For the first time in its history, Harford County has more voters registered Republican than Democrat – a watershed moment for the GOP, even though it has dominated the majority of local races for the last decade.
When the Elections Office closed its books on Tuesday, there were officially a dozen more Republicans than Democrats in Harford County.
Republicans (61,971) now make up 42.04% of Harford’s 147,408 total registered voters, compared to the Democrats (61,959) who comprise 42.03% of the vote.
“Harford County is officially Republican Red,” announced Republican Central Committee chair Kim Wagner in an email to Harford Republicans on Tuesday.
Harford County Board of Elections supervisor Jim Massey said Friday he had been noticing a lot of Democrats switching to the Republican Party so they can have a vote in the Primary Election. His office is processing about 400 registrations each month and each month he is seeing more voters becoming Republican.
Massey also said he noticed Harford County employees changing their registration to Republican, although he didn’t know if the reason for their change in affiliation was to vote for or against a particular candidate.
Ever since the infamous “Republican Tide” of 2002, which swept through the region when Bob Ehrlich was elected governor, the GOP has been making steady gains in Harford County.
Four years ago, on August 31, 2006, Harford County had 135,084 registered voters, 58,934 of which were Democrats and 57,989 of which were Republicans – a difference of 945.
There was a resurgence of Democratic registration two years ago, when Barack Obama was elected president, but since then the trend has been going toward Republican, Massey said.
As of Tuesday, August 17:
Democrat —— 61,959
Republicans —— 61,971
Green —— 278
Constitution —— 37
Libertarians —— 490
Unaffiliated —— 21,983
Other —— 690
TOTAL —— 147,408
its no wonder.. the democrats of yesteryear must be all dead or they all drinking outta the same dang jug!!!
sign me
A democrat with some sense left
Leaning far right this year!!
This says the birther!
This was really good news. A lot of people worked real hard the past 20 years to make this happen. Kudos to Howard McComas, Teresa Reilly, Terry Noye, Mike Geppi, Kim Wagner, Bill Christoforo, amongst others for making us one of the largest GOP lead jurisdiction in Maryland!
I counldn’t agree more Wayne!!
Hmmm… how about Carol MacCubbin and Steve Wright?
All that’s left is to replace the Repulicrat leadership with some true conservatives!
Some one that must be included, Lois Nagle. The Great Lady of Harford County Republicans.
Perhaps the number of democrats changing their party affiliation to Republican is in order to change the Harford County Executive. That is the most important issue facing Harford County. The Harford County taxpayers can no longer accept out of control spending, fiscal mismanagement, favortism to developers and future tax increases to pay for such compromises of fiscal responsibility. Harford County needs a leader who represents the values and concerns of the Harford County citizens. Not the current Harford County Executive whose values and character are so disconnected from what the citizens expect and require.
Is that the same fiscal mismanagement that oversaw Harford County’s upgrade to a AAA bond rating a couple months ago?
Just curious as to which candidate you feel has the requisite “values and character” that you say you are looking for. I haven’t seen much in the past of the leading contender that inspires confidence on that front.
Let me just say that I don’t think the incumbent has done a great job. I think he has done a good job. I am voting for him this time because he is far and away the best person in the race.
I am glad Rob Wagner is the choice of Democrats throughout Harford.
To now have a voice in HC you have to be a Rep, otherwise, county council races, sheriff, exec, etc are decided for you. I don’t think either party is that great – DEMS are trending socialist/elitist and REPS kind of want to live in the past all the time – Reagan, Reagan, Reagan. I liked Reagan but I think even he would want folks to get over him and fit policy with the times.
The problem is, to have a voice in Annapolis — where the real dollars are, where the real laws are made that affect everyone in the State — you have to be a DEM. Until the time that the voters here realize that they might as well kiss adequate representation goodbye by voting for the likes of Jacobs, “Gimme another beer” Impallaria, Paddy McD, and the perennially befuddled “In the House” McCommas, Harford County will remain a third world county.