Harford County’s Democratic primary for county executive has turned into a slow-burning nail-biter, with Barbara Osborn Kreamer now clinging to a narrow edge over Matthew J. Brown after mail-in ballots shifted the scoreboard.
Once the latest batch of mail-ins was added to the totals, Kreamer moved ahead of Brown by 189 votes, with roughly 85% of the vote reported and no winner declared, while election workers kept counting.
According to the unofficial county totals from the Maryland State Board of Elections, Kreamer had 6,830 votes to Brown’s 6,641, a 50.70% to 49.30% split of the 13,471 votes tallied so far. WBAL NewsRadio noted in its live coverage that the reported total represents about 85% of the vote and that officials have not called the race. Those posted totals combine early voting, election day, and mail-in ballots as local canvases continue.
Late Mail-Ins Flipped The Result
On election night, Brown was barely ahead, at one point up by just four votes, and looked like he might survive a razor-thin finish. Then the mail-in canvass began to land, and the race tilted in Kreamer’s favor.
Conduit Street, the Maryland Association of Counties blog, highlighted how the overnight addition of mail-in ballots turned Brown’s tiny lead into a Kreamer edge and warned that the outcome could still move again as remaining ballots are reviewed. With margins this tight, the final canvass will matter more than any quick election night take.
What Comes Next
Local election boards will finish counting outstanding mail-in and provisional ballots before certifying the results and sending the final numbers to the State Board of Canvassers. Under state rules, a candidate may ask for a recount and does not have to pay recount costs if the margin is 0.25% or less of the total votes cast for the top two candidates, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections recount guide.
A recount petition must be filed within three days after the local board certifies the outcome. Any recount is conducted by the local board, with the state board monitoring the process, so both camps will be watching those deadlines and procedures very closely.
November Matchup And Local Stakes
Whoever emerges from this Democratic cliffhanger will face Republican incumbent Bob Cassilly in November, a general election that will help shape Harford County’s direction on schools, development, and taxes.
WBAL NewsRadio has reported that no winner has been declared in the primary and that campaigns and officials are closely tracking the ongoing canvass. Given the slim gap between Kreamer and Brown, both parties are already bracing for the possibility of recounts or further challenges once the numbers are certified.
The Harford County Board of Elections is posting official notices and updated unofficial tallies on its website as the canvass moves forward, including information on meeting schedules and final certification. For now, the primary remains in limbo while election officials finish counting every last ballot and complete any follow-up procedures required under state law.
