2026 Maryland county executive elections

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 • Kyle Nembhard, Amtrak program manager • Pete Smith, county councilmember from the 1st district (2012–2013, 2014–2018, 2022–present) Declined • Gavin Buckley, former mayor of Annapolis (2017–2025) (running for county council) Endorsements Debates and forums Fundraising Polling 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) Fundraising Results General election 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. Democratic primary Candidates Declared • Julian Jones, county councilmember from the 4th district (2014–present) • 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) Endorsements Debates and forums Fundraising Polling Results Republican primary Candidates Declared • Patrick Dyer, businessman and nominee for HD-11 in 2006 • 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) Debates and forums Fundraising Results Independents Candidates Declared • Rob Daniels (Independent), attorney Fundraising General election 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. Endorsements Fundraising Results Republican primary Candidates Declared • Diane Fouche, former director of the Frederick County Office of Procurement and Contracting • William Holtzinger, former mayor of Frederick (2005–2009) and candidate for mayor in 2013 Declined • Chuck Jenkins, Frederick County sheriff (2006–present) (running for re-election) Results General election 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. • Spencer Dagner Endorsements Fundraising Results Democratic primary Candidates Declared • Matthew Brown Results General election 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. Democratic primary Candidates Declared • Vanessa Atterbeary, former state delegate from the 13th district (2015–2026) • 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) Withdrawn • Jessica Feldmark, state delegate from district 12A (2019–present) (running for re-election) Declined • Katie Fry Hester, state senator from the 9th district (2019–present) (running for re-election) • Christiana Rigby, county councilmember from the 3rd district (2018–present) (running for re-election) • Courtney Watson, state delegate from district 9B (2019–present) and nominee for county executive in 2014 (running for re-election) Endorsements Debates and forums Fundraising Polling Results General election Results == 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 • Mithun Banerjee, real estate investor • Andrew Friedson, county councilmember from the 1st district (2018–present) • Evan Glass, at-large county councilmember (2018–present) • Peter James, tech executive and candidate for county executive in 2022 Withdrawn • Celeste Iroha, medical assistant and gun safety activist Declined • David Blair, businessman and candidate for county executive in 2018 and 2022 (endorsed Friedson) • Benjamin F. Kramer, state senator from the 19th district (2019–present) and son of former county executive Sidney Kramer (running for re-election) • Kate Stewart, county councilmember from the 4th district (2022–present) (running for re-election) Endorsements Debates and forums Fundraising Polling Results Republican primary Candidates Declared • Shelly Skolnick, attorney and perennial candidate • Esther Wells, accountant Declined • Reardon Sullivan, former chair of the Montgomery County Republican Party (2025–2026) and nominee for county executive in 2022 Fundraising Results General election Results == Prince George's County ==

The incumbent county executive is Aisha Braveboy, who was elected in 2025 with 91.2 percent of the vote. She is running for re-election to a full four-year term. Endorsements Fundraising Results Third-party and independent candidates Candidates Declared • Moisette Tonya Sweat (Independent), attorney and Democratic candidate for county executive in 2022 and 2025 Endorsements General election Results == 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. Fundraising Results Democratic primary Candidates Nominee • Ernest Davis, former county councilmember from the 1st district (2014–2022) and nominee for county executive in 2022 Withdrawn • Michele Gregory, Salisbury city councilor (2019–present) and nominee for SD-38 in 2022 Fundraising Results General election Results == Notes ==