Baltimore is run by Mayor Brandon M. Scott, who has been in office since December 2020. He serves as the head of the city's executive branch, overseeing city agencies and working in tandem with the 15-member Baltimore City Council, which is led by City Council President Zeke Cohen.
Baltimore’s decline stems from structural deindustrialization, fixed geographic boundaries that trapped the tax base, and compounding social and policy challenges. Its population dropped from a peak of nearly 950,000 in 1950 to under 580,000.
Baltimore is firmly Democratic. The city overwhelmingly votes for the Democratic Party, which holds all 15 seats on the Baltimore City Council and the mayor's office.
Yes, Baltimore has had many white mayors throughout its history, such as Martin O'Malley and William Donald Schaefer, though none have been elected in over two decades.
Baltimore is getting better in key safety and economic areas, though opinions remain mixed due to ongoing systemic challenges. Positive momentum includes historic drops in violent crime, a stabilization in population, and billions in new development, contrasted with persistent issues like high property taxes, vacant housing, and a struggling traditional downtown.
When was the last time Baltimore had a Republican mayor?
McKeldin's second term as mayor ended in 1967, and he did not seek re-election. McKeldin remains the last Republican mayor of Baltimore to date; indeed, he is the last Republican mayoral candidate to win even one-third of the vote in the city.
Baltimore's high crime rate stems from deep economic decline, concentrated neighborhood poverty, and interpersonal group-related gun violence, though the city has recently seen historic drops in homicides.
Majority white for most of its history, Baltimore transitioned to having a black majority in the 1970s. As of the 2010 Census, African Americans are the majority population of Baltimore at 63% of the population.
Baltimore is generally safe to walk around during the day if you stick to popular, well-traveled tourist and revitalized areas like the Inner Harbor, Fells Point, Locust Point, and Federal Hill. However, the city has high overall crime rates, and safety conditions can change dramatically within just a few blocks.
Baltimore can be a good place to live depending on what you value, offering affordability, rich history, and a vibrant arts scene, though it faces significant challenges with crime, high taxes, and struggling public schools.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is not personally the target of a criminal investigation, but his administration is locked in a major legal and political battle with the city's inspector general over oversight, spending, and staff conduct.
Baltimore has a majority Black population, with key racial groups including Black or African American at 57%, White at 26%, and Hispanic or Latino at 9%. Data from the Census Reporter shows the complete breakdown of the city's residents.
Yes, Washington, D.C., is generally safer than Baltimore, with historical crime data indicating that Baltimore experiences higher rates of violent crime per capita, though both cities have seen notable downward trends in homicides and overall violent offenses in recent years.
Baltimore officially became majority Black during the 1980 U.S. Census, when African Americans made up 54.8% (431,151 residents) of the city's population.
The wealthiest and most exclusive residential areas within Baltimore City are Guilford, Roland Park, and Homeland, renowned for their grand historic architecture and high median household incomes. ·Midnight Media
