Maryland's forty-sixth state senate district is held by Democratic Senator Bill Ferguson.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 117,443 civilians reside within Maryland's forty-sixth state senate district. Maryland state senators represent an average of 128,180 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 122,842 residents.

About the office

Members of the Maryland State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Maryland legislators assume office the second Wednesday in January after the election.

Qualifications

Section 9 of Article 3 of the Maryland Constitution states, "A person is eligible to serve as a Senator or Delegate, who on the date of his election, (1) is a citizen of the State of Maryland, (2) has resided therein for at least one year next preceding that date, and (3) if the district which he has been chosen to represent has been established for at least six months prior to the date of his election, has resided in that district for six months next preceding that date.

If the district which the person has been chosen to represent has been established less than six months prior to the date of his election, then in addition to (1) and (2) above, he shall have resided in the district for as long as it has been established.

A person is eligible to serve as a Senator, if he has attained the age of twenty-five years, or as a Delegate, if he has attained the age of twenty-one years, on the date of his election."

Salaries

Vacancies

The Governor is responsible for filling all vacancies in the senate.

The Governor has 30 days after the vacancy to make an appointment based on the recommendations of the political party committee that holds the vacant seat. The political party committee has up to 30 days after the vacancy to submit a list of recommended candidates to the Governor. If the party committee fails to act within the 30 day deadline, the Governor has 15 days to appoint a person from the political party that last held the seat.

The person appointed to the seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term.

Elections

2018

2014

Elections for the Maryland State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 24, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 25, 2014. Incumbent Bill Ferguson defeated Mateen Zar in the Democratic primary. Ferguson had no ballot competition in the general election; Zar continued as a write-in candidate.

Maryland State Senate District 46, General Election, 2014

Maryland State Senate, District 46 Democratic Primary, 2014

2010

Elections for the office of Maryland State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 14, 2010, and a general election on November 2, 2010. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was July 6, 2010. Bill Ferguson (D) was unopposed in the general election and defeated George Della in the Democratic primary.

Maryland State Senate, District 46 Democratic Primary, 2010

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2014, candidates for Maryland State Senate District 46 raised a total of $928,911. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $92,891 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Maryland State Senate District 46