1978Final resultsIncumbent defeated
1978 Democratic primary for Maryland Delegate District 20
Maryland House of Delegates · Maryland
Stewart Bainum Jr. (D) won with 25.7% of the vote, defeating Alexander Bell (D) by 10.6 points.
Stewart Bainum Jr.Democrat · winner
25.7%5,762
Ida G. RubenDemocrat · winner · incumbent
20.8%4,650
Sheila Ellis HixsonDemocrat · winner
18.4%4,127
Alexander BellDemocrat · incumbent
15.2%3,396
Diane KirchenbauerDemocrat
11.4%2,549
Melvin ForbesDemocrat
4.4%991
Walter E. CarsonDemocrat
4.1%918
22,393 votes
Source: Harvard Dataverse / Carl KlarnerUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:29 AM ET
The candidates
Stewart Bainum Jr. (D)Ida G. Ruben (D)Sheila Ellis Hixson (D)Alexander Bell (D)Diane Kirchenbauer (D)
Also on the ballot: Melvin Forbes (Democrat), 4.4%; Walter E. Carson (Democrat), 4.1%