Baltimore County primary fields take shape with open executive race and multiple council vacancies
Filing deadline locks in June 23 contests across county government
Baltimore County’s 2026 primary election lineup is set after the candidate filing deadline, solidifying a series of open-seat and multi-candidate contests that will shape the county’s next administration and legislative agenda. The primary election is scheduled for June 23, 2026, with early voting running June 11–18.
County executive: five Democrats, two Republicans in open-seat race
The highest-profile contest is the race for county executive, an open-seat election cycle that has drawn a five-candidate Democratic field and a two-candidate Republican field.
In the Democratic primary, three sitting county council members filed for the nomination: Pat Young, Izzy Patoka and Julian Jones. They are joined by Nick Stewart, an attorney and former school board member, and Monsoor Shams, a community engagement and outreach officer in the county’s Department of Recreation and Parks.
On the Republican side, candidates include Patrick Dyer, a financial services business owner, and Kimberley Stansbury, who previously ran for the nomination.
County Council expands to nine seats, creating seven open contests
Voters approved an expansion of the Baltimore County Council to nine seats, increasing the number of districts and contributing to a cycle with extensive turnover. Seven council seats are open and each is expected to feature competitive primary races. Two incumbents—Republican David Marks and Democrat Mike Ertel—filed for reelection without primary opposition.
District 5 (north of Towson to the Pennsylvania line) is open with Republican Wade Kach not seeking another term. Filed candidates include state Delegate Nino Mangione and Theaux Le Gardeur, the Gunpowder Falls Riverkeeper and a small business owner.
District 9 (including Dundalk) is open with Republican Todd Crandell not seeking another term. The Republican primary features Tim Fazenbaker, JD Urbach, Jake Mohorovic and Russ “No Tax” Mirabile.
District 4 is open because Democratic Councilman Izzy Patoka is running for county executive. Filed candidates include Karson Kamenetz and community advocate Aaron Barnett.
State’s attorney: incumbent faces two Democratic primary challengers
In the race for Baltimore County state’s attorney, incumbent Scott Shellenberger filed to run for another term and will face two Democratic primary challengers: attorneys Sarah David and Laura Lipscomb. The contest follows a close Democratic primary for the office in 2022.
Sheriff: first open contest in decades after Fisher declines to run
The sheriff’s race is also newly competitive after Jay Fisher, who has held the office since 2002, did not file for reelection. Three Democrats filed for their party’s nomination: Clyde Boatwright, William Merrill and Adam Schuster.
The filing deadline brings clarity to a countywide ballot that now features multiple open offices and crowded primaries, setting up a campaign season with significant stakes for governance, public safety, and prosecutorial policy.
Additional competitive contests are also forming for Baltimore County’s seats in the Maryland General Assembly, adding to an election cycle in which voter turnout and intra-party dynamics may prove decisive before the November 3, 2026 general election.