Maryland’s state legislative elections will feature the fewest candidates, open seats, contested primaries, and contested incumbents of any election year since 2010.
Twenty-four seats are open in Maryland’s state legislative elections this year, meaning no incumbents filed. That is the fewest open seats since 2010 and means newcomers will represent at least 13% of the legislature next year. The average number of open seats each cycle from 2010 to 2024 was 39.
Eighty-three incumbents face primary contests in Maryland’s state legislative elections this year, 51% of the 163 incumbents running and the fewest of any year since 2010.
Seventy-one of the contested incumbents are Democrats, and 12 are Republicans. For Democrats, that is one more than the 70 contested incumbents in 2022. Contested Republican incumbents are down 52% from 25 in 2022.
Maryland has 65 contested state legislative primaries this year, down from 85 in 2024. The average number of contested primaries in Maryland each cycle from 2010 to 2024 was 88.
Fifty-one of this year’s primaries are for Democrats, the same number as the previous elections, and 14 are for Republicans, down 59% from 34 in the previous elections.
In total, 398 major party candidates filed to run—277 Democrats and 121 Republicans. All 141 House seats and all 47 Senate seats are up for election. The average number of candidates each cycle since 2010 was 497.
Maryland has had a Democratic trifecta since 2023, when Gov. Wes Moore (D) assumed office. Democrats currently have a 102-39 majority in the House and a 34-13 majority in the Senate. Maryland is one of five states where representatives serve four-year terms instead of the usual two-year terms. While most states have some legislative elections every two-years, Maryland's full legislature is up for election every four years.
Maryland's state legislative primaries are scheduled for June 23.
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