Early returns showed Republican Robert L. Ehrlich with a commanding lead in the governor's race in Baltimore County, but it was unclear whether his performance would translate into gains for his party in legislative races.
Republican Sen. Andrew P. Harris, who found himself in an almost completely unfamiliar district thanks to last-minute redrawing of lines by the Maryland Court of Appeals, was ahead of challenger Del. Diane DeCarlo in the 7th District, which includes Cockeysville, Middle River and parts of Harford County.
In the Towson-based 42nd District, which had no incumbent senator, Democrat James Brochin, who spent nearly three years knocking on doors, held a slim lead over Republican Del. Martha S. Klima.
Emphasizing their ties to Ehrlich and preaching a message of fiscal conservatism, the three delegate candidates on Klima's ticket were leading in the 42nd District. Susan L.M. Aumann, 42, an accountant from Timonium; William J. Frank, 42, the development director for a private school from Lutherville; and John G. Trueschler, 45, an attorney and landscape architect from Timonium, all appeared headed for victory last night.
Del. James W. Campbell, 54, a Democrat who moved from Baltimore to Ruxton to stay in the 42nd District, was headed for defeat for the first time in 20 years. Democrats Stephen W. Lafferty, 53, of Stoneleigh, who works in community revitalization for the state, and Matthew Joseph, 36, of Towson, who is on leave from his lobbying job with Advocates for Children and Youth, also trailed last night, as did Green Party candidate Rick Kunkel, 44, a social worker from Rodgers Forge.
In the 7th District, Del. Nancy M. Hubers, 71, a Bowleys Quarters Democrat, was losing her bid for re-election. Republicans were in the lead for all three seats. They include Pat McDonough, 59, a radio talk-show host and president of a non-profit youth organization, J.B. Jennings, 28, a feed store owner and former Ehrlich aide, and Rick Impallaria, 39, an Essex resident.
Democrats Randy Cogar, 56, a Middle River printing shop owner, and Donna M. Felling, 52, a Glen Arm nurse, trailed last night in the 7th District race, as did Libertarian Michael F. Linder, 41, of Abingdon.
In Dundalk, a community that rebelled against the Democratic redistricting plan that would have split their community among three legislative districts, Democrats appeared likely to sweep the legislative elections.
Sen. Norman R. Stone Jr. was unopposed for re-election in the 6th District, and Dels. John S. Arnick, 68, and Joseph J. "Sonny" Minnick, 69, both were headed for re-election. Michael H. Weir Jr., 54, of Essex, whose father served in the legislature from the area for 28 years, also appeared to be winning. All four are Democrats.
Republicans Paul M. Blitz, 39, a private school teacher and Army reservist; Jane Brooks, 51, a former Ehrlich aide and accounting clerk, and Bruce Liang, 48, a restaurant owner from Rocky Point, all trailed last night in the 6th District race.
In the 8th District, which includes Parkville, White Marsh and Perry Hall, Del. Katherine A. Klausmeier, a Democrat, appeared to handily defeat Republican John Cluster Jr. of Parkville for the seat vacated by Thomas L. Bromwell.
Two Republicans led early in the race for the three delegate seats in the district: Del. Alfred W. Redmer Jr., 46, of Perry Hall, who was seeking re-election, and his ticket-mate, Joseph C. Boteler III, 53, a printing company owner from Carney. Bromwell's son, Democrat Eric Bromwell, 25, a government relations coordinator for Comcast Corp., also was leading.
Democrats Tim Caslin, 51, a retired police officer from Carney, Todd L. Schuler, 25, a law clerk, and Republican Mike Rupp, 40, a county firefighter and former Carney Improvement Association president, all trailed last night.
In District 12, early returns showed Democrats leading. Sen. Edward J. Kasemeyer, 57, was ahead of Republican challenger Mike Sneeringer Sr., 67. Del. James E. Malone Jr., 45, and Steven J. DeBoy Sr., 46, a retired county police officer from Halethorpe, were leading Republicans Joe Hooe, 34, a businessman from Lansdowne, and Harry Korrell, 65, a former Naval officer from Catonsville.
Other races in the county offered few surprises.
In District 5B, which covers the GOP strongholds in the rural north county, Republican Del. A. Wade Kach, 55, was headed toward easy victory over Phoenix attorney Stephen C. Kirsch and independent candidate William T. Newton, 50, a carpenter from Reisterstown.
In the 10th District, which includes Randallstown and Woodlawn, all four incumbent Democrats won easy victories, despite a fracturing of their ticket from internal disputes. Sen. Delores G. Kelley defeated Republican challenger Robbie Paige, 68, a former moving company controller. Dels. Emmet C. Burns Jr., Adrienne A.W. Jones and Shirley Nathan Pulliam bested Republican Steven D'Arezzo, 31, a draftsman from Randallstown.