Sabrina Tapp-Harper files for Baltimore City sheriff race, setting up primary against incumbent Sam Cogen

Candidacy filing expands the 2026 contest for an office that serves court operations citywide

Sabrina Tapp-Harper has filed to run for Baltimore City sheriff, entering a 2026 election cycle that will determine who leads the city agency responsible for courthouse security and the execution of court orders. The filing adds a challenger to a race already featuring incumbent Sheriff Sam Cogen, who assumed office in late 2022 and has also filed to run in 2026.

Maryland’s 2026 election calendar sets the primary election for June 23, 2026, with early voting scheduled June 11–18. The general election is Nov. 3, 2026, with early voting Oct. 22–29. The sheriff’s office is among the local positions listed for election statewide in 2026.

What the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office does

The Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office functions as a law-enforcement arm of the Circuit Court in Baltimore City. Its work includes maintaining safety and order in court facilities, serving legal documents issued by courts, executing warrants, and carrying out processes tied to the civil and criminal dockets. Those duties can place the agency at the intersection of public safety and court administration, particularly in areas such as courtroom security, warrant service, and eviction-related enforcement.

Tapp-Harper’s public profile and prior role in the office

Tapp-Harper has been publicly identified as a senior official in the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office in past reporting, including references to her role as a major. Her name has also been associated with communications on operations involving interagency cooperation and enforcement actions tied to court warrants.

Incumbency and recent labor agreement

Cogen’s tenure has included a recently ratified collective bargaining agreement covering deputy sheriffs. The contract is a three-year deal that includes a total 17% salary increase over three years, including a retroactive increase to June 1, 2025, followed by two additional annual increases. The agreement also includes operational provisions such as requiring two deputy sheriffs to be present during eviction warrants, along with the creation of new rank structures below sergeant intended to formalize career progression.

Key dates and what comes next

• Primary Election Day: June 23, 2026
• Primary early voting: June 11–18, 2026
• General Election Day: Nov. 3, 2026
• General early voting: Oct. 22–29, 2026

With filings underway, the months ahead are expected to focus attention on how candidates describe the sheriff’s core responsibilities, staffing and safety policies in court facilities, and operational approaches to serving warrants and court orders. Additional candidate filings and campaign finance activity are likely to further define the field before the June primary.