Harford Circuit Judge Angela Eaves won the Republican and Democratic primaries Tuesday, cementing a 15-year term for the first black woman on the Harford bench.
“I?m ecstatic and a little bit relieved,” Eaves said Wednesday. “I would have done all I had to do under the law in order to keep this job. Now I can go back to the reason I was appointed, and now elected: hearing cases and serving the people, not just campaigning.”
Eaves, appointed in December by Gov. Martin O?Malley, defeated her two Republican challengers by more than 11,000 votes on the Democratic ballot and nearly 800 votes in the Republican one, according to preliminary tallies released Wednesday.
Judges in Harford County must file in both primaries and go on to the general election in November if they lose either one.
Eaves, 48, had spent seven years in Harford?s District Court before being elevated to replace retiring Judge Maurice Baldwin. Her appointment came just days before the deadline to register for the primary election.
She ran against Bel Air lawyer Charles Wagner, who had the endorsement of the Republican Central Committee and almost as much campaign funding as Eaves; perennial judicial candidate Stephen J. Scheinin, of Aberdeen; and H. Edward Andrews III, of Bel Air.
Though officials were still tallying how many absentee and provisional ballots had come in and would not count those votes until next Tuesday, Republican Committee Chairman Michael Geppi said Eaves? lead was solid enough for the party to consider the election hers.
“The Republicans clearly got out and supported Charles Wagner, and he did an admirable job,” Geppi said. “In the end, Judge Eaves won it, and we wish her the best of luck.”
