The “blue wave” of Democratic voters anticipated in polls showed up in reality in the early voting across that nation – and here on the Eastern Shore.
Early voting itself was way up since the last mid-term election in 2022 – a 60 percent increase.
And Democrats were driving that increase: In Dorchester County, Democrats were up by 32.5 points in mail-in voting. Talbot County saw Democrats with a 30.9 point advantage, and in deep red Caroline County, Democrats led in the early mail-in voting by 12.3 points.
Statewide, according to On Point Politics, Democrats led with 53.9 percent of 358,000 in the early count of votes by mail. That was 20.6 points bluer than in the 2024 presidential election.
NBC reported that statewide, 64 percent of the 962,046 early in person and mail-in voters were Democrats. 21 percent were Republican and 15% were independents or other parties.
63 percent of Maryland’s early vote was done in person, with 37 percent by mail. Mail-in voting continues through Tuesday.
57 percent of early voters in Maryland were women, and 50 percent of the total vote came from voters aged 65 or older, according to NBC’s count.
Listen to hear from early voters what's motivating them this time.