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by Judith Hruz
Editor
Unofficial election results showed few surprises in the major races in Montgomery County, with former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris winning three-quarters of the county vote, incumbent members of Congress easily earning enough votes for another seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, and incumbent school board members and sitting Circuit Court judges receiving enough votes to retain their seats.
The results were not official as of press time.
All phases of the election in Montgomery County — early voting, mail-in or drop-off of those mail-in ballots, and Election Day voting — went well.
“Everything went smoothly,” said Dr. Gilberto Zelaya of the Montgomery County Board of Elections.
At the 39 polling places in the county, voters sometimes stood in long lines and sometimes went right in and voted.
People standing in line said they were not daunted by having to wait.
In Montgomery County as of press time late Nov. 5, 265,188 votes, or 76.6 percent of the votes, went to Biden and Harris, and 72,888 votes, or 21.1 percent, went to Donald Trump and Mike Pence
The state’s 10 electoral votes went to the Biden-Harris ticket. Maryland has note voted for a Republican candidate since 1988 when it chose Republican George H.W. Bush over Democrat Michael Dukakis.
With 100 percent of results reported, U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes, a Democrat, received 75 percent of the votes – 11,068 during early voting, 2,555 on Election Day and 14,710 by mail – to be re-elected to his District 3 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Republican challenger Charles Anthony received 24.8 percent of the Montgomery County vote – 5,821 during early voting, 20 on Election Day and 1,870 by mail.
In District 6, U.S. Rep. David J. Trone was re-elected with 70.5 percent – 28,819 during early voting, 8,791 on Election Day and 48,356 by mail.
Republican challenge Neil C. Parrott, received 27.4 percent of the vote – 18,408 during early voting, 7,667 on Election Day and 7,310 by mail.
Green Party candidate George Gluck received 2 percent of the vote – 896 during early voting, 492 on Election Day and 999 by mail.
In District 8, incumbent U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin received 79.8 percent of the vote – 41,258 during early voting, 9,794 on Election Day and 91,202 by mail.
Republican challenger Gregory Thomas Coll received 20 percent of the vote – 18,570 during early voting, 7,668 on Election Day and 9,378 by mail.
In the race for judge of the Circuit Court, the four sitting judges received the most votes at press time, with Judge Bibi M. Berry getting 22.8 percent, Judge David A. Boynton getting 21.1 percent, Judge Michael Joseph McAuliffe getting 20.9 percent and Judge Christopher C. Fogleman with 20.2 percent.
Challenger Marylin Pierre received 14.5 percent.
Voters were asked to choose up to four candidates.
In the Montgomery County Board of Education at-large race, Lynne Harris received 53.5 percent and Sunil Dasgupta received 45.3 percent. Dasgupta conceded the contest early Nov. 4.
In Board of Education District 2, incumbent Rebecca Smondrowski received 59.4 percent and challenger Michael Fryar received 39.8 percent.
In Board of Education District 4, incumbent Shebra Evans received 64.6 percent and challenger Steve Solomon received 34.7 percent.
Ballot questions
In Montgomery County Question A, which would limit tax-rate increases: 178,698 voters cast ballots for, while 107,582 voted against.
In Montgomery County Question B, which would prohibit an override of property-tax limit, 166,169 voted against, while 118,543 voted for.
In Montgomery County Question C, which would increase the County Council to 11 seats (seven districts and four at-large), 175,548 voted for, and 109,838 voted against.
In Montgomery County Question D, which would change the County Council to nine district seats (no at-large seats), 165,843 voted against, and 118,026 voted for.