SALISBURY, Md. - Maryland's House of Delegates is ready to elect it's next leader. The vote comes after Speaker Michael Busch passed away just days before last month's end of the 2019 Maryland General Assembly session.
Lawmakers are pushing for two Democratic candidates: Baltimore City Delegate Maggie McIntosh and Prince George's County Delegate Dereck Davis.
Eastern Shore Delegates like Sheree Sample-Hughes say they're preparing for a possibly tight race ahead. That's why Sample-Hughes says she and her colleagues are working together to support Davis - a lawmaker who they say can and will consider future Eastern Shore legislation.
"The momentum is constantly moving in his direction," Sample-Hughes said.
Republican Delegate Carl Anderton agrees. He says Davis runs moderate compared to his competitor, a favor that could help Republican lawmakers working inside the Democrat-controlled House.
"Delegate Davis is a friend of mine," Anderton said. "We have a great friendship outside of being in the House of Delegates and if we need something from the Lower Shore, I'm confident that I'll have the opportunity to work with him directly."
The House Speaker vote is scheduled in Annapolis on Wednesday at noon. No matter who wins the vote, history will be made. If Delegate Davis wins, he will be the first African-American lawmaker elected as Maryland's Speaker. If McIntosh wins, she will be the first openly gay lawmaker to take the Speaker's seat.