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Voters Go to the Polls

Don Rush

Voters are going to the polls across the nation.

Here on the Eastern Shore Republicans are making efforts to unseat Democratic incumbents.

Delegate Norm Conway is being challenged by Republican Carl Anderton while State Senator Jim Mathias is facing off against Republican Delegate Mike McDermott.

In Wicomico County Republican Bob Culver is taking a shot at County Executive Rick Pollitt.

Meanwhile, in Maryland’s First Congressional District incumbent Republican Andy Harris faces a challenge by Bill Tilghman.

At the top of the ballot in Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown is seeking to succeed Governor Martin O’Malley.

But the Republican gubernatorial nominee Larry Hogan has put the race into single digits.

Michelle Obama

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MIchelle Obama

First lady Michelle Obama is rallied voters in Maryland to support Brown.

The first lady spoke at the War Memorial Building in Baltimore Monday.

She said Brown is the candidate who recognizes the importance of education to create opportunity. Brown is proposing universal pre-kindergarten before the end of his first term, if he is elected.

Hogan, who spoke to reporters in Baltimore before the first lady's rally, said he's confident Maryland residents are unhappy about their economic conditions and they're ready for a change.

Michelle Obama's rally capped a series of high-profile politicians who have appeared for Brown, including President Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie came to Maryland four times for Hogan.

Delaware

Delaware
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Delaware

In Delaware, Senator Chris Coons brought in New Jersey Senator Corey Booker for a rally in his re-election bid.

His Republican challenger Kevin Wade got a financial boost of $50-thousand from Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle who failed to upset Nevada Senator Harry Reid.

Another race to watch is for state treasurer.

Incumbent Chip Flowers dropped out of the Democratic primary leaving the field to Democrat Sean Barney.

He is being challenged by Ken Simpler who could be the first non-incumbent Republican to win a statewide office in 20 years.

Democrats dominate the state legislature holding 27 seats in the 41 seat House and 13 of the 21 seats in the Senate.

Republican have targeted some open seats in the Dover and the Brandywine areas hoping to erode Democratic control.

Youth Vote

As voters go to the poll many political pundits are watching one particular segment – the youth vote.

But as Delmarva Public Radio’s Brendan Guihen reports there is a question as to just how engaged they really are.

Meanwhile, Salisbury University has been trying to get more students out to the voting booth and interested in the mid-term elections.

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24 percent of Marylanders going to the polls in the last midterm election were between the age of 18 and 29.

This stands in contrast with the 50 percent turnout for the presidential election.

The university’s Institute of Public Affairs and Civic Engagement has been encouraging more student involvement.

The university even conducted a voter registration drive with an online program.

The school was also able to snag a visit by Lt. Governor Anthony Brown who seeking the state’s top job on the Democratic side while the Republican nominee’s running mate Boyd Rutherford came to talk with students.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.