The Final Score (Finally)

Stick a fork in this year's midterm election--it's done. According to several sources, the winners are:

US Congress

Senate: Ben Cardin (above) (54%), Michael Steele (44%), Kevin Zeese (2%)--Steele conceded to Cardin at a press conference this afternoon.

House of Representatives (District 8): Chris Van Hollen (77%), Jeffrey Stein (21%), Gerard Giblin (1%)

Maryland

Governor: Martin O'Malley (above) (53%), Robert Ehrlich (46%)--Ehrlich waved the white flag earlier today, saying that the absentee vote would not carry him over the finish line.

Comptroller: Peter Franchot (59%), Anne McCarthy (41%), Bob Auerbach (0%)

Attorney General: Doug Gansler (61%), Scott Rolle (39%)

State House of Delegates (District 20): Sheila Hixson (32%), Heather Mizeur (31%), Tom Hucker (30%), John Wrightson (6%)

State Senate (District 20): Jamie Raskin (ran unopposed)

Montgomery County

County Executive: Ike Leggett (above) (68%), Chuck Floyd (22%), Robin Ficker (10%)

County Council (District 5): Valerie Ervin (82%), Dennis Walsh (18%)

County Council (At Large): Nancy Floreen (18%), George Leventhal (18%), Mark Elrich (18%), Duchy Trachtenburg (17%), Steve Abrams (9%), Other (20%)

Photos courtesy of the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post.

"Cardin Wins Maryland's Open US Senate Seat" (News Channel 8)
"Local Elections 2006" (Washington Post)
"Ehrlich Concedes Governor's Race" (Baltimore Sun)

Results of That Other Stuff on the Ballot

In addition to deciding the fate of the county, state and nation, voters in Silver Spring put their two cents in on a handful of ballot initiatives. The Washington Post score card says voters gave a thumbs up to the following:

• An amendment to the county charter that specifies council membership as a full-time gig with full-time salaries.
• Another charter amendment that clarifies when the council must pass along legislation to the executive, and when the boss must act on it.
• An amendment to the state constitution that prohibits the transfer of state-owned parkland without approval from the general assembly.
• A state constitutional amendment allowing decisions from an in banc circuit court to go to the court of special appeals. Whatever.
• Another amendment that limits juried civil trials to cases involving at least $10,000.
• A statewide referendum requiring election boards to get their shit together.

These were landslide decisions, so don't expect any recounts.

Photo courtesy of the Baltimore Sun.

"Local Elections 2006" (Washington Post)
"Statewide Ballot Questions" (Maryland State Board of Elections)

Voter's Guide: The Ballot

Most of this year's candidates have posted their views on the web for the benefit of hands unshaken, babies not kissed and front lawns not peppered with campaign signs. Even better, local publications have culled together all of this information and created voter guides of their own. Slacking off at work is a civic duty when you visit these sites:

• The Baltimore Sun's interactive candidate profiles
• The Washington Post's guide to local elections
• The Gazette's guide to Montgomery County races
• A guide distributed by Maryland's League of Women Voters

A couple of ballot questions also show up this election season. For more information, check out this website from the state's League of Women Voters.

Image courtesy of NBC4.com.

Voter's Guide: The Debates

This election season, the candidates bypassed mud slinging and went straight to bare-knuckle brawling. Check out this multimedia highlight reel of cheap shots, low blows and knees to the political groin.

For US Senate: US Rep. Ben Cardin (D), Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R) and Green party candidate Kevin Zeese scrapped like rabid dogs in October 25's three way on public television. Steele and Cardin later ditched Zeese on October 29 for a debate on "Meet the Press."

For Governor: Gov. Robert Ehrlich (R) and Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley (D) went toe to toe on October 14 in a WBAL simulcast. They went at it again just two days later in a debate televised on WJZ Baltimore.

For Maryland Attorney General: The big fight for attorney general actually revolved around state's attorney Doug Gansler (D-Montgomery) and whether he was eligible to run at all. Gansler got the green light on Wednesday, making this October 24 debate with state's attorney Scott Rolle (R-Frederick) public television's sleeper hit.

Voters can watch interviews of other candidates on Access Montgomery's Candidate's Forum and Maryland Public Television's State Circle.

Image courtesy of Fox Movies.

Voter's Guide: The Machines

Election officials have their fingers crossed for tomorrow's election, hoping to avoid a repeat of September's primary debacle, writes the Washington Post. With a little luck and a whole lot of absentee ballots, the county board of elections believes that things will run smoother.

So before hitting the polls, give the new Diebold Accu-Vote machines a test drive on the Maryland Votes website. Or at least learn to rig your vote.

Image courtesy of the Washington Post.

"Fingers Crossed for Polls on Tuesday" (Washington Post)
"Everything You Need to Know to Cast Your Ballot" (Washington Post)
"How to Fix an Election" (Daily Penguin)