Maryland. It’s a place where the crabs are salty, and the politics are deep blue. Honestly, if you were looking for a shocker during the 2024 United States presidential election in Maryland, you probably spent your November night disappointed. We all knew where those 10 electoral votes were going long before the first ballot box was even unsealed.
But here’s the thing: looking only at the "blue-ness" misses the weird stuff that happened under the hood. While Kamala Harris handily carried the state, the 2024 United States presidential election in Maryland was actually a story of shifting margins, a surprisingly competitive Senate race, and a massive moment for reproductive rights.
The numbers don't lie. Kamala Harris took about 62.6% of the vote. Donald Trump grabbed roughly 34.1%. On paper, that looks like a blowout. And it was. But compared to 2020, when Joe Biden won the state by a massive 33 points, Harris’s 28.5-point margin showed a slight wiggle toward the right. Not a earthquake, sure. More like a tremor.
Why Maryland Didn't Just "Coast" This Year
People talk about Maryland like it’s a monolith. It isn't. You've got the ultra-progressive hubs in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County, and then you’ve got the rugged, deep-red pockets of Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore.
In the 2024 United States presidential election in Maryland, the urban centers did the heavy lifting for the Democrats. Baltimore City and the D.C. suburbs are basically a firewall. Kamala Harris racked up over 1.9 million votes here, making Maryland her second-strongest state in the entire country, only trailing Vermont.
📖 Related: Trump New Gun Laws: What Most People Get Wrong
- Kamala Harris / Tim Walz: 1,902,577 votes (62.6%)
- Donald Trump / J.D. Vance: 1,035,550 votes (34.1%)
- Jill Stein (Green): 33,134 votes (1.1%)
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: 28,819 votes (0.9%)
Funny enough, Donald Trump actually broke a record here. He became the first Republican to snag more than a million votes in Maryland since George W. Bush did it in 2004. Even in a losing effort, the GOP found a way to turn out a significant chunk of the "Silent Majority" in the Free State.
The Larry Hogan Effect
You can't talk about the 2024 United States presidential election in Maryland without mentioning the guy who wasn't running for President. Former Governor Larry Hogan was on the ticket for the U.S. Senate.
Hogan is a rare breed—a Republican who left the governor's mansion with high approval ratings in a blue state. He ran a massive 17 points ahead of Trump. Let that sink in. While Trump was getting crushed in places like Anne Arundel and Frederick counties, Hogan was actually winning them or keeping it neck-and-neck.
Ultimately, Angela Alsobrooks beat him out, becoming the first Black woman to represent Maryland in the Senate. But Hogan’s presence on the ballot likely helped pull some conservative-leaning independents to the polls who might have otherwise stayed home.
👉 See also: Why Every Tornado Warning MN Now Live Alert Demands Your Immediate Attention
Abortion Was Literally on the Ballot
If there was one thing that supercharged the 2024 United States presidential election in Maryland, it was Question 1. Voters weren't just picking a leader; they were deciding on a constitutional amendment to enshrine reproductive freedom.
It passed. Big time.
Over 76% of Marylanders voted "Yes" on Question 1. That’s even higher than the percentage of people who voted for Harris. It turns out, even in some of the redder counties, the idea of protecting abortion rights had a lot of pull. This referendum probably helped stabilize the Democratic turnout, especially among women and younger voters who were feeling "meh" about the national ticket.
The Talbot County Nail-Biter
Want to hear something wild? In a state where one candidate wins by nearly 900,000 votes, one county was decided by a literal handful of people. Talbot County, over on the Eastern Shore, was the closest county in the entire United States.
✨ Don't miss: Brian Walshe Trial Date: What Really Happened with the Verdict
It came down to just 6 votes.
That’s not a typo. Six people. It just goes to show that even in a "safe" state, your individual vote can be the one that flips a local map. Honestly, it’s those little details that make Maryland politics so much more interesting than the national pundits suggest.
Third-Party Noise and Turnout
Turnout was solid, hovering around 72.8%. That’s a tiny bit lower than the 2020 peak, but still shows that Marylanders care. Third-party candidates didn't really play spoiler here, but Jill Stein had her best showing in the nation right here in Maryland.
- Libertarians (Chase Oliver): 0.5%
- Unaffiliated (RFK Jr.): 0.9%
- Green Party (Jill Stein): 1.1%
People were clearly looking for "none of the above" in small numbers. Most of the RFK Jr. fans stuck with him even after he suspended his campaign, which is a weird little quirk of the Maryland results.
What This Means for You
So, the dust has settled. Trump is back in the White House, and Maryland remains a blue fortress in a changing political landscape. If you're looking to make sense of it all, here is what you should actually do:
- Check the County Maps: Don't just look at the state total. Look at how your specific neighborhood voted on the Maryland State Board of Elections website. You might be surprised how much "purple" is in your backyard.
- Watch the 2026 Midterms: With a Republican presidency, expect the 2026 gubernatorial and legislative races in Maryland to become a massive battleground for the "resistance" or for GOP gains.
- Stay Local: The 2024 United States presidential election in Maryland proved that local issues—like the abortion amendment—often have more consensus than the candidates themselves. Focus on the policy changes happening in Annapolis.
Maryland isn't going to change its stripes overnight. But the 2024 cycle showed that even the deepest blue has different shades. Whether it's the 6-vote margin in Talbot or the million-vote milestone for the GOP, the state's political identity is far from stagnant.