9 Votes Spell Victory For Olszewski In County Exec Race: Reports

HUNT VALLEY, MD — Former state Del. John Olszewski Jr. is likely to face a recount after winning the Democratic nomination on Friday evening for Baltimore County executive by just nine votes, according to media reports. Olszewski edged out state Sen. Jim Brochin in a count of absentee and provisional ballots conducted by the county's Board of Elections, the Baltimore Sun reported.

A tally posted Friday night to the Board of Elections website showed that Olszewski, nicknamed "Johnny O," won 27,804 votes, or 32.88 percent of those cast for county executive in Maryland's June 26 Democratic primary, compared with 27,795 (32.87 percent) for Brochin.

Baltimore County Councilwoman Vicki Almond trailed the top two finishers by about 1,000 votes, with 31.73 percent, while Kevin Francis Marron rounded out the results with 2.52 percent.

The candidates can petition for a recount, the Sun reported. Since the margin between the top two candidates is less than 0.1 percent, the state would cover the cost.

Andrew Bailey, the attorney for the Board of Elections, said state elections officials have begun an audit of the count, the Sun reported. He said the state board would hold a webinar on Monday to give the candidates more information about the recount process.

The final winner of the race for county executive will face Al Redmer Jr., the state insurance commissioner, who defeated state Del. Pat McDonough in last week's Republican primary.

To view the Baltimore County results of last week's 2018 gubernatorial primary from the Board of Elections, click here.

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