Maryland on Track to Elect Record Number of Black County Executives
Four counties are poised to elect Black leaders, with a potential fifth in Wicomico County, continuing a trend of expanding representation.
By Elijah Fitzgerald ·
Four county executives in Maryland are likely to be Black in the 2026 general election, a number that would set a state record. A fifth candidate is running in Wicomico County. This potential expansion of leadership comes as voters across the state face contests that could further shift the balance of power in local and state institutions.
Maryland’s political landscape has shifted rapidly in recent years. The state currently has the only Black governor in the nation, Wes Moore. In 2024, Maryland became the first state to elect a Black governor, U.S. senator, and attorney general simultaneously. The state also boasts what is believed to be the oldest and largest legislative Black caucus in the country, consisting of 66 members.
Recent actions in the General Assembly illustrate this growing influence. Five Black senators were elevated to new leadership positions last week. Antonio Hayes of Baltimore will chair the committee handling business and health care regulation. Cory McCray will become vice chair of the budget-writing committee. If current trends hold, half of the state Senate’s Democratic members could be Black after Tuesday's vote.
The U.S. House of Representatives may also see a change in Maryland’s delegation. State Del. Adrian Boafo is positioned to win the seat in the 5th Congressional District. He would replace Steny Hoyer, a long-serving member of Democratic leadership. Maryland currently has three Black members of Congress. Adding Boafo would bring that number to four, a level of representation higher than in most other states.
In Baltimore County, the race for county executive features Julian Jones, who is a strong favorite. He would be the first African American to hold the post in a county that has not elected a Republican to the role in 36 years. Jones is also campaigning for Arkia Wade, who runs for the County Council in Dundalk and southeast Baltimore County. Wade won her primary by 41 votes and seeks to become the first Black woman on that body. Her opponents include Republican Tim Fazenbaker and independents A. Scott Pappas and Donna Sekora.
Political scientists attribute these gains to a combination of demographic shifts and established community structures. Maryland has one of the highest percentages of Black residents in the country at 32%. Jé St Sume, a political scientist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, notes that the state is home to Charles and Prince George’s counties, two of the wealthiest counties in the nation for Black residents. Niambi Carter, an associate professor at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy, stated that Latino, Caribbean, and African communities are maturing and electing representatives who reflect their backgrounds.
The next phase of these contests is scheduled for Tuesday. Voters will decide whether these candidates secure their positions. The outcome will determine if the number of Black elected officials in Maryland reaches its highest level in state history.
