Dems Gain in County Councils

Maryland has far fewer local jurisdictions than most states. All counties have either a county council or a county commission, though the autonomy and powers obtained vary across the state according to the type of local government. Six counties elect a county executive, effectively the mayor of the county. Baltimore City elects a mayor in addition to its fifteen-member city council. All of the counties, but not Baltimore City, held local elections this year. All seats on the county councils and commissions were up for grabs except in Cecil County, which elected three of its five-member commissioners this year.

Before the election, Democrats held 78, or 57%, of the 138 seats available on the various county councils and county commissions as well as the Baltimore City Council. Democrats gained a net of ten seats in the election, so the share of seats held by Democrats rose to 88, or 64%. Of course, gains and losses by Democrats varied around the state. While Democrats gained control of four new local councils (Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, and St. Mary's), they lost control of two others (Allegheny and Wicomico).

Details of shifts in each county on Maryland Politics Watch.