Black Leaders Win Maryland County Executive Races
Several Black candidates won local executive posts in Maryland on Election Day, as voters elected four new Black governors nationwide.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Elections
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On Election Day, Will Jawando and Julian Jones won county executive races in Montgomery and Baltimore counties, while Vanessa Atterbeary took Howard County and Ernest Davis took Wicomico County. Maryland Governor Wes Moore is the nation's only Black governor with two Black county executives in his state.
Why it matters
Moore attributed the success of Black leaders to focusing on issues that have long gone unaddressed. Additional Black leaders are expected to fill state house seats in Annapolis in 2027, which could shift the composition of the state legislature.
Voters elected four new Black governors nationwide, and Maryland saw Black winners in four county executive races. Vote tallies and margins for these contests were not included in the available results.
The players
Wes Moore
Wes Moore is the Governor of Maryland, serving as the state's chief executive and a prominent Democratic figure.
Angela Alsbrooks
Angela Alsbrooks is a Maryland Democrat who became the state's first Black female U.S. Senator, previously working in Prince George's County.
The details
Will Jawando and Julian Jones were elected county executives in Montgomery and Baltimore counties, and Vanessa Atterbeary was elected in Howard County. Ernest Davis won the Wicomico County executive race, and Angela Alsbrooks became the state's first Black female U.S. Senator.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Election Day, when Maryland and national voting occurred.
2027: Additional Black leaders are expected to fill state house seats in Annapolis.
Political Context
Maryland's Black county executives join a national pattern in which four new Black governors were elected on the same Election Day. The extraction does not describe specific partisan opposition to these results.
Maryland residents in Montgomery, Baltimore, Howard, and Wicomico counties now have new county executives who will set local policy. Residents statewide may see changes in state house representation when new members take seats in Annapolis in 2027.
The takeaway
County-level races often shape daily services like public safety and local budgets, so these results may affect residents directly. Following county executive and state legislative appointments can help readers track how these changes take effect.
Further reading
For more on how these races fit into the state's recent contests, explore Elections coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WTOP.
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