2012Final results
2012 election for Maryland's 3rd District
U.S. House · Maryland
John P. Sarbanes (D) won with 66.8% of the vote, defeating Eric Delano Knowles (R) by 37.3 points.
John P. SarbanesDemocrat · winner
66.8%213,747
Eric Delano KnowlesRepublican
29.6%94,549
Paul W. Drgos Jr.Libertarian
3.4%11,028
319,859 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 2012
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
John P. SarbanesEric Delano Knowles
$1M
Raised by the campaign
$31K
$640.8K
Spent by the campaign
$30.3K
$728.9K
Cash on hand
$732
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2012.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2012
The candidates
John P. Sarbanes (D)Eric Delano Knowles (R)
Also on the ballot: Paul W. Drgos Jr. (Libertarian), 3.4%