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Maryland, State Senate, District 20

Maryland State Senate District 20
Current incumbentWill Smith Democratic Party
Population117,811
Race43.61% White, 31.71% Black, 10.98% Other, 8.42% Asian, 4.71% Two or More Races, 0.50% American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.08% Pacific Islander

Maryland's twentieth state senate district is held by Democratic Senator Will Smith.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 117,811 civilians reside within Maryland's twentieth state senate district. Maryland state senators represent an average of 128,180 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 122,842 residents.

About the office

Members of the Maryland State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Maryland legislators assume office the second Wednesday in January after the election.

Qualifications

Section 9 of Article 3 of the Maryland Constitution states, "A person is eligible to serve as a Senator or Delegate, who on the date of his election, (1) is a citizen of the State of Maryland, (2) has resided therein for at least one year next preceding that date, and (3) if the district which he has been chosen to represent has been established for at least six months prior to the date of his election, has resided in that district for six months next preceding that date.

If the district which the person has been chosen to represent has been established less than six months prior to the date of his election, then in addition to (1) and (2) above, he shall have resided in the district for as long as it has been established.

A person is eligible to serve as a Senator, if he has attained the age of twenty-five years, or as a Delegate, if he has attained the age of twenty-one years, on the date of his election."

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$50,330/year$106/day for lodging; $47/day for meals.

Vacancies

The Governor is responsible for filling all vacancies in the senate.

The Governor has 30 days after the vacancy to make an appointment based on the recommendations of the political party committee that holds the vacant seat. The political party committee has up to 30 days after the vacancy to submit a list of recommended candidates to the Governor. If the party committee fails to act within the 30 day deadline, the Governor has 15 days to appoint a person from the political party that last held the seat.

The person appointed to the seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term.

Elections

2018

General election
General election for Maryland State Senate District 20

Incumbent Will Smith (D) defeated Dwight Patel (R) and Vardley St. Preux (Unaffiliated) in the general election for Maryland State Senate District 20 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Will Smith (D)
90.8
42,069

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Dwight Patel (R)
9.1
4,236

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Vardley St. Preux (Unaffiliated)
0.0
5
Other/Write-in votes
0.1
35

Total votes: 46,345
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Maryland State Senate District 20

Incumbent Will Smith advanced from the Democratic primary for Maryland State Senate District 20 on June 26, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Will Smith (D)
100
16,896

Total votes: 16,896
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Maryland State Senate District 20

Dwight Patel advanced from the Republican primary for Maryland State Senate District 20 on June 26, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Dwight Patel (R)
100
711

Total votes: 711


2014

Elections for the Maryland State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 24, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 25, 2014. Incumbent Jamie Raskin was unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election. Vardly E. St. Preux ran as an independent candidate but did not meet filing requirements to appear on the general election ballot.

2010

Elections for the office of Maryland State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 14, 2010, and a general election on November 2, 2010. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was July 6, 2010. Incumbent Jamie Raskin (D) was unopposed in the general election and the Democratic primary.

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2014, candidates for Maryland State Senate District 20 raised a total of $1,103,877. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $122,653 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Maryland State Senate District 20

Year Amount Candidates Average
2014 $164,023 1 $164,023
2012 $114,747 1 $114,747
2010 $85,088 1 $85,088
2008 $111,228 1 $111,228
2006 $510,262 2 $255,131
2004 $1,575 1 $1,575
2002 $116,954 2 $58,477
Total $1,103,877 9 $122,653