Baltimore County Councilman Todd Crandell Will Not Seek Reelection, Citing Recovery and Past Legal Turmoil
Decision ends a 12-year tenure representing southeast Baltimore County
Baltimore County Councilman Todd K. Crandell, a Republican who has represented the 7th District since December 2014, has announced he will not seek reelection in the 2026 election cycle. The district includes Dundalk, Edgemere, Essex, Rosedale, and Sparrows Point.
Crandell’s decision comes after a period in which his personal conduct and health struggles became the subject of public scrutiny and court proceedings, including a police encounter that resulted in an emergency mental health petition and a temporary removal from his home.
Police incident and emergency petition became a turning point
In 2025, police responded to an incident involving Crandell that was later documented in released video footage. In that case, officers used Maryland’s emergency petition process, which allows law enforcement to transport an individual for psychiatric evaluation when there is an immediate concern the person may harm themselves or others. County officials said police secured a weapon during the response. No criminal charges were filed in connection with the incident.
Separately, court testimony during proceedings involving Crandell’s family described longstanding concerns about his alcohol use and behavior at home, including assertions that he had been in treatment multiple times. Crandell has publicly acknowledged alcohol addiction and described his conduct in the incident as alcohol-related.
Leaves of absence and treatment intersected with public duties
Over the past year, Crandell took multiple leaves of absence from the County Council while receiving inpatient treatment for alcoholism. He continued to serve as the council’s representative for District 7, maintaining voting responsibilities and district office operations during periods when he was present.
Crandell’s biography in county records describes him as a Dundalk native with a background in manufacturing and entrepreneurship, as well as work as a high school wrestling coach. He has been a prominent elected official in southeast Baltimore County during a period of redevelopment debates affecting waterfront and post-industrial communities.
What happens next in District 7
Crandell’s departure sets up an open-seat contest for a district that has historically been competitive in local politics and is closely watched because of its mix of working-class neighborhoods, industrial sites, and major redevelopment corridors near the Port of Baltimore.
The seat will be on the 2026 ballot as part of Baltimore County’s regular election schedule.
Candidates will be required to meet residency and voter-registration qualifications set out in the county charter for council races.
Crandell’s announcement closes a chapter defined by both legislative work in southeast Baltimore County and a highly public personal struggle that played out through police responses and court proceedings.
With the incumbent stepping aside, attention now turns to who will seek to represent District 7 and how the next council member will approach redevelopment, public safety concerns, and constituent services in communities that have long demanded both investment and accountability from county government.