ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Annapolis Board of Canvassers certified the results of the 2025 municipal election on Nov. 12, confirming Democrat Jared Littmann as the city’s next mayor and a complete sweep of the eight City Council seats by Democratic candidates. The final tally incorporated mail-in and provisional ballots, solidifying leads established on Election Day, Nov. 4. Littmann defeated Republican Robert O’Shea with 6,792 votes to 2,441, capturing 73 percent of the total. All council races followed suit, with Democrats prevailing in wards featuring challengers and retaining incumbents where applicable.
The certification capped a process that began with primary voting on Sept. 16, where low turnout — about 12 percent among registered Democrats — set the field for the general election. Incumbent Mayor Gavin Buckley, a Democrat who took office in 2017, did not seek a third term, opening the race amid discussions on housing shortages and waterfront redevelopment. Four council incumbents also stepped aside, contributing to half the seats turning over. Voter participation in the general election hovered around 25 percent of the city’s 25,000 registered voters, according to preliminary Board of Elections data, reflecting patterns in off-year local contests.
Littmann, 48, a former Ward 8 alderman and co-owner of K&B Ace Hardware, built his campaign around expanding affordable housing and completing the long-delayed City Dock revitalization project. The initiative, stalled by permitting delays and community input, aims to enhance public access to Ego Alley and surrounding piers while addressing flood risks from rising Chesapeake Bay levels — concerns that resonate in nearby Anne Arundel County communities and extend to Southern Maryland’s tidal shores in Calvert and St. Mary’s counties. Littmann pledged fiscal discipline, including audits of city spending to maintain Annapolis’ AAA bond rating, and increased public safety measures like expanded foot patrols in historic districts.
O’Shea, a 62-year-old insurance agency owner and Navy veteran, positioned himself as a fiscal conservative focused on streamlining regulations to avoid “unintended consequences” in zoning and development. He advocated for better enforcement of existing laws over new spending, citing traffic congestion on routes like Route 50 that link Annapolis to Southern Maryland commuters. Despite the margin, O’Shea’s campaign highlighted Republican frustrations with perceived overregulation in a city where tourism drives 40 percent of the economy.
On the council side, results showed competitive races in several wards. In Ward 1, incumbent Harry Huntley, a Democrat serving since 2013, held off unaffiliated challenger Thomas Krieck, a retired teacher, 987-889. Huntley, who completed a Ballotpedia candidate survey emphasizing environmental protections for the Severn River, focuses on green infrastructure to combat stormwater runoff. Ward 2 incumbent Karma O’Neill, a Democrat since 2021, won re-election over Republican Kenneth Vincent, a real estate agent, 946-507; Vincent’s survey stressed property tax relief.
Ward 3 went to Democrat Keanuú Smith-Brown, 620-170, over unaffiliated Michael Dye, bringing a fresh voice from community organizing on youth programs. Janice Elaine Allsup-Johnson claimed the open Ward 4 seat unopposed with 491 votes, drawing on her experience as a nonprofit director for education initiatives. Incumbent Brooks Schandelmeier retained Ward 5, 648-347, against Republican Jack Papaleonti, a small business advocate prioritizing economic development.
In Ward 6, Diesha Contee secured the open seat, 465-172, topping Republican George M. Gallagher, with priorities on equity in public services. Incumbent Robert Savidge held Ward 7 unopposed at 856 votes, continuing his work on budget oversight. Ward 8 saw Democrat Frank Thorp, a planning consultant, edge unaffiliated Will Cunha, 1,128-648; Thorp’s survey highlighted sustainable growth.
Key issues across the ballot included housing affordability, with median home prices exceeding $550,000 amid a shortage of 2,000 units, and public safety, as violent crime dipped 5 percent citywide but property thefts rose near retail hubs. Environmental stewardship loomed large, given Annapolis’ vulnerability to sea-level rise projected at 2 feet by 2050, influencing bay-wide policies that affect Southern Maryland’s fishing and oyster industries. Development debates centered on balancing growth with preservation in the historic core, where the City Dock project — budgeted at $27 million — remains a flashpoint.
The new administration takes office amid stable city finances, with a $140 million budget for fiscal 2026 emphasizing infrastructure repairs post-Hurricane Sandy remnants. Littmann and the council will prioritize committee assignments at their inaugural meeting on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. in City Hall at 160 Duke of Gloucester St. A public swearing-in ceremony follows on Dec. 1 at 2:30 p.m. at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, open to attendees without tickets.
Annapolis’ charter structures governance around a strong mayor and eight ward-based aldermen serving four-year staggered terms, ensuring continuity while allowing for shifts like this Democratic consolidation. The sweep extends a trend of one-party dominance in the city, where Democrats hold 80 percent of registered voters, though independents and Republicans pushed turnout through door-knocking efforts. Regional observers note potential ripple effects, as Annapolis leads on Chesapeake restoration grants that fund Southern Maryland projects like Patuxent River cleanups.
This election underscores local priorities in a state capital of 40,000, where tourism from the Naval Academy and sailing events bolsters the economy but strains resources. With Littmann’s victory, the city enters a phase of implementation on promises to house young families and protect waterfront heritage, setting precedents for neighboring jurisdictions facing similar bay pressures.
