Pretty incredible how the Maryland GOP got utterly annhilated in all the major county executive races even with Hogan romping in all of them. They ran 40 points behind him in Baltimore County, Anne Arundel and Frederick.
Hogan's performance had quite literally no downballot coattails.
So many Republican candidates last year had the "Hogan Endorsed!" sticker slapped everywhere on their branding. Voters clearly didn't care. Interesting that he's so personally popular but has limited political capital.
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Also from these maps: As Goes Howard County, So Goes Maryland, it seems.
First - yes I was a bit surprised at the lack of coattails. In countywide races I figured Kittleman would lose but not Schuh. In the legislature, the districts are so skewed and unfair towards Republicans its not surprising. If we had fair districts in Maryland, republicans would have done better.
Second -
Dem State Senators Katherine Klausmeier and Jim Mathias sent out mailers touting how much they work with Gov. Hogan to get re-elected. Mathias lost, and Klausmeier won re-election by 2%, in a district where Dems outnumber Repubs 2 to 1 and she won 61% the last time
Third - It was a big Dem wave year, and it's a heavily Dem state
Fourth - Hogan is well liked around the state. It shouldn't have been a surprise to anyone that he performed as well as he did in Baltimore City and Prince George's county
running against the former President of the NAACP no less!