Romney Wins Maryland Primary

UPDATED (11:15 p.m.)— Mitt Romney has won the Maryland Republican presidential primary, according to multiple news outlets.

At 11 p.m., Romney leads Rick Santorum 91,402 (48 percent) to 57,299 (30 percent) with 1,281 of 1,851 precincts reporting.

"I voted for Romney, he's the lesser of the evils," said Lisa Watts of Darnestown, MD.

Chuck Duvall also of Darnestown, said he voted for Ron Paul, but expected Romney to win the Maryland primary. Both he and his wife, Ruth, said they planned to support Romney against Democratic incumbent President Barack Obama even though he wasn't their primary selection.

A Romney win in Maryland was not unexpected. CNN declared Romney the winner at 8 p.m. when polls in Maryland and Washington closed.

“Maryland’s role is to ratify the decision the Republican leadership has already made around the country,” said Matthew Crenson, professor emeritus of political science at Johns Hopkins University. “The endorsements are all lining up behind Romney”

There are 37 delegates up for grabs in Maryland apportioned by congressional district. The winner of each district earns three delegates who are committed to that respective candidate. The balance goes to the candidate who wins the state.

Entering tonight, Romney was nearly half way to the 1,211 delegates needed to secure his party’s nomination. Santorum had less than 300 total delegates.

At 11 p.m., Romney leads all Republican candidates in every congressional district, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections. He also was ahead in 22 of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions except rural Garrett and Somerset Counties where Santorum holds leads.

Obama is running unopposed in Maryland and has nearly 87 percent of the vote in the Democratic Primary.

For a breakdown of other Republican primary wins,