The primary opponents of Reps. Wayne Gilchrest (R) and Albert Wynn (D) both declared victory early Wednesday morning in a pair of results that will send the first incumbents of the 2008 election home.
State Sen. Andy Harris (R) and activist Donna Edwards (D) are both on the fast track for the 111th Congress after defeating the incumbents, who had both faced difficult primaries before.
{mosads}Harris, who ran to Gilchrest’s right, was leading the longtime congressman 42-33 with 82 percent of precincts reporting. The result was called in Harris’s favor by the Associated Press and he declared the win, but Gilchrest reportedly urged supporters to await all the votes.
Edwards, who fell to Wynn by three points in 2006, was on her way to trouncing him in Tuesday’s election, leading him 60-35 with 76 percent of precincts in. Wynn conceded defeat.
“Tonight you proved that David can beat Goliath when the cause is right, when the cause is fighting to be a voice in Congress to protect the interests of families in our district and all across this country,” Edwards told supporters.
Weather issues delayed the reporting of votes in both races.
Polls were kept open an extra 90 minutes due to cold and icy weather, with those late votes counting as provisional ballots that won’t be counted for a week, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections.
The conditions also caused some precincts to be unable to report their results Tuesday night. Counting in those precincts is set to resume on Wednesday, weather permitting.
Counting of provisional ballots will not begin until Tuesday, Feb. 19.