Update: Baker Announces Victory Early

Update, 7:44 a.m., Rushern Baker, III may have called the race early, but final poll numbers show he was right. Sticking to his lead over Sheriff Michael Jackson, Baker won the votes with 44 percent while Jackson never broke 32.6 percent.

As the votes were still being counted around midnight, the leader in the biggest race in Prince George's County was Baker.

Baker was ahead of Jackson in the county executive race, with 44.2 percent of precincts reporting a little after midnight. (For reporting updates as they come in through the night, see the county's Board of Elections site.)

This county-level race was important because would-be incumbent County Executive Jack Johnson (D) could not run for re-election because of term limits. He had already held the seat for the eight-year maximum term. The race also does not have a Republican running for the seat, so the winner will hold the county executive office for the next four years.

Baker, who had previously lost against Johnson twice, announced the end of the race during his watch party at Six Flags Amusement Park in Largo at the Crazy Horse Saloon.

"I know that all of the votes aren't in, but I um, I think the people have spoken, and I think the message is loud and clear," Baker said. "Prince George's, it's time to make a good county great."

Earlier in the evening, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown supported Baker's win saying, "The numbers look very strong for Rushern Baker. He ran a very strong campaign putting out a good message. The governor and I are looking forward to a strong local partner. I think Rushorn Baker's the guy."

Jackson spokeswoman, Karen DeWitt, said that he was not accepting Baker's announcement as a victory yet.

"He said it's not over and those were his numbers and we're waiting for all of the numbers to come in," DeWitt said. "It's not over 'til it's over."

So far, the other opponents in the race are lagging in votes. Samuel Dean has 13.6 percent of the total vote, and he may be the reason the race between Baker and Jackson is not closer. While the other candidates, Gerron Levi and Henry Turner Jr. accumulated 7.5 percent and 3.7 percent of the votes, respectively.