Battles for Three Legislative Appointments Are Starting to Take Shape

Baltimore: Things are getting interesting in Maryland as three legislative seats are up for grabs. Two delegates from Baltimore County, Harry Bhandari and Carl Jackson, are gearing up to fill the Senate seat left vacant by Kathy Klausmeier, who just became the county executive.

They both plan to ask the Baltimore County Democratic Central Committee to recommend them to Governor Wes Moore. The committee is taking applications until January 22, so it’s a race against time.

Klausmeier’s seat is one of three openings in the General Assembly right now. There’s also a Senate seat in Baltimore City and a House seat in Anne Arundel County. The new appointees will hold their positions until at least January 2027, but they can run for full terms in 2026.

In Baltimore City, the deadline to apply for the District 41 seat is coming up fast. The local Democratic Central Committee will meet soon to recommend a replacement for former Senator Jill P. Carter, who left to join the Maryland Board of Contract Appeals.

There’s buzz about who might take over, with names like Malcolm Ruff, Dalya Attar, and Isaac Schleifer floating around. Ruff was appointed to the House last year, and he’s been making waves since.

In District 8, Bhandari and Jackson are both making their case to keep the Senate seat in Democratic hands. Bhandari feels confident, pointing out that he was the top vote-getter in his district last election. Jackson is also gathering support, boasting endorsements from key unions.

Meanwhile, the third delegate from District 8, Nick Allen, has decided to stay put and focus on his current role. He believes stability is key right now.

District 8 has been a bit of a swing area, but recent changes have made it more favorable for Democrats. The local Democratic Central Committee will soon recommend a successor for Klausmeier, but the date for that meeting is still up in the air.

Over in District 30A, candidates are lining up to fill the vacancy left by Shaneka Henson, who moved up to the Senate. Dylan Behler, a former aide, is the first to throw his hat in the ring, claiming he has the experience to hit the ground running.

Others, like Annapolis Alderman Brooks Schandelmeier and activist Chrissy Holt, are also expected to apply. The Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee is accepting applications until January 22, and candidates will have a chance to speak at a local meeting later this month.