Polls closed in Maryland at 8 p.m. Tuesday, and State Sen. Jamie Raskin, 53, was declared the projected winner at around 11 p.m. that evening.

MSNBC's only mention of Matthews' role in the Maryland Democratic primary came when Chuck Todd reported Tuesday that she was one of three leading candidates to replace outgoing Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.

Todd's namedrop came before the polls closed, and well before she was declared the loser in the race.

Kathleen Matthews' husband, who anchors MSNBC's "Hardball," took the evening off to be with her on election night.