Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson has won a primary election against progressive challenger Bobby LaPin, who sought to unseat the incumbent in what became the state's most closely watched race. Ferguson secured 56.6% of the vote to LaPin’s 43.4% in the contest for Maryland Senate District 46, which is centered in Baltimore.
LaPin, an Army veteran and social media personality who referred to himself as "a Bernie Sanders" and characterized Ferguson as "a Chuck Schumer," had accused the Senate president of being too aligned with the establishment. A significant point of contention was Ferguson’s opposition to a redistricting bill that could have eliminated Maryland’s sole Republican congressional seat.
Ferguson reportedly called the proposed map "objectively unconstitutional" and cited high legal risks and a dangerous timeline. This stance drew criticism from some Democrats, and Maryland Governor Wes Moore notably did not endorse Ferguson despite their party affiliations. The race also saw a significant financial advantage for Ferguson over LaPin.
Ferguson, 43, has served in the state Senate since 2011 and was elected president of the Maryland Senate in 2020, becoming the second-youngest person to hold that office. His background is in education, and he holds a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. [
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Separately, Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller has rejected President Donald Trump's allegations of corruption related to a state mail-in ballot error, stating that such administrative mistakes are not uncommon in elections. Trump had called for a Department of Justice investigation into the matter.