1974Final resultsIncumbent defeated
1974 Democratic primary for Maryland Delegate District 37
Maryland House of Delegates · Maryland
R. Charles Avara (D) won with 25.9% of the vote, defeating Margaret H. Murphy (D) by 15.8 points.
R. Charles AvaraDemocrat · winner · incumbent
25.9%4,761
John A. RutkowskiDemocrat · winner · incumbent
23.9%4,382
Paul E. WeisengoffDemocrat · winner · incumbent
22.2%4,076
Margaret H. MurphyDemocrat · incumbent
10.1%1,859
Carl T. HollandDemocrat
5.4%987
Paul V. GillDemocrat
4.3%788
Shephard Howard Burge Jr.Democrat
4.2%773
J. Earl SomersDemocrat
2.6%477
Charles J. Lewis Jr.Democrat
1.4%259
18,362 votes
Source: Harvard Dataverse / Carl KlarnerUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:29 AM ET
The candidates
R. Charles Avara (D)John A. Rutkowski (D)Paul E. Weisengoff (D)Margaret H. Murphy (D)Carl T. Holland (D)
Also on the ballot: Paul V. Gill (Democrat), 4.3%; Shephard Howard Burge Jr. (Democrat), 4.2%; J. Earl Somers (Democrat), 2.6%; Charles J. Lewis Jr. (Democrat), 1.4%