Nearly one week after Maryland’s primary, it’s still too early to declare a winner in Montgomery County’s closely watched Democratic primary for county executive. Election workers are still sifting through tens of thousands of mail-in ballots streaming in from around the county and the world.
Asked when the public can expect a final vote count, county Board of Elections spokesperson Gilberto Zelaya said at a Monday press conference, “I don’t know.”
So here’s what we do know. Incumbent Executive Marc Elrich maintains a paper-thin lead over wealthy political newcomer David Blair, with just 141 votes between them as of 11:48 a.m. Monday. The third vote-getter in the race, outgoing At-Large Council member Hans Riemer, conceded Wednesday, and fourth candidate Peter James is out after coming in dead last.
Results in the county council races, on the other hand, are beginning to crystallize. In the Democratic at-large contest, incumbents Gabe Albornoz, Evan Glass, and Will Jawando appear likely to win second terms, with ex-Gaithersburg City Council member Laurie-Anne Sayles in the fourth slot as of Monday afternoon. Current District 5 representative Tom Hucker — who also entertained a run for executive — lost his at-large bid and conceded on Friday. He’s the only incumbent to lose a seat this cycle, besides three members who are term-limited and leaving office.

As far as the council’s district races go, a couple are already in the bag: District 1 rep Andrew Friedson is running unopposed, and ex-Montgomery County Planning Board member Natali Fani-González is the projected nominee in District 6. In the other districts, Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce CEO Marilyn Balcombe is well ahead in District 2; incumbent Sidney Katz is enjoying a large lead in District 3; Takoma Park Mayor Kate Stewart is on top in District 4; Kristin Mink is dominating the race in District 5; and Maryland Assistant Attorney General Dawn Luedtke is poised to win District 7.
Republicans are also running for at-large and district seats, but they’re not favored to win the general election in November. Just 15% of active, eligible voters in Montgomery County are registered Republicans.
If the current leads hold, six women could win seats on the council, giving the body its first female majority since four women served on a seven-member council in the late 1970s. There is currently only one woman on the legislature: outgoing District 4 member Nancy Navarro.
Council President Albornoz on Monday acknowledged that the executive race could come as close as the first Elrich/Blair matchup in 2018. During that primary, Elrich bested the ex-health care CEO by a mere 77 votes, after a recount confirmed his narrow win.
“We have a nail biter,” Albornoz said. “Based on the sheer number of provisional ballots and how close this race will be, it may be weeks before we know the winner of the county executive race. But we stand ready as a council to work with whomever pushes through.”
Ally Schweitzer