St. Mary’s County Primary Results Set November Ballots

St. Mary’s County voters finalized the candidate field for the upcoming November general election during the primary voting on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. The local results mirrored broader state trends in key federal races while locking in intense local matchups for commissioner seats and county law enforcement positions.

St. Mary’s County citizens cast their ballots on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, during the primary elections to determine which candidates will advance to the general election ballot in November.

In alignment with neighboring jurisdictions across the state, St. Mary’s County electorate voted in favor of current Maryland House Delegate Adrian Boafo to secure the Democratic line for Congressional District 5. The seat opened following the retirement announcement of long-serving Representative Steny Hoyer earlier this year. On the parallel ticket, Chris Chafee clinched the Republican nomination after capturing 58.21% of the local ballots.

For the State Senate race in District 29, candidates Chuck Borges and Jack Bailey both advanced automatically. The two politicians ran completely unopposed within their respective parties for the seat, which encompasses all of St. Mary’s County alongside segments of Calvert County.

The legislative race for House Delegate District 29C saw a tight contest on the Democratic side, where J.W. Abney achieved a narrow victory over challenger Shaara Watts. Conversely, the Republican primary in the same district concluded decisively, with incumbent Todd Morgan handily securing his spot on the November ballot.

The Republican primary for county commissioner yielded a victory for Tom Jarboe, who earned 43.90% of the vote to defeat primary opponents Roy H. Alvey and Greg Kolarik. In the District 1 Democratic contest, Sheila Milburn successfully unseated Wendy Smith Rice-Morton by capturing a commanding 72.47% of the ballots.

A tighter margin emerged in the District 2 commissioner race, where Tom Phelan defeated Tomas F. McKay by a final breakdown of 57.19% to 42.81%. Meanwhile, District 4 saw Republican Tom Ostrow outpace challenger Dawn Zimmerman by a substantial spread.

Two countywide financial and legal posts were settled without primary friction. Christy Kelly and Jaymi Sterling ran completely unopposed as Republicans for treasurer and state’s attorney, respectively, and neither candidate faces a Democratic challenger in the upcoming general election.

The race for county sheriff followed a similar primary path but guarantees a fall matchup. Carl Sturgis and Steve A. Hall both ran without opposition in their respective party primaries, officially setting up a head-to-head contest between the two law enforcement figures for November.

Future Outlook

The primary outcomes establish a highly competitive environment for the November 2026 general election in Southern Maryland. Observers will closely monitor the Congressional District 5 race to see if the seat shifts after decades of stable representation. Nationally and locally, campaigns will now pivot from intra-party rallying to general electorate mobilization, focusing heavily on local governance, fiscal management, and regional infrastructure projects.

FAQs

Who won the Republican nomination for Congressional District 5 in St. Mary’s County?

Chris Chafee secured the Republican nomination for Congressional District 5, winning 58.21% of the vote within the county during the primary election.

Which candidates ran unopposed for the State Senate District 29 seats?

Chuck Borges and Jack Bailey ran entirely unopposed on their respective party tickets for the State Senate District 29 seats, which represent St. Mary’s County and portions of Calvert County.

What were the results of the District 1 Democratic primary for county commissioner?

Sheila Milburn won the District 1 Democratic primary for county commissioner, ousting Wendy Smith Rice-Morton by receiving 72.47% of the cast ballots.

Will there be a contested race for St. Mary’s County Sheriff in November?

Yes, Carl Sturgis and Steve A. Hall both ran unopposed in their primary fields and will face each other as the democratic and republican choices in the general election.