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 County County executive Party First elected Last race Status Candidates Anne Arundel County 2018 53.7% D Incumbent term-limited. Baltimore County 2025 63.7% D Incumbent retiring. Frederick County 2022 50.4% D Incumbent renominated Harford County 2022 64.1% R Incumbent renominated Howard County 2018 59.1% DIncumbent term-limited. Montgomery County 2018 75.1% D Incumbent term-limited. Prince George's County 2025 91.2% D Incumbent renominated Wicomico County 2022 51.2% R Incumbent renominated
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.
Anne Arundel County councilmember Allison Pickard won the Democratic primary on June 23, 2026, while food service manager Dave Crawford ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
Democratic primary
Candidates Nominee Allison Pickard, county councilmember from the 2nd district (2018–present)
Eliminated in primary James Kitchin, special assistant to county executive Steuart Pittman Pete Smith, county councilmember from the 1st district (2012–2013, 2014–2018, 2022–present)
Withdrew Kyle Nembhard, Amtrak program manager (remained on ballot, endorsed Kitchin)
Declined Gavin Buckley, former mayor of Annapolis (2017–2025) (running for county council)
Endorsements
Debates and forums 2026 Anne Arundel County executive Democratic primary debates Date Host Participants Participant Absent Non-invitee Invitee Withdrawn Kitchin Nembhard Pickard Smith 1 Apr 14, 2026 Caucus of African American Leaders 2 May 7, 2026 Anne Arundel Affordable Housing Coalition
Fundraising Kitchin's campaign is utilizing public financing through the Public Campaign Financing System, while Pickard and Smith opted against using public financing for their campaigns. Campaign finance reports as of June 7, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handJames Kitchin (D)$544,705$454,485$90,220Kyle Nembhard (D)$599$84$329Allison Pickard (D)$755,937$554,908$204,650Pete Smith (D)$768,316$707,898$66,202Source: Maryland State Board of Elections
Polling Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMarginJamesKitchinKyleNembhardAllisonPickardPeteSmithAnne Arundel Community CollegeApril 6–16, 202698 (RV)–38%2%33%30%
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Dave Crawford, food service manager and volunteer firefighter
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)
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of June 7, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handDave Crawford (R)$78,615$29,091$48,662Source: Maryland State Board of Elections
Results
General election Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of August 18, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handAllison Pickard (D)$891,114$827,984$63,838Dave Crawford (R)$91,060$55,693$33,756Source: Maryland State Board of Elections
Results
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.
Primary elections were held on June 23, 2026, with Baltimore County councilmember Julian Jones won the Democratic primary and businessman Patrick Dyer winning the Republican primary. If Jones defeats Dyer in the general election, he will become the county's first Black county executive.
Democratic primary
Candidates Nominee Julian Jones, county councilmember from the 4th district (2014–present)
Eliminated in primary Izzy Patoka, county councilmember from the 2nd district (2018–present) Mansoor Shams, Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks official Nick Stewart, attorney and former member of the Baltimore County Board of Education Pat Young, county councilmember from the 1st district (2022–present)
Declined James Brochin, former state senator from the 42nd district (2003–2019) and candidate for county executive in 2018 Mike Ertel, county councilmember from the 6th district (2022–present) (running for re-election) Kathy Klausmeier, incumbent county executive Charles E. Sydnor III, state senator from the 44th district (2020–present) (running for re-election)
Endorsements
Debates and forums 2026 Baltimore County executive Democratic primary debates Date Host Participants Participant Absent Non-invitee Invitee Withdrawn Jones Patoka Shams Stewart Young 1 Mar 26, 2026 League of Women Votersof Baltimore County 2 Apr 29, 2026 Greater Baltimore Board of RealtorsGoucher College 3 May 15, 2026 WBFF-TV
Fundraising Shams and Young utilized public financing for their campaigns through the Fair Election Fund, while Jones, Patoka, and Stewart opted against public financing. Campaign finance reports as of June 7, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handJulian Jones (D)$1,471,027$1,231,088$709,249Izzy Patoka (D)$1,165,145$1,570,020$230,208Mansoor Shams (D)$33,162$15,315$17,847Nick Stewart (D)$540,768$488,279$47,069Pat Young (D)$298,239$226,969$71,270Source: Maryland State Board of Elections
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof errorJulianJonesIzzyPatokaMansoorShamsNickStewartPatYoungWorkbench Strategies (D)March 2–5, 2026600 (LV)± 4.37%24%31%5%8%16%
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Patrick Dyer, businessman and nominee for HD-11 in 2006
Eliminated in primary Kim Stansbury, businesswoman and candidate for county executive in 2022
Declined Todd Crandell, county councilmember from the 7th district (2014–present) David Marks, county councilmember from the 5th district (2010–present) (running for re-election)
Endorsements
Debates and forums 2026 Baltimore County executive Republican primary debates Date Host Participants Participant Absent Non-invitee Invitee Withdrawn Dyer Stansbury 1 Mar 26, 2026 League of Women Votersof Baltimore County 2 Apr 29, 2026 Greater Baltimore Board of RealtorsGoucher College
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of June 7, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handPatrick Dyer (R)$50,927$31,349$19,578Kim Stansbury (R)$19,140$7,112$3,486Source: Maryland State Board of Elections
Results
Independents Candidates Did not qualify Rob Daniels (Independent), attorney
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of June 7, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handRob Daniels (I)$34,332$42,099$4,051Source: Maryland State Board of Elections
General election Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of August 18, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handJulian Jones (D)$1,645,323$2,030,791$83,842Patrick Dyer (R)$72,028$62,583$9,445Source: Maryland State Board of Elections
Results
Frederick County
The incumbent county executive is Democrat Jessica Fitzwater, who was elected in 2022 with 50.4 percent of the vote. She is running for reelection to a second term.
Primary elections were held on June 23, 2026. Fitzwater ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, while former Frederick mayor Jeff Holtzinger won the Republican primary.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jessica Fitzwater, incumbent county executive
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of June 7, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handJessica Fitzwater (D)$619,072$363,158$287,391Source: Maryland State Board of Elections
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee William Holtzinger, former mayor of Frederick (2005–2009) and candidate for mayor in 2013
Eliminated in primary Diane Fouche, former director of the Frederick County Office of Procurement and Contracting
Declined Chuck Jenkins, Frederick County sheriff (2006–present) (running for re-election)
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of June 7, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handDiane Fouche (R)$14,349$8,689$4,281William Holtzinger (R)$10,343$4,195$3,791Source: Maryland State Board of Elections
Results
General election Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of August 18, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handJessica Fitzwater (D)$650,593$414,778$267,292William Holtzinger (R)$20,023$10,475$9,548Source: Maryland State Board of Elections
Results
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.
Primary elections were held on June 23, 2026. Cassilly won the Republican primary, fending off a primary challenge from Harford County Council president Patrick Vincenti.
Republican primary
Candidates Nominee Bob Cassilly, incumbent county executive
Eliminated in primary Spencer Dagner Patrick Vincenti, president of the Harford County Council (2018–present) from district E (2014–present)
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of June 7, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handBob Cassilly (R)$972,709$938,824$91,381Patrick Vincenti (R)$607,319$605,260$233,036Source: Maryland State Board of Elections
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Barbara Osborn Kreamer, former state delegate from the 34th district (1983–1991)
Eliminated in primary Matthew Brown, substitute teacher
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of June 7, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handBarbara Osborn Kreamer (D)$446$351$185Source: Maryland State Board of Elections
Results
General election Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of August 18, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handBob Cassilly (R)$1,018,834$1,060,421$15,910Allison Pickard (D)$916$354$653Source: Maryland State Board of Elections
Results
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.
Former state delegate Vanessa Atterbeary won the Democratic primary on June 23, 2026, and faces Green Party nominee Nater Kane in the general election. If elected, Atterbeary would become the first Black woman to serve as Howard County executive as well as the county's first woman county executive since Elizabeth Bobo, who served from 1986 to 1990.
Democratic primary
Candidates Nominee Vanessa Atterbeary, former state delegate from the 13th district (2015–2026)
Eliminated in primary Bob Cockey, restaurateur and Republican nominee for SD-12 in 2022 Deb Jung, county councilmember from the 4th district (2018–present) Liz Walsh, county councilmember from the 1st district (2018–present)
Withdrew Jessica Feldmark, state delegate from district 12A (2019–present) (running for re-election, endorsed Atterbeary)
Declined Katie Fry Hester, state senator from the 9th district (2019–present) (running for re-election) Opel Jones, county councilmember from the 2nd district (2018–present) (endorsed Atterbeary) Clarence Lam, state senator from the 12th district (2019–present) (running for re-election) Christiana Rigby, county councilmember from the 3rd district (2018–present) (running for re-election, endorsed Atterbeary) Courtney Watson, state delegate from district 9B (2019–present) and nominee for county executive in 2014 (running for re-election)
Endorsements
Debates and forums