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7 senators get free rides back to State House; at least 11 judges too

Maryland Reporter
MarylandReporter.comAs many a state senator faces a tough primary race or general election, seven of the senators are getting free rides back to the State House with no candidates filed against them in either the primary or the general election by Tuesday’s filing deadline. The Democratic and Republican parties have just a few days to name an opponent, if they can find one.

The senators with a free ride — or almost a free ride, with just opposition from an independent candidate — are

  • George Edwards, R-Garrett-Allegany-Washington, District 1 (he had a free ride in 2014 too);
  • Andrew Serafini, R-Washington, appointed to the District 2 seat;
  • Guy Guzzone, D-Howard, District 13;
  • Cheryl Kagan, D-Montgomery, District 17;
  • Will Smith, D-Montgomery, District 20, with only an independent candidate pending signatures on a petition;
  • Paul Pinsky, D-Prince George’s, District 21;
  • Wayne Norman, R-Harford-Cecil, District 35

The five sitting judges in Baltimore City and six sitting judges in Prince George’s County also attracted no challengers, whereas the one judge recently appointed in Anne Arundel County, Mark Crooks, has six challengers filed against him.

Dels. Neil Parrot and William Wivell in Washington County’s District 2A also have no challengers in the primary or general election.