2016 Baltimore mayoral election

The 2016 Baltimore mayoral election was held November 8, 2016 concurrent with the General Election.^[1] Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the incumbent mayor, did not run for reelection. Catherine Pugh won the election on November 8, 2016, with 57% of the popular vote,^[2] and took office on December 6, 2016.^[3]

2016 Baltimore mayoral election

← 2011 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Catherine Pugh Sheila Dixon (write-in) Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 134,848 51,716 Percentage 57.6% 22.1%   Nominee Alan Walden Joshua Harris Party Republican Green Popular vote 23,316 23,155 Percentage 10.0% 10.0%

Mayor of Baltimore before election Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Democratic Elected Mayor of Baltimore Catherine Pugh Democratic

Background and candidates

Incumbent Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake did not seek re-election in 2016. She completed former Mayor Dixon's term, and won the mayoral seat in the 2011 mayoral race. After holding the office for five years, she faced challenges and criticism during her tenure. Notable events include the 2015 Freddie Gray Protests, Governor Hogan's rejection of the Baltimore Red Line, and an increase in crime since the Freddie Gray Protests in April 2015.^[4]

On July 1, 2015, Sheila Dixon entered the 2016 mayoral race.^[5] (The terms of Dixon's probation prevented her from running for office until after December 2012.) Since her announcement, Dixon had campaigned in West Baltimore about the city's increasing transportation issues.^[6] Additional candidates included Baltimore City Council members Nick Mosby^[7] and Carl Stokes,^[8] Baltimore Police Sergeant Gersham Cupid, writer Mack Clifton,^[9] engineer Calvin Young,^[10] Baltimore Sun op-ed contributor Connor Meek,^[11] attorney and public servant Elizabeth Embry,^[12] and Black Lives Matter activist DeRay Mckesson.^[13]

On September 11, 2015, Rawlings-Blake announced that she would not seek re-election as mayor, stating, "It was a very difficult decision, but I knew I needed to spend time focused on the city's future, not my own".^[14]

Democratic primary

The Democratic mayoral primary was held on April 26, 2016.^[15] Catherine Pugh won the Democratic primary running against former Mayor Sheila Dixon and 11 other challengers in a crowded field to replace Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.^[16]

Declared

• Mack Clifton, writer^[9]
• Gersham Cupid, Baltimore police sergeant^[9]
• Sheila Dixon, former Mayor of Baltimore
• Elizabeth Embry,^[17] attorney and public servant
• Patrick Gutierrez, former bank operations manager^[9]
• Mike Maraziti, business owner^[18]
• DeRay Mckesson, civil rights activist and former school teacher/administrator^[13]
• Connor Meek, Baltimore Sun op-ed contributor^[11]
• Nick Mosby, Baltimore City Council member for the 7th district^[7] (dropped out)^[19]
• Catherine Pugh, State Senator for the 40th district and former Baltimore City Council member for the 4th district
• Carl Stokes, Baltimore City Council member for the 12th district
• Cindy Walsh, former UPS manager and candidate for Governor of Maryland in the 2014 gubernatorial election^[9]
• David Warnock, businessman^[20]
• Wilton Wilson, nurse^[9]
• Calvin Young, engineer^[9]

Declined

• Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, incumbent Mayor of Baltimore

Democratic primary results^[21]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Catherine Pugh	48,665	36.6
	Democratic	Sheila Dixon	46,219	34.7
	Democratic	Elizabeth Embry	15,562	11.7
	Democratic	David Warnock	10,835	8.1
	Democratic	Carl Stokes	4,620	3.5
	Democratic	DeRay Mckesson	3,445	2.6
	Democratic	Nick Mosby	1,989	1.5
	Democratic	Calvin Young	644	0.5
	Democratic	Patrick Guiterrez	398	0.3
	Democratic	Cindy Walsh	213	0.2
	Democratic	Mack Clifton	204	0.2
	Democratic	Gersham Cupid	138	0.1
	Democratic	Wilton Wilson	77	0.1
Total votes			133,009	100.00

Republican primary

Declared

• Armand Girard, retired math teacher
• Chancellor Torbit
• Brian Charles Vaeth, perennial candidate
• Alan Walden, retired WBAL radio personality
• Larry Wardlow

Republican primary results^[21]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Alan Walden	3,068	41.2
	Republican	Larry Wardlow	1,367	18.3
	Republican	Brian Vaeth	1,216	16.3
	Republican	Armand Girard	940	12.6
	Republican	Chancellor Torbit	859	11.5
Total votes			7,450	100.00

Green Party primary

Declared

• Joshua Harris, community activist, co-founder of Hollins Creative Placemaking
• David Marriott, US Marine^[22]
• Emanuel McCray, Army Veteran

Green primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Green	Joshua Harris	---	85
	Green	Emanuel McCray	---	7
	Green	None Of The Above	---	5
	Green	David Marriot	---	3
Total votes			---	100.00

Write-in candidates

Former Mayor of Baltimore Sheila Dixon, who lost in the Democratic primary, re-entered the race as a write-in candidate and came in second to Pugh with 22% of the popular vote.^[24] Democratic candidate Mack Clifton, who also lost in the primaries, re-entered as a write-in candidate. In addition, Republican Steven H. Smith, Independent Frank Logan, and unaffiliated candidates Sarah Klauda and Lavern Murray, who did not run in the primaries, joined the race as write-in candidates.^[25]

Results

2016 General Election^[26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Catherine Pugh	134,848	57.61
	Write-in	Sheila Dixon	51,716	22.10
	Republican	Alan Walden	23,316	9.96
	Green	Joshua Harris	23,155	9.89
	Write-in	Others	885	0.38
Total votes			234,055	100

References

1. McCauley, Mary Carole; Kelly, Jacques; Duncan, Ian (October 24, 2015). "Candidates for Baltimore Mayor in 2016". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on December 7, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
2. Reutter, Mark (November 11, 2016). "Money and Votes in the Final Days of the Mayoral Race". Baltimore Brew. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
3. "Catherine Pugh Sworn In As Baltimore's 50th Mayor". CBS Baltimore. December 6, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
4. Rector, Kevin (August 15, 2015). "Robberies Increasing in Baltimore Amid Broader Surge in Violence". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
5. Wenger, Yvonne; Donovan, Doug (July 1, 2015). "Former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon Enters 2016 Mayoral Race". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
6. Shen, Fern (July 31, 2015). "Sheila Dixon Takes a Transit Tour and Works a Crowd". Baltimore Brew. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
7. Broadwater, Luke. "Prominent Ferguson protester joins mayoral race in Baltimore". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 5, 2016 – via Lee Enterprises via stltoday.com.
8. "Stokes, Pugh Enter Race for Mayor". WBAL-TV. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
9. Broadwater, Luke (February 4, 2016). "DeRay Mckesson's Baltimore Mayoral Run Brings Praise, Skepticism". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017.
10. Miller, Jayne (September 14, 2015). "Newcomer announces candidacy for Baltimore mayor". WBAL-TV. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
11. Broadwater, Luke (August 21, 2015). "Connor Meek, Mugging Victim Who Got City Policy Changed, Files to Run for Mayor". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017.
12. Wood, Pamela (November 6, 2015). "Elizabeth Embry Says She'll Bring 'Hustle' to Race for Baltimore Mayor". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017.
13. "Black Lives Matter Activist Jumps Into Baltimore Mayoral Fray". The New York Times. February 4, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
14. "Baltimore Mayor Rawlings-Blake says she won't seek re-election". Fox News. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
15. "Ballotpedia.org". Retrieved March 22, 2016.
16. "2016 Baltimore Primary Election Results". WBAL-TV. April 27, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
17. "Elizabeth Embry". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
18. Broadwater, Luke (September 1, 2015). "Mike Maraziti, owner of One-Eyed Mike's, files to run for mayor". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
19. Wenger, Yvonne; Broadwater, Luke (April 13, 2016). "Nick Mosby Drops Out of Mayoral Race, Backs Pugh". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017.
20. Dresser, Michael (February 1, 2016). "Maryland Senator Lisa Gladden will endorse David Warnock for Baltimore mayor". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
21. "Baltimore City- Mayor". Maryland Board of Elections. May 9, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
22. Broadwater, Luke (February 3, 2016). "DeRay Mckesson files to run in Baltimore mayoral race". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
23. GPW (May 2, 2016). "Complete Maryland Green Party primary results". Green Party Watch. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
24. Reutter, Mark (October 10, 2016). "Exclusive: Sheila Dixon plans write-in campaign for mayor". Baltimore Brew. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
25. "Catherine Pugh Becomes Baltimore's Next Mayor". WBAL-TV. November 9, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
26. "Presidential General Election Baltimore City, Maryland November 8, 2016 OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Baltimore City Board of Elections. 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.

External links

• Alan Walden for Mayor (R)
• Catherine Pugh for Mayor (D)
• Joshua Harris for Mayor (G)