Washington County Board of Commissioners President Jeffery Cline was the top vote-getter in the crowded commission race in Tuesday’s primary election. Cline, Randall Wagner and Wayne Keefer — all incumbent commissioners — emerged as the top three candidates on the GOP ballot for county voters. John Barr and Derek Harvey rounded out the top five candidates in the Republican primary race, which included a total of 15 candidates.
Preliminary vote totals from the Washington County Board of Elections reported the following:
Jeff Cline—5821
Randall Wagner—5540
Wayne Keefer –5407
John Barr – 5316
Derek Harvey—5083
Democrats Sterling Sanders and Dave Williams were the two candidates on the Democrats’ ballot for that party’s voters looking to fill five seats on the Board of Commissioners. Sanders pulled in 2995 votes while Williams received 3040.
In November, Washington County voters will narrow the field to the five commissioners.
Republican Jim Holsinger was the front-runner in the GOP primary for Washington County Sheriff, receiving 4162 votes. Democrat Junior McLeod, with no opposition on his party’s primary ballot, pulled in 3132 votes. Holsinger and McLeod will face off in November’s general election.
Washington County voters cast ballots during early voting, through absentee ballots and at polls on Tuesday, July 19. In total, 15,751 ballots were cast from a roll of 74,665 eligible voters in the county. That’s a 21% voter turnout.
Voters made their party primary picks for offices from the top of the state down to county level posts.
Washington County voters went heavily for Dan Cox for the GOP candidate for governor. Cox and Gordana Schifanelli pulled in 59.8% of the county vote in that race. Democrat Peter Franchot was favored by Washington County Democrats on the gubernatorial ballot, pulling in 27% of this county’s votes in that race.
Terry Baker’s run for Maryland House of Delegates to represent District 1-C garnered the commissioner 2,906 votes on the GOP ballot. Democratic candidate for the House seat, Carrie Hinton, received 700 votes in Washington County.
Mike McKay was Washington County’s pick for a GOP candidate for State Senator representing District 1. McKay, currently a delegate, received 2343 votes while his challenger Jake Shade got 1252. Democrat Michael Dreisbach was unopposed on his primary ballot and pulled in 708 votes in the State Senate race here in Washington County.
For a full listing of preliminary vote totals in all races on the ballots, go to the Maryland Board of Elections website: https://results.elections.maryland.gov/elections/2022/primary_results/gen_results_2022_by_county_22.html
