The 2024 Baltimore mayoral election was held on November 5, 2024, to elect the mayor of Baltimore, Maryland.
Incumbent Brandon Scott was first elected in 2020 with 70.5% of the vote and ran re-election to a second term in 2024. Scott was considered vulnerable, as polls found that Baltimore residents were split on his performance as mayor. He faced criticism for his handling of important issues in the city, including schools, constituent services, and crime. However, Scott's response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, as well as his progress in growing the economy and reducing homicides, allowed him to make inroads with voters and boost his approval rating.
Scott defeated former mayor Sheila Dixon in the Democratic primary, a result that is considered tantamount to victory in the heavily Democratic city. His path to victory involved running up massive margins in Baltimore's majority-white precincts while running close to Dixon in its majority-Black areas. Scott defeated Republican challenger Shannon Wright in the general election on November 5, 2024, becoming the first mayor to win re-election to a second term since Martin O'Malley.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Brandon Scott, incumbent mayor (2020–present)
Eliminated in primary Wayne Baker Texas Brown, hospitality manager Wendy Bozel, teacher Sheila Dixon, former mayor (2007–2010) and candidate in 2016 and 2020 Kevin Harris, Community College of Baltimore County facultyBaltimore Banner Voter Guide Kevin Harris Wendell Hill-Freeman, marketing executive Yolanda Pulley, activist and candidate for mayor in 2020 Joseph E. Scott Keith B. Scott, candidate for mayor in 2020 Robert Wallace, businessman and independent candidate for mayor in 2020 Yasaun Young, candidate for mayor in 2020
Withdrawn Thiruvendran Vignarajah, former Maryland deputy attorney general and candidate for mayor in 2020 (endorsed Dixon, remained on ballot)
Declined Zeke Cohen, city councilor from the 1st district (2016–present) (ran for city council president) Eric Costello, city councilor from the 11th district (2014–present) (ran for re-election, endorsed Dixon) Bill Henry, Baltimore City Comptroller (2020–present) (ran for re-election) Nick Mosby, president of the Baltimore City Council (2020–present) and former state delegate from the 40th district (2017–2020) (ran for re-election)
Endorsements
Debates and forums 2024 Baltimore mayoral election Democratic primary debates Date Host Moderator Link Participants Participant Absent Non-invitee Invitee Sheila Dixon Brandon Scott Thiru Vignarajah Bob Wallace Others 1 February 28, 2024 "More than two dozenenvironmental groups" Tom HallLisa Snowden N/A A 2 March 4, 2024 North Baltimoreneighborhood associations Karsonya Wise Whitehead YouTube – 3 April 11, 2024 BikemoreThe Real News Network Jaisal Noor YouTube – 4 April 13, 2024 North Baltimoreneighborhood associations Claudia Wilson N/A – 5 April 17, 2024 WBAL-TV Jason Newton Website – 6 April 30, 2024 The Baltimore BannerWYPR Emily SullivanTom HallDenise Koch YouTube – 7 May 7, 2024 Baltimoreans United InLeadership Development Kevin DanielsMelissa ZieveAndrew Connors Facebook WN –
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of April 26, 2024CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handSheila Dixon (D)$916,517$811,374$110,082Kevin Harris (D) <$1,000 <$1,000 N/AWendell Hill-Freeman (D) <$1,000 <$1,000 N/AYolanda Pulley (D) <$1,000 <$1,000 N/ABrandon Scott (D)$1,262,407$1,244,937$449,952Robert Wallace (D)$529,207$131,323$415,233Thiru Vignarajah (D)$718,013$195,787$522,226 Source: Maryland State Board of Elections
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error SheilaDixon BrandonScott ThiruVignarajah BobWallace Other UndecidedOpinionWorksOpinionWorks April 7–11, 2024 508 (LV) ± 4.3% 35% 38% 10% 4% 5% 7%Goucher CollegeGoucher College April 3–7, 2024 440 (RV) ± 4.7% 32% 40% 11% 3% 3% 10%Garin-Hart-Yang Research GroupGarin-Hart-Yang Research Group February 24–26, 2024 400 (LV) ± 5% 40% 37% 10% 6% – 8%Lake Research PartnersLake Research Partners October 16–22, 2023 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 39% 31% – 10% – 15%Goucher CollegeGoucher College September 19–23, 2023 537 (RV) ± 4.2% 39% 27% – – 23% 8%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error EricCostello SheilaDixon BillHenry JayneMiller BrandonScott ThiruVignarajah UndecidedLake Research PartnersLake Research Partners Late March 2023 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 3% 18% 6% 7% 21% 11% 34%
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Shannon Wright, nonprofit executive and nominee for mayor in 2020
Eliminated in primary Michael Moore, activist Donald Scoggins, urban planner and perennial candidate
Endorsements
Debates and forums Scoggins, Moore, and Wright attended the candidate forum sponsored by over two dozen environmental groups on February 28, 2024.
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of April 2, 2024CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handMichael Moore (R) <$1,000 <$1,000 N/ADonald Scoggins (R) $410 $0 $410Shannon Wright (R) <$1,000 <$1,000 N/A Source: Maryland State Board of Elections
Results
Third-party candidates Candidates Failed to qualify Timothy Sewell (Independent)
Withdrawn Chukwuemeka Egwu (Independent)
Debates and forums Egwu attended the candidate forum sponsored by over two dozen environmental groups on February 28, 2024.
General election Results
Notes
Partisan clients
References
External links Official campaign websites for mayoral candidates Brandon Scott (D) for Mayor Shannon Wright (R) for Mayor