Several incumbents fell Tuesday, but not Senate President Bill Ferguson, who was challenged by small business owner Bobby LaPin.
Boat captain and social media personality Bobby LaPin made an energetic “everyman” pitch to his followers in an effort to unseat state Senator Bill Ferguson. LaPin’s complaints about Baltimore Gas and Electric Company rate increases, for example, found an audience, as his yard signs popped up seemingly everywhere in recent weeks.
Forced to take the challenge seriously, the well-funded Ferguson responded with a vigorous defense of his record, highlighting his commitment to education, civil rights, Maryland’s immigrant communities, and his ability to deliver for Baltimore City. Ultimately, District 46 voters stood behind Ferguson, recognizing that having one of their own representatives helming the General Assembly is not something that should be easily discarded.
That said, LaPin’s challenge did make an impact. During the campaign, Ferguson changed his position on reconfiguring Maryland’s congressional map in hopes of adding one more Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives this fall.
Indicted State Senator Dalya Attar defeated by Delegate Malcom Ruff.
Attar, who faces federal conspiracy and extortion charges related to allegations that she colluded with others to ensnare and secretly videotape a former political consultant, lost to Del. Malcolm Ruff. The contest between the first Orthodox Jewish woman to serve in the Maryland Senate, and Ruff, a Black former Baltimore City and Baltimore County assistant state’s attorney, fractured between the majority Black population and the significant Orthodox community in the 41st District.
Governor Wes Moore endorsed and campaigned for Ruff. Delegate Sandy Rosenberg, who has represented the district since 1983, maintained his support for Attar—who with her brother, Joseph Attar, as well as Baltimore Police Officer Kalman Finkelstein, allegedly partnered in a blackmail scheme against Attar’s former political consultant. Attar has pled not guilty.
Incumbent Baltimore City Sheriff Sam Cogen defeated by former Assistant Sheriff Sabrina Tapp-Harper amid sparing endorsements.
Sam Cogen upset longtime City Sheriff John Anderson in 2022, and has been credited with modernizing the office and reforming the eviction process in recent years. He also received the endorsement of Governor Wes Moore, U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume, and state Attorney General Anthony Brown.
Mayor Brandon Scott, however, endorsed rival Sabrina Tapp-Harper, a retired assistant sheriff and former Baltimore Police commander—suggesting a need for a stronger public safety partnership. In 2025, Tapp-Harper sued Cogen, alleging he had fired her for filing an equal employment opportunity complaint.
Sarah David defeats 20-year incumbent Baltimore County state’s attorney Scott Shellenberger.
Forty-one-year-old Sarah David, an assistant Maryland state prosecutor since 2018, handily defeated more conservative Democratic incumbent Scott Shellenberger. As first reported by The Baltimore Banner, the Brooklyn-based progressive group Working Families Party, which helped elect New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, spent a significant sum backing David. The organization also sponsored ads and mailers that criticized Shellenberger’s cooperation with ICE. Overall, Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1 in county registrations.
Other highlights:
- Governor Wes Moore will again face Republican Dan Cox, who defeated retired local banker Ed Hale in the GOP primary. Moore won the gubernatorial race handily in 2022.
- In the Democratic primary for Baltimore County Executive, Julian Jones has a large lead over main rival Izzy Patoka with mail-in ballots still be counted, however. If the 63-year-old Jones wins, as now expected, he would become the first Black official elected Baltimore County Executive. He is currently serving his third term on the County Council. Patoka is also a member of the County Council. Jones received endorsements from Governor Wes Moore, Maryland Senator Angela Alsobrooks, Congressman Kweisi Mfume, and Congressman Johnny Olszewski, a former Baltimore County Executive.