Montgomery County reported a voter turnout of just 23% among eligible voters in the recent primary election held on June 23. This figure represents a slight decrease compared to the last two primary elections.
According to the county elections board, a total of 161,146 ballots were cast, with the turnout being 2 percentage points lower than in the 2024 primary and 4 percentage points lower than the 2022 primary. These trends are echoed statewide, where only 24% of eligible voters participated in the gubernatorial primary, down from 27% in 2022.
Several factors may have contributed to the low turnout, including adverse weather conditions, as rainstorms swept through the area on election day. Additionally, primaries typically see lower participation rates compared to presidential elections.
The close margins in some local races highlighted the significance of each vote. In the Democratic primary for District 3 County Council, Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman won against Rockville City Council member Izola Shaw by fewer than 400 votes. Similarly, in the at-large council race, school board member Karla Silvestre narrowly defeated immigration attorney Fatmata Barrie by just over 1,100 votes. However, no races were close enough to trigger a recount, as indicated by board President David Naimon.
In terms of endorsements, the Montgomery County Education Association’s “Apple Ballot” candidates performed well, with 80% of those endorsed winning their primaries. The endorsed candidates include Will Jawando for County Executive and several council members across various districts.
Conversely, only three candidates backed by the MCEA did not succeed in their primaries. The Apple Ballot remains a significant endorsement, according to MCEA Vice President Danillya Wilson, as it mobilizes support from educators and their networks.
Reported by HarborBeat based on The Baltimore Banner (source).
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