The 2022 Maryland Senate election were held on November 8, 2022, to elect senators in all 47 districts of the Maryland Senate. Members were elected in single-member constituencies to four-year terms. These elections were held concurrently with various federal and state elections, including for Governor of Maryland. The Democratic and Republican primaries were held on July 19, 2022.
Democrats gained 2 seats, increasing their supermajority to 34 out of 47 seats. Simultaneously with gains in the state house and Wes Moore's win in the gubernatorial race, Democrats won a trifecta in the state for the first time since 2010.
Background
The Democratic Party had held majority control of the Senate since the beginning of the 20th century. The closest that the Republican Party had come to gaining control since then was in 1918, when Democrats held a thin 14 to 13 majority. Although Republicans had controlled the governorship since 2015, Democrats maintained a veto-proof supermajority of three-fifths in the 2014 and 2018 elections.
In the 2022 elections, Governor Larry Hogan was term-limited and Democrats assembled a large field of candidates to reclaim the office. The party retained their majority in the General Assembly and successfully retook the governor's office, and re-established a government trifecta.
Predictions
Overview
Summary by district
Closest races
Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
Retiring incumbents
Democrats
District 3: Ronald N. Young retired. District 10: Delores G. Kelley retired. District 26: Obie Patterson retired.
Republicans
District 1: George C. Edwards retired. District 4: Michael Hough retired to run for Frederick County executive. District 33: Edward R. Reilly retired. District 34: Robert Cassilly retired to run for Harford County executive.
Incumbents defeated
In primary elections
Republicans
District 37: Adelaide Eckardt lost renomination to Johnny Mautz.
Detailed results
District 1
The new 1st district encompasses all of Garrett and Allegany counties and west Washington County. Four-term Republican incumbent George C. Edwards, who was re-elected in 2018 with 98.3% of the vote, announced on July 14, 2021, that he would not run for re-election to a fifth term.
Republican primary
Maryland Matters has identified the Republican primary election in District 1 as a "race to watch".
General election
District 2
The new 2nd district encompasses east Washington County, including Hagerstown, and north Frederick County. Republican incumbent Paul D. Corderman is running for a full term after being appointed to the seat on September 1, 2020, following the resignation of Andrew A. Serafini, who was re-elected in 2018 with 71.7% of the vote.
District 3
The new 3rd district encompasses the city of Frederick. Three-term Democratic incumbent Ronald N. Young, who was re-elected in 2018 with 58.5% of the vote, announced on November 8, 2021, that he would not run for re-election to a fourth term.
Democratic primary
Maryland Matters has identified the Democratic primary election in District 3 as a "race to watch".
General election
District 4
The new 4th district encompasses most of Frederick County. Two-term Republican incumbent Michael Hough, who was re-elected in 2018 with 59.1% of the vote, announced on May 17, 2021, that he would run for Frederick County executive instead of seeking a third term.
Republican primary
General election
District 5
The new 5th district encompasses most of Carroll County, including Eldersburg and Westminster. Two-term Republican incumbent Justin Ready, who was re-elected in 2018 with 71.5% of the vote, is running for a third term unopposed.
District 6
The new 6th district encompasses southeast Baltimore County, including Dundalk, Essex, and Edgemere. Two-term Republican incumbent Johnny Ray Salling, who was re-elected in 2018 with 55.3% of the vote, is running for a third term.
Republican primary
Democratic primary
General election
District 7
The new 7th district runs along the border of Baltimore and Harford counties. Three-term Republican incumbent J. B. Jennings, who was re-elected in 2018 with 66.9% of the vote, is running for a fourth term unopposed.
District 8
The new 8th district consists of part of Baltimore County, including Perry Hall and Parkville. Five-term Democratic incumbent Katherine A. Klausmeier, who was re-elected in 2018 with 51.1% of the vote, is running for a sixth term.