2024 Baltimore mayoral election explained
| Election Name: | 2024 Baltimore mayoral election |
| Flag Image: | Flag of Baltimore, Maryland.svg |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2020 Baltimore mayoral election |
| Previous Year: | 2020 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 2024 |
| Next Election: | 2028 Baltimore mayoral election |
| Next Year: | 2028 |
| Turnout: | 58.35% 2.53 pp[1] |
| Image1: | Brandon Scott (53269715478) (1).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Brandon Scott |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 179,732 |
| Percentage1: | 82.15% |
| Nominee2: | Shannon Wright |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 36,484 |
| Percentage2: | 16.68% |
| Map Size: | 200px |
| Mayor |
| Before Election: | Brandon Scott |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Brandon Scott |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 2024 Baltimore mayoral election was held on November 5, 2024, to elect the mayor of Baltimore, Maryland.
Incumbent Brandon Scott was first elected in 2020 with 70.5% of the vote and is running for re-election to a second term. Scott was considered vulnerable, as polls found that Baltimore residents were split on his performance as mayor.[2] He faced criticism for his handling of important issues in the city, including schools, constituent services, and crime.[3] However, Scott's response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, as well as his progress in growing the economy and reducing homicides, allowed him to make inroads with voters and boost his approval rating.[4] [5]
Scott defeated former mayor Sheila Dixon in the Democratic primary, a result that is considered tantamount to victory in the heavily Democratic city.[6] His path to victory involved running up massive margins in Baltimore's majority-white precincts while running close to Dixon in its majority-Black areas.[7] Scott defeated Republican challenger Shannon Wright in the general election on November 5, 2024, becoming the first mayor to win re-election to a second term since Martin O'Malley.[8]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Wayne Baker
- Texas Brown, hospitality manager
- Wendy Bozel, teacher[10]
- Sheila Dixon, former mayor (2007–2010) and candidate in 2016 and 2020[11]
- Kevin Harris, University of Maryland, Baltimore County faculty
- Wendell Hill-Freeman, marketing executive
- Yolanda Pulley, activist and candidate for mayor in 2020[12]
- Joseph E. Scott
- Keith B. Scott, candidate for mayor in 2020[13]
- Robert Wallace, businessman and independent candidate for mayor in 2020[14]
- Yasaun Young, candidate for mayor in 2020
Withdrawn
Declined
Debates and forums
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of April 26, 2024 |
|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|
| Sheila Dixon (D) | $916,517 | $811,374 | $110,082 |
| Kevin Harris (D) | data-sort-value=$1 | <$1,000 | data-sort-value=$1 | <$1,000 | data-sort-value=$1 | N/A |
| Wendell Hill-Freeman (D) | data-sort-value=$1 | <$1,000 | data-sort-value=$1 | <$1,000 | data-sort-value=$1 | N/A |
| Yolanda Pulley (D) | data-sort-value=$1 | <$1,000 | data-sort-value=$1 | <$1,000 | data-sort-value=$1 | N/A |
| Brandon Scott (D) | $1,262,407 | $1,244,937 | $449,952 |
| Robert Wallace (D) | $529,207 | $131,323 | $415,233 |
| Thiru Vignarajah (D) | $718,013 | $195,787 | $522,226 |
| Source: Maryland State Board of Elections[28] | |
|---|
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s)
administered | Sample
size | Margin
of error | Sheila
Dixon | Brandon
Scott | Thiru
Vignarajah | Bob
Wallace | Other | Undecided |
|---|
| align=left | OpinionWorks | April 7–11, 2024 | 508 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 35% | | 38% | 10% | 4% | 5% | 7% |
| align=left | Goucher College | April 3–7, 2024 | 440 (RV) | ± 4.7% | 32% | | 40% | 11% | 3% | 3% | 10% |
| align=left | Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group | February 24–26, 2024 | 400 (LV) | ± 5% | | 40% | 37% | 10% | 6% | – | 8% |
| align=left | Lake Research Partners | October 16–22, 2023 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | | 39% | 31% | – | 10% | – | 15% |
| align=left | Goucher College | September 19–23, 2023 | 537 (RV) | ± 4.2% | | 39% | 27% | – | – | 23% | 8% | |
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Shannon Wright, nonprofit executive and nominee for mayor in 2020
Eliminated in primary
- Michael Moore, activist
- Donald Scoggins, urban planner and perennial candidate[29]
Debates and forums
Scoggins, Moore, and Wright attended the candidate forum sponsored by over two dozen environmental groups on February 28, 2024.
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of April 2, 2024 |
|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|
| Michael Moore (R) | data-sort-value=$1 | <$1,000 | data-sort-value=$1 | <$1,000 | data-sort-value=$1 | N/A |
| Donald Scoggins (R) | $410 | $0 | $410 |
| Shannon Wright (R) | data-sort-value=$1 | <$1,000 | data-sort-value=$1 | <$1,000 | data-sort-value=$1 | N/A |
| Source: Maryland State Board of Elections | |
|---|
Results
Third-party candidates
Candidates
Failed to qualify
- Timothy Sewell (Independent)
Withdrawn
- Chukwuemeka Egwu (Independent)
Debates and forums
Egwu attended the candidate forum sponsored by over two dozen environmental groups on February 28, 2024.
General election
Results
Notes
- Partisan clients
External links
- Official campaign websites for mayoral candidates
Notes and References
- Web site: Unofficial 2024 Presidential General Election turnout . Maryland State Board of Elections . November 20, 2024.
- News: Sullivan . Emily . Fundraising firm launches super PAC to support potential Sheila Dixon mayor run . February 24, 2024 . . August 4, 2023 . en.
- News: Sullivan . Emily . Poll: Mayor Scott faces tough road to reelection as disapproval ticks up . February 24, 2024 . . October 3, 2023 . en.
- News: Miller . Hallie . Poll: Support surging for Scott in striking turnaround before primary . April 11, 2024 . . April 11, 2024 . en.
- News: Nocera . Jess . Fenton . Justin . How city voters view elected leaders' responses to the Key Bridge collapse . April 11, 2024 . . April 11, 2024 . en.
- News: Skene . Lea . May 14, 2024 . Incumbent Brandon Scott prevails in Baltimore mayor's race primary . May 15, 2024 . AP News.
- News: Archibald . Ramsey . Morton . Greg . Banner analysis: Margin in white neighborhoods powered Scott to victory . May 16, 2024 . . May 16, 2024 . en.
- News: Opilo . Emily . Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott sails to victory and rare second term . November 9, 2024 . The Baltimore Banner . November 5, 2024 . en.
- News: Sullivan . Emily . Scott launches campaign for 2nd term, saying Baltimore can't return to a corrupted leader . November 18, 2023 . . November 18, 2023 . en.
- News: Simpson . Amy . Baltimore's problem with youth violence prompts woman to launch campaign for Mayor . November 22, 2023 . . August 3, 2023 . en.
- News: Opilo . Emily . Former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon to run again in 2024, apologizes again for crimes that forced her from office . September 7, 2023 . The Baltimore Sun . September 7, 2023.
- News: Harpster . Lexi . Yolanda Pulley announces mayoral candidacy in Baltimore, pledges to prioritize people over special interests . November 29, 2023 . . October 22, 2023 . en.
- News: Sullivan . Emily . Thiru Vignarajah gears up for another run for Baltimore mayor . December 22, 2023 . . December 22, 2023 . en.
- News: Opilo . Emily . Robert Wallace is running again for Baltimore mayor, this time as a Democrat . October 12, 2023 . . October 12, 2023.
- News: Sullivan . Emily . Thiru Vignarajah drops out of mayor's race, endorses Sheila Dixon . May 1, 2024 . . May 1, 2024 . en.
- News: Opilo . Emily . Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott doubles campaign war chest ahead of 2024 election . February 28, 2023 . The Baltimore Sun . January 19, 2023.
- News: Opilo . Emily . Baltimore Councilman Zeke Cohen enters council president race, setting up clash with incumbent Nick Mosby . March 19, 2023 . The Baltimore Sun . March 19, 2023.
- News: Sullivan . Emily . Councilman Eric Costello will seek reelection, rejecting a run for citywide office . August 9, 2023 . The Baltimore Banner . August 9, 2023.
- News: Sullivan . Emily . Courted to run for Baltimore mayor, why Comptroller Bill Henry chose reelection . August 9, 2023 . The Baltimore Banner . August 9, 2023.
- News: Segelbaum . Dylan . Sullivan . Emily . Wood . Pamela . Banner political notes: It's poll season; FBI HQ in the budget; First family's first pitch; Bills are moving; The final word on Dan Cox's legal fight . April 1, 2023 . The Baltimore Banner . April 1, 2023.
- News: Mendez . Cristina . Baltimore mayoral candidates address environmental issues at community forum . March 3, 2024 . . March 3, 2024.
- News: Sullivan . Emily . At first major mayoral forum, candidates stick to established scripts . March 5, 2024 . . March 5, 2024 . en.
- News: Zawodny . Daniel . Baltimore mayoral candidates spar over bike lanes, the Red Line and bus routes . April 13, 2024 . . April 12, 2024 . en.
- News: Miller . Hallie . Sneed, Vignarajah tout campaigns' public financing model at housing forum . April 13, 2024 . . April 13, 2024 . en.
- News: Sullivan . Emily . Baltimore mayoral candidates debate crime, Harborplace in first TV debate . April 18, 2024 . . April 17, 2024 . en.
- News: Boteler . Cody . Baltimore mayoral candidates to square off in debate hosted by Baltimore Banner, WJZ-TV, WYPR . April 18, 2024 . . April 18, 2024 . en.
- News: Opilo . Emily . At BUILD forum, Baltimore mayoral candidates share ideas for fixing vacancy crisis . May 7, 2024 . . May 7, 2024.
- Web site: View Filed Reports . campaignfinance.maryland.gov . . January 17, 2024.
- Web site: 2024 Candidate Listing . elections.maryland.gov . December 24, 2023.
