Voters make choice known in primary election

CENTREVILLE — Registered voters came out in steady numbers to cast ballots all day long during the 2024 Primary Election Day on Tuesday.

In Queen Anne’s the total number of Republican ballots cast were a little more than twice the number cast by Democrats.

Following the trend across the state, Republican Donald Trump received 4,118 votes while incumbent President Joe Biden received 1,842 votes, both a clear choice over the other candidates.

Narrowing down the field of candidates for U.S Senate, Republican and former governor Larry Hogan was favored by Queen Anne’s voters, receiving 60% of the Republican vote. Robin Ficker trailed Hogan, receiving just 33% of the votes.

Among Queen Anne’s County voters Democrat David Trone received 1,178 votes; followed by Democrat Angela Alsobrooks with 848 votes.

Hogan will face Alsobrooks on the November ballot in the general election.

For the U.S House District 1 race, Republican and incumbent Andy Harris pulled in 79% of the votes over Chris Bruneau and Micheal Lemon.

Democrat Blain Miller received 63% of the vote over Blessing Oluwadare, also keeping on trend with votes across the state.

Harris will challenge Miller in November.

Voters in this county selected Julie Giordano, Danielle Hornberger and Kathy Szeliga as their choice for delegates to the Republican National Convention. And Laurie Anne Brittingham, Matthew Cody, Michele W. Dappert, Connor A. Romblad, Sheree Sample-Hughes and Jared Schablein as delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

A steady stream of voters came out to the polls at Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department, which election judge Rachel Poad considered one of the busiest precincts of the day, with over 250 votes cast by noon.

“We are glad for the turn out,” Poad said.

Ready to cast her ballot “not Trump,” Mary Anne Mason, of Romancoke, reflected on the importance of voting.

“This is the only way how things change or don’t change,” she said.

Theresa, of Chester, wanting to only go by her first name, stated she was a registered Democrat but was uncommitted at this time for a presidential nomination. She noted she was “definitely anti- Trump but not 100% pro Biden.”

“I want to see what happens with the independent candidate,” she said.

“With everything that’s going on in the country,” David Lazarus, of Queenstown, was casting his ballot for Trump, he said.

Riding his bicycle to the polls before carrying on with the rest of his ride, Patrick Reed, of Chester said he was ready to vote “Republican straight across.”

Reed noted primary voting was easy at the firehouse, without long lines or hiccups. Reed encouraged voting stating, “Even if you don’t think your party is going to win, it’s important to turn out,” he said.

In the county seat of Centreville, voter turn out was slower but steady, according to election officials.

Some voters like Lindsay Lowery, of Centreville, were not going to let the day’s rain stop her.

“I want to be an informed voter and exercise my right to vote,” Lowery said, “There are a lot of excuses not to vote, but people fought for our right and we should honor that.”

Voters here will also have the opportunity to select one member to the Board of Education District 2. The race for seats in Districts 3 and 4 is uncontested.