John LaFerla thanks supporters at O’Connors Pub on High Street in Chestertown, Nov. 6
As news came at 11:15 p.m. last night that President Barack Obama had won Ohio and secured a second term in office, the Kent County Board of Elections reported that KC voters went red by a mere 80 votes—giving Republican challenger Mitt Romney a razor thin victory in Maryland’s smallest county.
The final tally was 4,453 votes for Obama and 4,533 for Romney—a margin of .008 percent of the all the votes cast in KC.
But local Democrats were elated when Maryland went blue by a 20 percent margin of nearly 300,00 votes—easily handing Obama the state’s 10 electoral votes.
1st District voters cast ballots for Wendy Rosen in error
After an extensive write-in campaign by state and local Democrats to get out the vote for John LaFerla, former Democratic candidate Wendy Rosen received 83,152 votes—although she withdrew from the race in September amid accusations of voter fraud.
The votes will be tossed out.
LaFerla, who stepped up to take Rosen’s slot, will know his vote tallies after the write-in ballots are counted, which may take several days.
Volunteers at LaFerla headquarters in Chestertown make calls to voters in Virginia to turn the Common Wealth blue for President Obama
Incumbent Republican Andy Harris earned 51.4 percent of the vote in Kent County.
Incumbent Senator Ben Cardin easily retained his seat by defeating Republican challenger Daniel John Bongino with 56 percent of the vote.
Kent School Board incumbents Brian Kirby and Bryan Williams survived a challenge from newcomer Nivek Johnson, an 18-year-old freshman at Chesapeake College and Kent High School graduate. Johnson made an impressive showing at a candidate forum in October and earned nearly 25 percent of the vote.
Sixth Casino at National Harbor approved by voters
Question 7, a referendum to decide if Maryland should have a sixth casino was approved with 51.7 percent of the 2,194,739 votes cast. The vote clears the way for a Las Vegas style casino on the Maryland side of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Kent County voters rejected the measure by 58 percent of vote.
Same Sex Marriage passes
The Civil Marriage Protection Act, Question 6, is now law and guarantees gay couples the same marriage rights and privileges as straight couples. Kent County voted in line with state and better–casting 57 percent of the vote in support of marriage equality. (Correction: After the final tally, Kent County voters rejected the measure by less than 3 percent of the vote.)
Under the new law, same sex couples can marry as early as Jan. 31.
Undocumented students get in-state tuition rates
Maryland voters approved the Dream Act, which will allow children of undocumented parents the chance to attend a community college at the in-state tuition rate. Kent County followed suit with the rest of the state–casting 58 percent of the vote in support of the Dream Act. (Correction: After the final tally, Kent voters rejected the measure by .018 percent of the vote.)
*The vote tallies for Kent County could change over the next few days as more than 500 absentee ballots have yet to be counted, said Kent County Election Director Cheemoandia Blake.
*Tallies reported in this article came within 24 hours of poll closings and are subject to change slightly.
Cora says
Does the 80 vote margin include absentee ballots?
Petey S. Bestmom says
No, there are about 600 of those still to be counted & reported. That 80 vote margin may evaporate!
melissa thomas says
What a stategic move on Rosen’s part . Confuse and confound voters enough to dilute the vote and effectively tip the scale in favor of Harris.I smell a “rat”.
Steve Johnson says
So, 83,152 don’t pay attention to the news and simply vote for the letter ‘D’?
Steve Atkinson says
That’s probably right, but I would guess that had it been a republican that dropped out, there would have been those who would cast the vote for the letter ‘R’.
Keith Thompson says
I do think it’s incorrect to say that votes cast for Rosen were a mistake because it’s not a mistake if her name is on the ballot. To me, it points out the importance of ballot access and this concrete example hopefully gives the Democratic Party in the State of Maryland a taste of the ballot access issues that non major party candidates and parties face.
Robert Sweetman says
Regarding Question 6 –
The Baltimore Sun reports the tally different from what the Spy is showing.
Kent County 10 of 10 precincts reporting (100%)
Against the Referred Law 51.0% 4,509
For the Referred Law 49.0% 4,325
Kent County as a whole did not vote “in Support” as you misleadingly present.
Daniel Menefee says
Author Note,
No intent to mislead, these were the numbers reported last night, and is why I wrote the passages below.
*The vote tallies for Kent County could change over the next few days as more than 500 absentee ballots have yet to be counted, said Kent County Election Director Cheemoandia Blake.
*Tallies reported in this article came within 24 hours of poll closings and are subject to change slightly.
Robert Sweetman says
Note to the Authors Note,
I will give you the benefit of the doubt…
However; if you had knowledge and posted that the tallies could change, that they were subject to change and surmising that the totals were incomplete, why report that that the issue with a declaratory statement of “Kent County followed suit with the rest of the state–casting 58 percent of the vote in support of the Dream Act.” ?
I acknowledge in your correction you write: ” Correction: After the final tally, Kent County voters rejected the measure by less than 3 percent of the vote, but I’m a little dismayed that you would jump the gun in the way you did with this.
And I also take issue with the “Focus” you present concerning the Presidential election., Yes, Barack Obama and Joe Biden won, (Kudos and congratulations to them) and you point this out glaringly with “But local Democrats were elated when Maryland went blue by a 20 percent margin of nearly 300,00 votes—easily handing Obama the state’s 10 electoral votes.” How about throwing a little bit of some good ole Eastern Shore perspective in there and announce that Romney/Ryan ticket took the entire Eastern Shore of Maryland, along with Cecil and Harford Counties? What does that tell you? You fail to say that that 20% margin didn’t come from this side of the Bay, that it didn’t come from home, from here. You attempt to (No, I take that back, you don’t attempt, you do) paint a picture which ignored how the majority on this side of the Bay feels.
I personally feel that the Western side of this state could actually give 2 cents and a Rats Rump about how we feel on this side of the “Big Creek”. I worked and retired from over there. The people are good, nice people as a whole, however as a majority they truly could care less about our issues and concerns, unless it impacts them directly or blocks their access to Ocean City. We are two different worlds.
I’m all for seceding from the state and either joining Delaware, or becoming our own state.
Who’s with me?
“Of the people, by the people, for the people…ALL the people, those that agree & disagree…not just one side…”
-Lincoln & Me-
D LaMotte says
Well, I live on the Eastern Shore and voted for the party that cares about the health of the Bay and women’s healthcare.
Until the other Party rejects the “ideological purity only” ideas of the Dixie-crats that control the GOP, winning the Presidency
will be a long shot.