Democrats flip Frederick County state Senate seat in 2026 election

The Baltimore Banner reported that Democratic candidate Lara Westdorp won the Frederick County state Senate seat, defeating incumbent Republican state Sen. Folden.

Folden, a retired police officer and sheriff’s deputy, had served in the Maryland Senate since 2022 and was known for his conservative law-and-order views. He was a member of the Judicial Proceedings Committee, where he often clashed with more liberal senators on criminal justice issues.

Westdorp, who has experience as a chief of staff to a former state senator and owns a reflexology business, credited her victory to strong grassroots support and coordinated efforts among Democratic candidates in the county. She said voters were motivated by concerns over affordability, job shortages, and feeling abandoned in disputes over data centers.

Folden acknowledged the loss and planned to concede, attributing the outcome to a broader voter repudiation of President Donald Trump rather than his own performance or campaign strategy. He expressed readiness to move on and emphasized that his service was about improving the community and state.

Westdorp expressed confidence in her win despite some outstanding ballots and highlighted the power of community unity in shaping the election results.