In Maryland, Republicans pick state lawmaker Parrott as their likely best chance to gain House seat

Maryland Republicans on Tuesday picked a state lawmaker as their likely best candidate in November to gain a House seat, selecting Delegate Neil Parrott over a 25-year-old political upstart in the state's western-most congressional district. 

The Associated Press declared the race for Parrott when he had 65.5% of the vote after polls had closed for about two hours. 

Voters appear to have rewarded Parrott who had fought for years in Annapolis for congressional maps with districts that look a little better for Republicans – including the state's 6th Congressional District in which he won the GOP primary. 

His efforts ultimately led to a district that President Joe Biden carried by 24 points to one he would have won by only 10 points, The Washington Post reported. And the nonpartisan Cook Political Report has the district as "Lean Democrat." 

The Maryland GOP had for years held that district and another, mostly along the Eastern Shore, until Democrats redrew the 6th District after the 2010 census to include parts of adjacent, and liberal-leaning Montgomery County. 

The state has eight congressional districts and its legislature in controlled by Democrats. 

In the state's eastern-most district, the 1st Congressional District, incumbent GOP Rep. Andy Harris won unopposed, with the Democrat primary race still undecided late Tuesday night. The outcome might not be known for days because the counting of mail-in ballots doesn't start until Thursday morning. 

Parrott won over a field of five, with the young, first-time candidate and biggest challenger Matthew Foldi coming in second with 14% of the vote. 

Parrott will face Democrat incumbent Rep. Dave Trone, whose race was declared by the Associated Press after had won 78.7% of vote in his three-person primary. 

To be sure, Foldi racked up support from many bold name Republicans including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, outgoing Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, Donald Trump Jr. and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. However, such outsider backing did not appear to help him garner the much-need grassroots support and votes.

Longtime Maryland Democrats including Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger cruised to easy, early victories.

The Associated Press called the race for Ruppersberger with 73.6% of the vote as polls close in his 2nd Congressional District race. He has held that seat for two decades. 

The wire service called the race for Van Hollen at about the same, with the first-term senator and former congressman having roughly 78% of the vote. The races to determine who will be their General Election challengers were still too close to call near midnight. 

In addition, Democrat Rep. Jamie Raskin, a key member of the Democrat-led House committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot, won his primary to be reelected to the state's 8th Congressional District.