By Adam Pagnucco.
A recent poll estimated that 60% of Maryland voters believe the state should switch to an open primary system, which would allow all registered voters to vote in either party’s primary. Many other states use such a system. Is this possible in Maryland?
First, let’s review the poll by the UMBC Institute of Politics, which surveyed 776 likely Maryland voters from September 22 through September 27. The poll stated these findings on primaries.
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Likely voters were asked which comes closer to their view on primary elections in Maryland: Sixty percent think Maryland should switch to an open primary system, where all registered voters, including unaffiliated voters, can vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary.
- Among Democrats: 63 percent
- Among Republicans: 44 percent
- Among Unaffiliated: 74 percent
Thirty-two percent think Maryland should keep its closed primary system, where only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote in their party’s primary.
- Among Democrats: 30 percent
- Among Republicans: 48 percent
- Among Unaffiliated: 14 percent
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The poll’s crosstabs showed majority support for open primaries among many demographic groups except Republicans and conservatives.
In many parts of Maryland, primaries are the real elections and generals are almost irrelevant. Consider these stats on active voters as of October 18, 2026 from the State Board of Elections.
Counties
In six counties (Baltimore City plus Baltimore, Charles, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties), Democrats account for a majority of active eligible active voters. Together, these jurisdictions account for 63% of the state’s total voters. Northern parts of Baltimore and Howard counties often elect Republicans, but otherwise, these counties are Dem strongholds. On the other side, Republicans are a majority in two small counties: Allegany and Garrett. In four small Eastern Shore counties – Dorchester, Kent, Talbot and Wicomico – the two parties’ voter percentages are within five points of each other. The other twenty jurisdictions have a pronounced lean one way or another.
State Legislative Districts and Sub-Districts
The state has 71 state legislative districts and sub-districts. Of these, 35 – nearly half – have Democratic majorities of active eligible voters. Just 5 have Republican majorities. In only 3 districts, the two parties’ voter percentages are within five points of each other. This nearly guarantees Democratic control of the General Assembly and makes many – perhaps most – general elections irrelevant.
And so Democrats control a huge playground, Republicans have a few tiny plots and unaffiliated voters – who now constitute 23% of the state’s active eligible voters – usually must live under one specific party’s primary election winners, whom they have no role in selecting.
Now it seems that most Marylanders believe this system is unfair.
They are not alone as many residents of other states do too.
An August 2024 poll by Franklin and Marshall College found that 77% of Pennsylvania voters supported opening primaries to independent voters. Governor Josh Shapiro supports the idea.
A January 2026 national poll by RealClear Opinion Research/Emerson Polling finds that “71% of voters support requiring states to hold open primaries, where all voters are able to participate in primary elections, while 20% oppose open primaries.”
A March 2026 poll by Ragnar Research Partners found that 80% of Louisiana voters supported their then-open primary system. (Despite that fact, the state switched to closed primaries.)
A June 2026 poll by IVC Media found that 51% of registered New York City Democrats support opening their primaries to unaffiliated voters. 23% oppose the idea.
A September 2026 national poll by RealClear Opinion Research finds that “A majority of voters, 60%, would support requiring states to hold open primaries, where all voters can participate; 24% would oppose, and 16% are unsure. A majority of voters (56%) would support having all-candidate primary elections in their state; while 29% oppose and 15% are unsure.”
State laws on voting in primaries are all over the place, but nearly half use totally open primaries or allow unaffiliated voters to vote in party primaries.
Maryland has an interesting state law on primary voting. Consider Md. Election Law Code Ann. § 8-202, which contains this provision: “If a political party chooses to permit voters not affiliated with the party to vote in the party’s primary election, the chairman of the party’s State central committee shall so notify the State Board at least 6 months before the date of the primary election.”
That’s right, folks. Either the Maryland Democratic Party or the Maryland Republican Party could choose to allow non-members to vote in their primaries. They could do it with no changes to state law required.
The Democrats have no incentive to do this since they have near-complete control of state government and dominate most of the large county governments under the current system. But the Republicans have every incentive to allow non-voters into their primaries. Exhibit A is Republican former Delegate Dan Cox, the MAGA extremist who has now been crushed in two consecutive gubernatorial elections by Wes Moore. The GOP may as well try something different by opening its house to rapidly growing unaffiliated people. What do they have to lose?
And if the Republicans were to use such a system to improve their candidate quality and score some wins, would Democrats choose to follow? That might be the only path to Maryland ever having open primaries.