sam Faddis running for Senate in Maryland". SOFREP. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  28. ^ Fritze, John (July 14, 2017). "Ben Cardin raises nearly $1M for 2018 reelection". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  29. ^ a b "Twenty One State Senators and Delegates". Campbell 4 Maryland. June 13, 2018. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  30. ^ a b "Ellen Sauerbrey Endorsement". Campbell 4 Maryland. May 16, 2018. Archived from the original on May 30, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  31. ^ a b "Campbell4Maryland". www.facebook.com.
  32. ^ a b "Former RNC Chairman and Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele Endorses Tony Campbell". Campbell 4 Maryland. June 13, 2018. Archived from the original on June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  33. ^ a b c "I Stand With Sam". Sam Faddis For US Senate. Archived from the original on September 25, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  34. ^ Pyeatt, Jill (July 4, 2017). "Arvin Vohra, Vice Chairman of Libertarian Party, Announces Run for U S Senate". Independent Political Report. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  35. ^ "Shlikas will fix it!". Shlikas for Senate. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  36. ^ "Sen. Ben Cardin may get independent challenger backed by Centrist Project". December 6, 2017.
  37. ^ Fritze, John (February 6, 2018). "An independent candidate for Senate in Maryland says 'it's about change,' as the incumbent files for re-election". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  38. ^ NCPSSM. "Candidates We Endorse and Support".
  39. ^ "Federal Endorsements by the NOW PAC | National Organization for Women Political Action Committees". nowpac.org. August 23, 2017. Archived from the original on April 26, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  40. ^ Campbell4Maryland. "Tony Campbell has obtained the enthusiastic support of Dr. Ben Carson!". www.facebook.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  41. ^ "Your Freedom is Under Attack! Vote On or Before November 6th!". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023. The NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) has endorsed Tony Campbell for U.S. Senate in Maryland. Tony is committed to protecting our right to self-defense!
  42. ^ "NRA-PVF". Campbell 4 Maryland. June 13, 2018. Archived from the original on June 29, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  43. ^ "Campbell4Maryland". www.facebook.com.
  44. ^ a b "Campbell Releases New Endorsements". Red Maryland. September 27, 2018.
  45. ^ "FRC Action PAC Announces Endorsement of Dr. Tony Campbell for U.S. Senate". FRC Action. September 18, 2018.
  46. ^ Dovere, Edward-Isaac (February 27, 2018). "Statewide independents roll out national slate".
  47. ^ Barker, Jeff (November 4, 2018). "Independent U.S. Senate candidate for Maryland Neal Simon says Gov. Larry Hogan voted for him". Baltimore Sun. Baltimore Sun. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  48. ^ The Fray’s Isaac Slade plays first solo show at rally for Md. Senate candidate Neal Simon – The Washington Post
  49. ^ "Cardin defends record in first Maryland debate for U.S. Senate". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  50. ^ Dresser, Michael. "U.S. Senate challengers fault Cardin in debate for not solving problems". baltimoresun.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  51. ^ "Maryland Senate Debate, Oct 7 2018 - Video - C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org.
  52. ^ "2018 Senate Race Ratings for October 26, 2018". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  53. ^ "2018 Senate Ratings". The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  54. ^ "2018 Crystal Ball Senate race ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  55. ^ "2018 Senate Power Rankings". Fox News. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  56. ^ "Key Races: Senate". Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  57. ^ "Battle for the Senate 2018". Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  58. ^ Gonzales Research (I-Simon)
  59. ^ Goucher College
  60. ^ Arvin Vohra (L) with 1%
  61. ^ "2018 Election Results". elections.maryland.gov.
  62. ^ "2018 Senatorial General Election Results - Maryland". Dave Leip's election atlas.
  63. ^ "2012 General Election Results - Maryland". Dave Leip's election atlas.
  64. ^ "DRA 2020". Daves Redistricting. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
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Official campaign websites