Howard County Council Seat Flips To Democrat

Democrat Cat Carter defeated Republican Ryan O'Connor in Howard County's District 5 on Tuesday night.

The result marks the first time in decades that this historically Republican district has elected a Democrat. Carter won by a margin of approximately 1,500 votes, which translates to a six percentage point lead. Her victory gives the Democratic Party a supermajority on the county council. The last time the council held such control was in 1986, a period when all seats were elected at large rather than by district. Carter will also become the first woman to represent this western part of the county.

O'Connor attributed his loss to the national political trend he called the Blue Wave. He said that anti-Trump sentiment played a major role in the outcome. "I think that’s ultimately why we lost was the ‘Blue Wave’ that took across the nation and the anti-Trump sentiment," O'Connor told Blair Sabol of WMAR-2 News. He added that he felt stereotyped for his party affiliation despite his moderate stance. "I think I was stereotyped as, you know, having a 'R' letter around my neck. Unfortunately, it was an uphill battle but I was more than happy to try it," he said.

Carter ran as a publicly funded candidate. Her campaign focused on advocacy, local schools, and smart growth policies. County Executive-elect Vanessa Atterbeary, a Democrat, credited Carter’s effort for shifting the balance of power. Atterbeary also became the first African American woman to hold the executive position in the county. "I think the residents of District 5 sent a clear message the same message that was sent across this country last night," Atterbeary said. She acknowledged the national trend but emphasized Carter's personal work ethic. "Was it part of a blue wave? Yes, but I also think it was just also Kat's determination and grit and she's been at it a long time," Atterbeary stated.

O'Connor conceded the race without expressing hard feelings. He praised Carter’s campaign strategy and her direct engagement with voters. "She ran a heck of a campaign. She put in a lot of sweat equity. She knocked on a lot of doors," O'Connor said. However, he expressed concern about the lack of partisan diversity on the council. "I am deeply concerned about having a one-party rule. There won't be any checks and balances here locally in government anymore," he noted.

Atterbeary disagreed that a unified party would hinder progress. She argued that collaboration is possible regardless of party labels. "I learned in Annapolis that just because you're in the same party doesn't mean you're always going to agree and you're not always going to be able to get things done just because you're in the same party," Atterbeary said. She added, "But what I'm hoping, is that we all want to get to the same end zone. It's just about how do we get there."

Carter was not available for an interview on Wednesday. WMAR-2 News attempted to reach the council member-elect but could not connect with her before publication.