Baltimore’s mayoral primary took a dramatic turn just one day before early voting begins, as Thiru Vignarajah announced his withdrawal from the race and threw his support behind former mayor Sheila Dixon.

“We have, upon reflection and discussion with my loved ones, my mentors, and my team, decided to bring to a close one campaign and throw our support without equivocation behind the mayoral campaign of Sheila Dixon,” Vignarajah stated at a press conference on Wednesday.

Vignarajah, a former city and federal prosecutor, had jumped into the Democratic primary in January, challenging incumbent Mayor Brandon Scott, Dixon, and businessman Bob Wallace. His campaign platform centered on reducing property taxes, tackling quality-of-life and violent crimes, and reimagining development plans for Harborplace.

Expressing frustration with the city’s current trajectory, Vignarajah had declared, “I simply can’t stand to see another four years of what we have seen. The dysfunction in city hall, the lack of accountability, the making of excuses, the abdication of responsibility, and the constant patience that one day down the road something will get better. I’m sick of it. I want an impatient mayor. I want somebody who is ready to deliver now, that is not quite literally learning on the job, and is still learning on the job.”

This marked Vignarajah’s second attempt at the mayor’s office, having finished fourth in the 2020 Democratic primary with 11.5% of the vote. He had also previously run unsuccessfully for Baltimore City State’s Attorney in 2018 and 2022.

Recent polling had indicated a tight race at the top, with Mayor Scott leading with 38% support among Democratic voters, followed closely by Dixon at 35%, Vignarajah at 10%, and Wallace at 4%. Analysts suggested that Dixon and Vignarajah were vying for the same dissatisfied voter bloc.

Early voting begins on Thursday, May 2, and runs through May 9, with Election Day set for May 14.

The Scott campaign swiftly responded to Vignarajah’s endorsement, accusing both candidates of corruption. “One failed corrupt politician endorsing another failed corrupt politician is a prime example of the broken, corrupt politics of the past,” said campaign manager Nicholas Machado. “Thiru’s endorsement was for sale, and Sheila Dixon was more than happy to buy it.”

Vignarajah refuted claims that he had offered his endorsement in exchange for a position, stating he respects the confidentiality of such discussions and was simply convinced Dixon was “the adult the city needs” after their conversation.

As early voting nears, the dynamic in Baltimore’s mayoral race has significantly shifted, setting the stage for a heated final stretch.