Baltimore State's Attorney Ivan Bates is stepping away from the 41st District state senate race after a digital campaign flyer surfaced that made it look like he was backing a slate that included Sen. Dalya Attar. The pullback lands as Attar, indicted on federal extortion charges last October, tries to hold on to her seat and her political future at the same time. Bates' office says he will stay out of the contest to avoid any friction with federal partners who are handling the criminal case.
Bates disavows Unity Team flyer
The dust-up started with a campaign flyer for the 41st District Unity Team that declared the slate was "proudly endorsed by Ivan Bates". It featured a testimonial-style photo of Bates alongside the candidates, according to The Baltimore Banner. Bates' spokesperson Hassan Giordano, who also chairs the Unity Team, told the Banner that Bates had signed off on the endorsement in October, before the indictment came down. Giordano said Bates "cannot and will not become involved in this state senate race due to the ongoing legal proceedings involving the state senator." He added that Bates still "supports the excellent work being done by Delegates Sandy Rosenberg and Sean Stinnett" but is choosing to stay out of the senate matchup to steer clear of any potential conflicts.
Federal allegations detailed
Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment on Oct. 30, 2025, alleging that Attar, her brother, and a campaign volunteer conspired to secretly record and threaten a former consultant as part of an effort to influence elections, according to AP. The indictment describes hidden cameras, GPS tracking, and threats tied to intimate recordings. Attar has pleaded not guilty and remains in office as the case proceeds. The charges have injected even more tension into a race that was already a flashpoint inside Baltimore politics.
Where the race stands
Attar was appointed to the Maryland Senate in January 2025 to fill a vacancy, according to her member page in the Maryland General Assembly. The Maryland State Board of Elections has set the state primary for June 23, 2026. In the Democratic primary in District 41, Attar will face Del. Malcolm Ruff, who highlights a roster of prominent supporters on his campaign site. Malcolm Ruff's campaign has posted endorsements from state and local leaders, tightening the spotlight on a race that was already drawing heavy interest.
Why Bates is stepping back
Bates' decision to get out of the fray reflects how prosecutors try to handle potential conflicts when criminal investigations overlap with local elections. Since taking office, he has adopted a more traditional prosecutorial posture, reversing his predecessor's non‑prosecution policy on many low‑level offenses and publicly splitting with the mayor's violence prevention office. Those breaks with City Hall have sharpened his independent image, according to reporting on his decision to cut ties with mayor's office. That same posture helps explain why his office is treading carefully around a state senate race that now features an active federal case.
What to watch next
With the June 23 primary closing in, local political watchers will be looking to see whether other big-name figures mirror Bates' stance or jump into the endorsement game, and how the federal case shapes the tone of the campaign. Attar remains presumed innocent and has said she intends to defend herself in court, and the legal process, including pretrial filings, is likely to move on a different timetable than the election calendar, according to AP. How candidates and power brokers navigate those parallel tracks between now and primary day could decide who ultimately represents northwest, west, and southwest Baltimore in Annapolis.
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