2016 Baltimore mayoral election
← 2011 November 8, 2016 2020 →
 
Nominee Catherine Pugh Sheila Dixon
(write-in)
Party Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 134,848 51,716
Percentage 57.6% 22.1%
 
Nominee Alan Walden Joshua Harris
Party Republican Green
Popular vote 23,316 23,155
Percentage 10.0% 10.0%
Mayor of Baltimore before election

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
Democratic

Elected Mayor of Baltimore

Catherine Pugh
Democratic

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The 2016 Baltimore mayoral election was held November 8, 2016 concurrent with the General Election.[1] Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the incumbent mayor, did not run for reelection. Catherine Pugh won the election on November 8, 2016, with 57% of the popular vote,[2] and took office on December 6, 2016.[3]

Background and candidates

Incumbent Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake did not seek re-election in 2016. She completed former Mayor Dixon's term, and won the mayoral seat in the 2011 mayoral race. After holding the office for five years, she faced challenges and criticism during her tenure. Notable events include the 2015 Freddie Gray Protests, Governor Hogan's rejection of the Baltimore Red Line, and an increase in crime since the Freddie Gray Protests in April 2015.[4]

On July 1, 2015, Sheila Dixon entered the 2016 mayoral race.[5] (The terms of Dixon's probation prevented her from running for office until after December 2012.) Since her announcement, Dixon had campaigned in West Baltimore about the city's increasing transportation issues.[6] Additional candidates included Baltimore City Council members Nick Mosby[7] and Carl Stokes,[8] Baltimore Police Sergeant Gersham Cupid, writer Mack Clifton,[9] engineer Calvin Young,[10] Baltimore Sun op-ed contributor Connor Meek,[11] attorney and public servant Elizabeth Embry,[12] and Black Lives Matter activist DeRay Mckesson.[13]

On September 11, 2015, Rawlings-Blake announced that she would not seek re-election as mayor, stating, "It was a very difficult decision, but I knew I needed to spend time focused on the city's future, not my own".[14]

Democratic primary

The Democratic mayoral primary was held on April 26, 2016.[15] Catherine Pugh won the Democratic primary running against former Mayor Sheila Dixon and 11 other challengers in a crowded field to replace Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.[16]

Declared

Declined

Democratic primary results[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Catherine Pugh 48,665 36.6
Democratic Sheila Dixon 46,219 34.7
Democratic Elizabeth Embry 15,562 11.7
Democratic David Warnock 10,835 8.1
Democratic Carl Stokes 4,620 3.5
Democratic DeRay Mckesson 3,445 2.6
Democratic Nick Mosby 1,989 1.5
Democratic Calvin Young 644 0.5
Democratic Patrick Guiterrez 398 0.3
Democratic Cindy Walsh 213 0.2
Democratic Mack Clifton 204 0.2
Democratic Gersham Cupid 138 0.1
Democratic Wilton Wilson 77 0.1
Total votes 133,009 100.00

Republican primary

Declared

Republican primary results[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Alan Walden 3,068 41.2
Republican Larry Wardlow 1,367 18.3
Republican Brian Vaeth 1,216 16.3
Republican Armand Girard 940 12.6
Republican Chancellor Torbit 859 11.5
Total votes 7,450 100.00

Green Party primary

Declared

Green primary results[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Green Joshua Harris --- 85
Green Emanuel McCray --- 7
Green None Of The Above --- 5
Green David Marriot --- 3
Total votes --- 100.00

Write-in candidates

Former Mayor of Baltimore Sheila Dixon, who lost in the Democratic primary, re-entered the race as a write-in candidate and came in second to Pugh with 22% of the popular vote.[24] Democratic candidate Mack Clifton, who also lost in the primaries, re-entered as a write-in candidate. In addition, Republican Steven H. Smith, Independent Frank Logan, and unaffiliated candidates Sarah Klauda and Lavern Murray, who did not run in the primaries, joined the race as write-in candidates.[25]

Results

2016 General Election[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Catherine Pugh 134,848 57.61
Write-in Sheila Dixon 51,716 22.10
Republican Alan Walden 23,316 9.96
Green Joshua Harris 23,155 9.89
Write-in Others 885 0.38
Total votes 234,055 100

References

  1. ^ McCauley, Mary Carole; Kelly, Jacques; Duncan, Ian (October 24, 2015). "Candidates for Baltimore Mayor in 2016". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on December 7, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  2. ^ Reutter, Mark (November 11, 2016). "Money and Votes in the Final Days of the Mayoral Race". Baltimore Brew. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  3. ^ "Catherine Pugh Sworn In As Baltimore's 50th Mayor". CBS Baltimore. December 6, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  4. ^ Rector, Kevin (August 15, 2015). "Robberies Increasing in Baltimore Amid Broader Surge in Violence". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  5. ^ Wenger, Yvonne; Donovan, Doug (July 1, 2015). "Former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon Enters 2016 Mayoral Race". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  6. ^ Shen, Fern (July 31, 2015). "Sheila Dixon Takes a Transit Tour and Works a Crowd". Baltimore Brew. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Broadwater, Luke. "Prominent Ferguson protester joins mayoral race in Baltimore". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 5, 2016 – via Lee Enterprises via stltoday.com.
  8. ^ "Stokes, Pugh Enter Race for Mayor". WBAL-TV. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Broadwater, Luke (February 4, 2016). "DeRay Mckesson's Baltimore Mayoral Run Brings Praise, Skepticism". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017.
  10. ^ Miller, Jayne (September 14, 2015). "Newcomer announces candidacy for Baltimore mayor". WBAL-TV. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  11. ^ a b Broadwater, Luke (August 21, 2015). "Connor Meek, Mugging Victim Who Got City Policy Changed, Files to Run for Mayor". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017.
  12. ^ Wood, Pamela (November 6, 2015). "Elizabeth Embry Says She'll Bring 'Hustle' to Race for Baltimore Mayor". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017.
  13. ^ a b "Black Lives Matter Activist Jumps Into Baltimore Mayoral Fray". The New York Times. February 4, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  14. ^ "Baltimore Mayor Rawlings-Blake says she won't seek re-election". Fox News. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  15. ^ "Ballotpedia.org". Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  16. ^ "2016 Baltimore Primary Election Results". WBAL-TV. April 27, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  17. ^ "Elizabeth Embry". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  18. ^ Broadwater, Luke (September 1, 2015). "Mike Maraziti, owner of One-Eyed Mike's, files to run for mayor". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  19. ^ Wenger, Yvonne; Broadwater, Luke (April 13, 2016). "Nick Mosby Drops Out of Mayoral Race, Backs Pugh". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017.
  20. ^ Dresser, Michael (February 1, 2016). "Maryland Senator Lisa Gladden will endorse David Warnock for Baltimore mayor". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  21. ^ a b "Baltimore City- Mayor". Maryland Board of Elections. May 9, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  22. ^ Broadwater, Luke (February 3, 2016). "DeRay Mckesson files to run in Baltimore mayoral race". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  23. ^ GPW (May 2, 2016). "Complete Maryland Green Party primary results". Green Party Watch. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  24. ^ Reutter, Mark (October 10, 2016). "Exclusive: Sheila Dixon plans write-in campaign for mayor". Baltimore Brew. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  25. ^ "Catherine Pugh Becomes Baltimore's Next Mayor". WBAL-TV. November 9, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  26. ^ "Presidential General Election Baltimore City, Maryland November 8, 2016 OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Baltimore City Board of Elections. 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.

External links

Mayoral elections in Baltimore
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