2026 Maryland county executive elections

The Maryland county executive elections of 2026 will be held on November 3, 2026.

Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Frederick County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and Wicomico County will elect county executives.

Race summary

Anne Arundel County

The incumbent county executive is Democrat Steuart Pittman, who was re-elected in 2022 with 53.7 percent of the vote. He is ineligible to run for a third term due to term limits.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

James Kitchin, special assistant to county executive Steuart Pittman
Allison Pickard, county councilmember from the 2nd district (2018–present)

Potential

Pete Smith, county councilmember from the 1st district (2012–2013, 2014–2018, 2022–present)

Declined

Gavin Buckley, mayor of Annapolis (2017–present)

Endorsements

Fundraising

Republican primary

Candidates

Publicly expressed interest

Jessica Haire, former county councilmember from the 7th district (2018–2022) and nominee for county executive in 2022

Potential

Nathan Volke, county councilmember from the 3rd district (2018–present)

Declined

Nic Kipke, state delegate from the 31st district (2007–present) and former minority leader of the Maryland House of Delegates (2013–2021) (running for state senate)

Baltimore County

The incumbent county executive is Democrat Kathy Klausmeier, who was appointed county executive by the Baltimore County Council after Johnny Olszewski was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in Maryland's 2nd congressional district in 2024. She is not running for election to a full four-year term. Olszewski was re-elected in 2022 with 63.7 percent of the vote.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Pat Young, county councilmember from the 1st district (2022–present)

Publicly expressed interest

Julian Jones, county councilmember from the 4th district (2014–present)
Izzy Patoka, county councilmember from the 2nd district (2018–present)
Nick Stewart, attorney and activist
Charles E. Sydnor III, state senator from the 44th district (2020–present)

Declined

James Brochin, former state senator from the 42nd district (2003–2019) and candidate for county executive in 2018
Kathy Klausmeier, incumbent county executive

Endorsements

Fundraising

Republican primary

Candidates

Publicly expressed interest

Chris West, former state senator from the 42nd district (2019–present)

Frederick County

The incumbent county executive is Democrat Jessica Fitzwater, who was elected in 2022 with 50.4 percent of the vote. She is eligible to run for a second term, but has not yet said if she will do so.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Potential

Jessica Fitzwater, incumbent county executive

Republican primary

Candidates

Potential

Michael Hough, former state senator from the 4th district (2015–2023) and nominee for county executive in 2022
Steve McKay, county councilmember from the 2nd district (2018–present)
Jesse Pippy, state delegate from the 4th district (2019–present)

Declined

Chuck Jenkins, Frederick County Sheriff (2006–present) (running for re-election)

Harford County

The incumbent county executive is Republican Robert Cassilly, who was elected in 2022 with 64.1 percent of the vote. He is running for reelection to a second term.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Robert Cassilly, incumbent county executive

Howard County

The incumbent county executive is Democrat Calvin Ball III, who was re-elected in 2022 with 59.1 percent of the vote. He is ineligible to run for a third term due to term limits.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Potential

Vanessa Atterbeary, state delegate from the 13th district (2015–present)
Jessica Feldmark, state delegate from district 12A (2019–present)
Katie Fry Hester, state senator from the 9th district (2019–present)
Opel Jones, county councilmember from the 2nd district (2018–present)
Deb Jung, county councilmember from the 4th district (2018–present)
Clarence Lam, state senator from the 12th district (2019–present)
Liz Walsh, county councilmember from the 1st district (2018–present)
Courtney Watson, state delegate from district 9B (2019–present) and nominee for county executive in 2014

Montgomery County

The incumbent county executive is Democrat Marc Elrich, who was re-elected in 2022 with 75.1 percent of the vote. He initially said that he would run for a third term, however, Montgomery County voters approved a referendum during the 2024 elections limiting county executives to two consecutive terms, barring Elrich from running for a third term.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Evan Glass, at-large county councilmember (2018–present)
Celeste Iroha, medical assistant and gun safety activist

Publicly expressed interest

Andrew Friedson, county councilmember from the 1st district (2018–present)

Potential

Gabe Albornoz, at-large county councilmember (2018–present)
Will Jawando, at-large county councilmember (2018–present)
Richard Madaleno, county chief administrative officer (2020–present), former state senator from the 18th district (2007–2019), and candidate for governor in 2018
Kate Stewart, president of the Montgomery County council (2024–present) from the 4th district (2022–present)

Republican primary

Candidates

Declined

Reardon Sullivan, chair of the Montgomery County Republican Party (2025–present) and nominee for county executive in 2022

Prince George's County

The incumbent county executive is currently Tara Jackson, who is serving as the interim county executive until the next county executive is determined in a special election occurring on June 3, 2025. Democrat Angela Alsobrooks, was re-elected in 2022 with 98.7 percent of the vote, resigned on December 2, 2024, after winning election to the U.S. Senate.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Potential

Aisha Braveboy, Prince George's County State's Attorney (2018–present) and nominee in the 2025 special election

Declined

Jolene Ivey, at-large county councilmember (2024–present) and candidate for county executive in 2025 (running for re-election)

Wicomico County

The incumbent county executive is Republican Julie Giordano, who was elected in 2022 with 51.2 percent of the vote. She is running for a second term in office.