Haven N. Shoemaker, Jr. (born January 26, 1965) is an American politician who is currently the State's Attorney for Carroll County, Maryland.[2][3] He previously served as a Republican member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 2015 to 2022, and as the House minority whip in 2022.[4] He also previously served as a Carroll County Commissioner, as Mayor of Hampstead, Maryland, and as a member of the Hampstead Town Council.[5]

Haven Shoemaker
Shoemaker in 2016
Shoemaker in 2016
State's Attorney of Carroll County
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byAllan J. Culver (acting)
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 5th district
In office
January 14, 2015 – January 3, 2023
Preceded byRedistricting
Succeeded byChris Tomlinson
Member of the Carroll County Board of County Commissioners from the 2nd district
In office
December 6, 2010 – December 2, 2014
Preceded byJulia Walsh Gouge
Succeeded byC. Richard Weaver
Mayor of Hampstead, Maryland
In office
May 15, 2003 – December 6, 2010
Preceded byChristopher M. Nevin
Succeeded byChristopher M. Nevin
Member, Hampstead Town Council
In office
May 13, 1997 – May 15, 2003
Personal details
Born
Haven N. Shoemaker, Jr.

(1965-01-26) January 26, 1965 (age 59)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpousePatty
Children1
Parents
  • Haven N. Shoemaker Sr.[1] (father)
  • Carolyn Shoemaker (mother)
ResidenceHampstead, Maryland
EducationNorth East High School
Alma materUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore County, B.A. (political science), 1987. Widener University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1992.
ProfessionAttorney
Military service
Branch/serviceArmy National Guard
Years of service1987–1989

Early life and career

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Shoemaker was born in Baltimore, Maryland. After graduating from North East High School in North East, Maryland, he attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where he earned a B.A. degree in political science in 1987, and Widener University School of Law, where he earned a J.D. degree magna cum laude in 1992. In between universities, he served in the Army National Guard for two years.[5]

Shoemaker was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1992 and has operated his own law office since 1994, when he moved in Hampstead.[5][6]

In 1995, Shoemaker unsuccessfully ran for the Hampstead Town Council.[7] In 1996, he ran to fill a vacancy in the town council left by the resignation of Dwight W. Homer, but lost to Seth Shipley.[8] He ran again in 1997, winning the election with 227 votes.[9] He served on the town council until he was elected the town's mayor in 2003.[10] He ran on a ticket alongside outgoing mayor Christoper Nevin.[11] In November 2005, Shoemaker announced his candidacy for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 5A.[12] He received 14.7 percent of the vote in the Republican primary election.[13] He ran unopposed in 2007.[14]

Carroll County Commissioner

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In 2010, Shoemaker was elected to the Carroll County Board of County Commissioners, representing District 2. He was sworn in on December 6, 2010.[5]

While on the Carroll County board of commissioners, Shoemaker introduced an "English only" ordinance which was passed unanimously in 2013.[15] He opposed an unsuccessful 2020 proposal to repeal the ordinance which he has called his idea.[16][17]

In June 2013, Shoemaker voted to block Carroll County residents and businesses from paying Maryland's stormwater fee, calling the tax "idiotic".[18]

Shoemaker announced his candidacy for the Maryland House of Delegates on June 24, 2013.[19] He won the primary election with 17.3 percent of the vote and defeated Democratic candidates Dorothy G. Scanian and Zachary Hands in the general election with 27.2 percent of the vote.[20][21]

In the legislature

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Shoemaker was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 14, 2015.[5] He served as the House Minority Whip in 2022.[4]

In 2016, Shoemaker ran for alternative RNC delegate from Maryland's 1st congressional district in the Republican primary, pledged to Marco Rubio.[22] He voted for Donald Trump in the general election, albeit "not happily".[23]

Shoemaker was re-elected in 2018, during which he ran on a "Team Hogan" platform alongside state Senator Justin Ready and Delegates Susan Krebs and April Rose.[24]

In July 2021, Shoemaker announced his candidacy for Carroll County State's Attorney, opting out of a third term in the legislature.[25] He won the Republican primary on July 19, 2022, receiving 57.3 percent of the vote.[2]

Committee assignments

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  • Member, Judiciary Committee, 2021–2022
  • Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, 2019–2022
  • Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, 2022
  • Legislative Policy Committee, 2022
  • Member, Ways and Means Committee, 2015–2021 (finance resources subcommittee, 2015–2017; education subcommittee, 2015–2020; election law subcommittee, 2017–2021; early childhood subcommittee, 2021)

Other memberships

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  • Minority Parliamentarian, 2017–2021
  • Chief Deputy Minority Whip, 2021
  • House Chair, Carroll County Delegation, 2017–2022
  • Member, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, 2015–2022
  • Maryland Veterans Caucus, 2015–2022

Political positions

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Abortion

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In May 2019, Shoemaker accused Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot of "playing partisan politics" in asking officials to review whether the state's pension system had investments in Alabama after the state passed laws restricting access to abortions.[26]

In March 2022, Shoemaker voted against legislation that would create a ballot referendum to enshrine access to reproductive care into the Constitution of Maryland.[27][28]

In April 2022, Shoemaker voted against legislation that would expand abortion access by expanding who can perform abortions and providing financial support to train health care professionals to offer reproductive services, calling it the "most radical expansion of abortion in Maryland's history in a state that already has some of the most liberal abortion laws in the country."[29]

Business

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In December 2020, the Maryland Free Enterprise Association gave Shoemaker a score of 100 percent in its annual legislative scorecard.[30]

COVID-19 pandemic

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In June 2020, Shoemaker attended the Carroll County Freedom Rally to protest the state's coronavirus restrictions.[31] Later in the month, Shoemaker authored a Baltimore Sun op-ed "Gov. Hogan deserves an 'F' for his handling the pandemic, roepening", that argued Governor Hogan wasn't doing enough to reopen businesses in Maryland amid the COVID-19 pandemic.[32] In November 2020, he authored another op-ed, "With Republicans like Gov. Hogan, who needs Democrats?", that accused Governor Larry Hogan of setting up a "snitch hotline" that allows Marylanders to call in crowd-size violations to law enforcement authorities.[33]

In September 2021, Shoemaker voted against regulations that would implement an universal mask mandate in public schools.[34] In February 2022, he called on Governor Hogan to repeal the state's school masking policy.[35]

Education

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Shoemaker introduced legislation in the 2016 legislative session that would limit standardized testing for kindergarten students and prevent any future testing of prekindergarten students.[36] The bill passed and became law on April 26, 2016.[37]

In February 2020, Shoemaker voted against legislation that would reverse a Labor Day start date for all public schools in Maryland.[38] In March 2020, Shoemaker voted against the Blueprint for Maryland's Future reform bill.[39][40]

Elections

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Shoemaker introduced legislation in the 2022 legislative session that would require election officials to verify signatures on all mail-in ballots, and another bill that would prohibit sending mail-in ballots to voters unless the voters requested them.[41][42] Both bills did not receive a vote on the House floor.[43][44]

Environment

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Shoemaker opposed the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2021.[45]

Guns

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Shoemaker opposed legislation introduced in the 2022 legislative session that would require firearm dealers to install video surveillance and alarm systems at their gun shops, saying that he considered the security requirements "onerous".[46]

Immigration

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In July 2017, Shoemaker joined 35 of his House and Senate colleagues penned a letter questioning the legal merits of a lawsuit launched by Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh over Executive Order 13769.[47]

Policing and sentencing

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In July 2020, Shoemaker hosted a rally outside of the Maryland State House to support law enforcement officials following the murder of George Floyd.[48]

In March 2021, Shoemaker voted against the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021, arguing that it would cause a mass exodus of police officers from forces across the state.[49] He also voted against legislation that would end life without parole sentences for juvenile offenders.[50]

Social issues

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In November 2020, Shoemaker called an anti-Donald Trump banner displayed at the house of a Carroll County Public Schools administrator "hate speech".[51]

In April 2021, Shoemaker voted against legislation that would require schools to allow students to engage in peaceful demonstrations.[52]

Shoemaker introduced legislation in the 2022 legislative session that would prohibit registered sex offenders from operating babysitting services.[53][54]

In February 2022, Shoemaker voted against legislation that would create a ballot referendum to legalize recreational marijuana, saying it would be wrong to legalize marijuana before the state can conduct its study of its public health effects.[55]

Electoral history

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Hampstead, Maryland mayoral election, 2003[10]
Candidate Votes %
Haven Shoemaker 373 69.5
Wayne Thomas 164 30.5
Maryland House of Delegates District 5A Republican primary election, 2006[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Nancy R. Stocksdale 4,455 30.2
Republican Tanya Thornton Shewell 3,519 23.8
Republican Haven N. Shoemaker, Jr. 2,172 14.7
Republican Kevin R. Utz 1,847 12.5
Republican C. Scott Stone 1,568 10.6
Republican William C. Niner 903 6.1
Republican David D. Wallace, II 308 2.1
Carroll County Commissioner District 2 Republican primary election, 2010[56]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Haven Shoemaker 1,592 39.0
Republican Brian K. Dimaggio 913 22.4
Republican Stephen Buettner 810 19.9
Republican Julia Walsh Gouge 763 18.7
Carroll County Commissioner District 2 election, 2010[57]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Haven Shoemaker 8,661 68.3
Democratic Charles E. Bevard 3,991 31.5
Write-in 37 0.3
Maryland House of Delegates District 5 Republican primary election, 2014[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Justin Ready 10,567 25.0
Republican Susan W. Krebs 7,665 18.1
Republican Haven Shoemaker 7,308 17.3
Republican Joshua Stonko 5,813 13.8
Republican Donald B. Elliott 4,064 9.6
Republican Kevin R. Utz 4,024 9.5
Republican Carmen M. Amedori 2,819 6.7
Maryland House of Delegates District 5 election, 2014[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Susan Krebs 35,701 28.6
Republican Justin Ready 34,789 27.9
Republican Haven Shoemaker 33,985 27.2
Democratic Dorothy G. Scanlan 11,737 9.4
Democratic Zachary Hands 8,210 6.6
Write-in 351 0.3
Alternate Delegates to the Republican National Convention, District 1, 2016[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dona Goeller (Trump) 56,423 20.9
Republican Claude T. Lewis (Trump) 55,164 20.5
Republican Denise Kuchta Lovelady (Trump) 55,070 20.4
Republican David Scott Lazarus (Cruz) 16,339 6.1
Republican Christina Trotta (Cruz) 16,018 5.9
Republican Emma Middleton (Cruz) 15,728 5.8
Republican Arlette Kelly Bright (Carson) 7,135 2.6
Republican Laurie Mullinx Luellen (Carson) 6,016 2.2
Republican Haven Shoemaker (Rubio) 4,821 1.8
Republican Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (Christie) 4,550 1.7
Republican Michael W. Dawson (Rubio) 4,347 1.6
Republican Ummu Bradley Thomas (Carson) 4,312 1.6
Republican J. B. Jennings 3,908 1.4
Republican Kevin Bailey Hornberger (Rubio) 3,833 1.4
Republican James Reilly 3,711 1.4
Republican Chad R. Shrodes 3,166 1.2
Republican Mark Novak 2,986 1.1
Republican Christopher Brian Gannon 2,262 0.8
Republican David L. Catrino 2,114 0.8
Republican Angela Sudano-Marcellino 1,748 0.6
Maryland House of Delegates District 5 Republican primary election, 2018[58]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Susan Krebs 9,566 31.0
Republican Haven Shoemaker 8,811 28.5
Republican April Rose 8,350 27.0
Republican David Ellin 4,176 13.5
Maryland House of Delegates District 5 election, 2018[59]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Susan Krebs 39,236 30.9
Republican April Rose 33,991 26.8
Republican Haven Shoemaker 33,658 26.5
Democratic Emily Shank 19,484 15.4
Write-in 516 0.4
Carroll County State's Attorney Republican primary election, 2022[60]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Haven Shoemaker 11,530 57.3
Republican David Ellin 8,596 42.7
Carroll County State's Attorney election, 2022[61]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Haven Shoemaker 51,197 96.1
Write-in 2,097 3.9

References

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  1. ^ "Haven N. Shoemaker Sr., 75, formerly of North East, Md". Carroll County Times. September 13, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Greenfield, Sherry (July 29, 2022). "No surprises as Carroll County Board of Elections releases final primary election results". Carroll County Times. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  3. ^ Greenfield, Sherry (November 8, 2022). "Returns show Republican sweep is all but certain in Carroll County commissioners races". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Kurtz, Josh (December 30, 2021). "After Recent Rift, House GOP Re-Elects Buckel as Leader, Taps Shoemaker as Whip". Maryland Matters. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Haven N. Shoemaker, Jr., State's Attorney, Carroll County, Maryland". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  6. ^ Powder, Jackie (April 20, 1997). "Towns will go to polls in May Mayoral, council races scheduled in seven of eight communities; Government nearest citizens; Courses for growth, revitalization face municipal leaders". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  7. ^ Miller, Amy L. (November 13, 1995). "Council expected to fill vacancy 3 contenders to fill Hyatt's term support slow-growth policies". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  8. ^ "Seth Shipley appointed to Hampstead council". The Baltimore Sun. March 14, 1996. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  9. ^ Hare, Mary Gail; Powder, Jackie (May 14, 1997). "Mayor wins second term New Windsor voters pick Gullo by 12 votes amid strong turnout; 'Clear differences' seen; In Union Bridge, 3 incumbents lose; 2 new winners in Hampstead". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Walker, Childs (May 14, 2003). "Shoemaker elected mayor of Hampstead". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  11. ^ Walker, Childs (May 15, 2003). "Little change forecast by mayor". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  12. ^ Hare, Mary Gail (November 27, 2005). "Hampstead mayor to run for delegate". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Official 2006 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Legislative District 05A". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  14. ^ McCandlish, Laura; Park, Madison (May 9, 2007). "Havre de Grace mayor is unseated in election". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  15. ^ "Carroll County adopts official English ordinance". WJLA. January 24, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  16. ^ Keller, Mary Grace (January 9, 2020). "English-only ordinance might be repealed; commissioner calls law 'stain on Carroll County'". Carroll County Times. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  17. ^ Keller, Mary Grace (February 6, 2020). "Proposal to repeal Carroll County's English-only ordinance halted after commissioner reverses decision". Carroll County Times. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  18. ^ Ames, Blair (June 27, 2013). "Carroll votes to spare residents from stormwater fee". Carroll County Times. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  19. ^ Ames, Blair (June 24, 2013). "Carroll commissioner Shoemaker announces candidacy for delegate". Carroll County Times. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  20. ^ a b "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  21. ^ a b "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  22. ^ a b "Official 2016 Presidential Primary Election results for Alternate Delegates to the Republican National Convention". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. May 31, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  23. ^ Norris, Heather (October 15, 2016). "Carroll officials lean toward Trump, with some hesitation". Carroll County Times. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  24. ^ Mann, Alex (November 6, 2018). "Carroll County voters choose incumbent Republicans for Maryland General Assembly". Carroll County Times. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  25. ^ Bateman, Madison (July 20, 2021). "Del. Haven Shoemaker running for Carroll County state's attorney in 2022 election". Carroll County Times. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  26. ^ Kyles, Arika (May 17, 2019). "Shoemaker urges Franchot to 'quit playing politics' in response to Alabama abortion law". Carroll County Times. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  27. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (March 11, 2022). "Ghost Gun Bans Advance in the General Assembly, While House of Delegates Passes Abortion Referendum Bill". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  28. ^ Wood, Pamela (February 14, 2022). "Maryland House speaker to push for constitutional amendment on abortion rights". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  29. ^ Gaines, Danielle E.; Gaskill, Hannah; Leckrone, Bennett; Shwe, Elizabeth (April 9, 2022). "With Legislative Overrides, Paid Leave and Abortion Access Bills Become Law in Maryland". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  30. ^ Leckrone, Bennett (December 16, 2020). "Democrats and Republicans Alike See Dip in Business Group's Ratings After 2020 Session". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  31. ^ Stoetzer, Pat (June 6, 2020). "Carroll County Freedom Rally holds peaceful, passionate protest in Westminster". Carroll County Times. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  32. ^ Shoemaker, Haven (June 12, 2020). "Shoemaker: Gov. Hogan deserves an 'F' for his handling of pandemic, reopening". Carroll County Times. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  33. ^ Shoemaker, Haven (November 26, 2020). "Shoemaker: With Republicans like Gov. Hogan, who needs Democrats? | COMMENTARY". Carroll County Times. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  34. ^ Shwe, Elizabeth (September 14, 2021). "Lawmakers Approve Universal Mask Mandate in Public Schools". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  35. ^ Spence, Molly Fellin (February 10, 2022). "Carroll County lawmakers call on State Board of Education to immediately rescind 'unscientific' school mask mandate". Carroll County Times. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  36. ^ Loricchio, Lauren (February 6, 2016). "Carroll lawmaker's bill would limit standardized testing for kindergarten, pre-K students". Carroll County Times. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  37. ^ "Legislation - HB0657". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  38. ^ Gaines, Danielle E. (February 21, 2020). "Lawmakers Likely to Dismiss Hogan's School Start Bill Despite Breezy Hearing". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  39. ^ Gaines, Danielle E. (March 4, 2020). "With Funding Amendments, Education Reform On Fast Track In House". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  40. ^ Gaines, Danielle E. (March 7, 2020). "House Passes Education Reform Bill Three Years in the Making". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  41. ^ Leckrone, Bennett (February 17, 2022). "Republican Lawmakers Again Introduce Voter ID, Signature Verification Bills". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  42. ^ Bateman, Madison (February 19, 2022). "Carroll County legislators join other Republicans to introduce package of election safeguard bills in General Assembly". Carroll County Times. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  43. ^ "Legislation - HB0939". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  44. ^ "Legislation - HB0963". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  45. ^ Shwe, Elizabeth (April 10, 2021). "House of Delegates Passes Climate Change Response Bill". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  46. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (March 2, 2022). "Gun Dealers Oppose Speaker's Bill to Require Theft Deterrents". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  47. ^ Kelvey, Jon (July 10, 2017). "Shoemaker leads Republicans chastising attorney general". Carroll County Times. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  48. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (July 23, 2020). "House Republicans Rally in Support of Police, Blast Democrats Who Call for Defunding". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  49. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (March 11, 2021). "Sweeping Police Reform Bill Passed By House of Delegates". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  50. ^ Leckrone, Bennett; Gaines, Danielle E. (March 30, 2021). "House Passes Bill to End Life Without Parole For Juvenile Offenders, Allow Re-Sentencings". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  51. ^ Griffith, Kristen (November 13, 2020). "Anti-Trump banner displayed at Carroll County school administrator's house draws criticism". Carroll County Times. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  52. ^ DePuyt, Bruce (April 5, 2021). "Bill Seeks to Bring Clarity to Rules on Student Protests". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  53. ^ Bateman, Madison (January 27, 2022). "Carroll Del. Shoemaker drafting statewide legislation aimed at child protection in sports, child care". Carroll County Times. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  54. ^ "Legislation - HB1320". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  55. ^ Barker, Jeff; Stole, Bryn (February 25, 2022). "Maryland House approves legislation allowing voters to decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana use". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  56. ^ "Official 2010 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Carroll County". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  57. ^ "Official 2010 Gubernatorial General Election results for Carroll County". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  58. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  59. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  60. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for Carroll County". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  61. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for Carroll County". Maryland State Board of Elections.
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