Democrats maintain leads in two Md. Senate districts

With counting of absentee and provisional ballots continuing, two Democrats in close Maryland Senate races have maintained their leads -- meaning the party is likely to add to its already dominant margin in the chamber.

Three-term state Sen. Alex X. Mooney (R-Frederick) conceded his race Thursday evening to his Democratic challenger, former Frederick mayor Ron Young, the Frederick News-Post reports.

Meanwhile, in the race for an open Senate seat representing three Lower Eastern Shore counties, state Del. James N. Mathias Jr. (D-Worcester) continues to lead Republican Michael James, according to the Dispatch, which serves the greater Ocean City area.

If both Young and Mathias prevail, the number of Democrats in the Senate will grow from 33 to 35, while the number of Republicans will shrink from 14 to 12.

While Democrats in the Senate are bucking the national trend, Republicans picked up six seats in the 141-member House of Delegates. The 43-member GOP caucus will be the same size as it was during the tenure of former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R), who lost his rematch with Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) on Tuesday by 14 percentage points.