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2026 Maryland elections

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2026 Maryland elections
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November 3, 2026 (2026-11-03)
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The 2026 Maryland elections will be held in the state of Maryland on November 3, 2026, alongside the nationwide midterm elections. Elections will be held for governor as well as all 8 of the state's U.S. House of Representatives seats, most statewide offices, eight county executives, all 141 seats in the Maryland House of Delegates, all 47 seats in the Maryland Senate, and other state and local elections. Three ballot measures are scheduled to be on the ballot. Primary elections were held on June 23, 2026.[1]

Maryland is generally considered to be one of the bluest states in the United States, consistently supporting Democrats statewide by wide margins for the past three decades.[2][3][4][5] In the 2022 election cycle, Democrats expanded their supermajorities in both chambers of the state legislature and flipped the governorship.[6][7] The state has not voted for a Republican for President since 1988, when George H.W. Bush swept most of the nation.[8] Democrats have controlled both of Maryland's United States Senate seats since 1986.[9] Maryland gave Kamala Harris her third strongest margin of victory across the country in 2024, behind Vermont and the District of Columbia.[10] Democrats filed for all seats in the Maryland General Assembly for the first time since 1974.[11]

United States House of Representatives

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All of Maryland's 8 seats in the United States House of Representatives are up for election in 2026. United States representatives serve two year terms.[12]

Following the 2024 elections, 7 seats are held by Democrats, and one seat is held by a Republican, Andy Harris.[13]

State executive

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Governor

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Incumbent Democratic governor Wes Moore was first elected in 2022 with 64.5% of the vote. He is running for re-election.[14]

Nine candidates ran in the Republican primary for governor, with media outlets describing former state delegate Dan Cox and Baltimore Blast owner Ed Hale the frontrunners of the race.[15][16][17] Other candidates included firearms instructor Carl Brunner, 2024 U.S. Senate candidate John Myrick, and 2024 Baltimore mayoral candidate Shannon Wright.[18][19][20][21] Cox defeated Hale in the Republican primary election with 43.3 percent of the vote and will face Moore in the general election.[22]

Attorney General

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Incumbent Democratic attorney general Anthony Brown was first elected in 2022 with 65.0% of the vote. He is running for re-election.[23]

Comptroller

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Incumbent Democratic comptroller Brooke Lierman was first elected in 2022 with 61.6% of the vote. She is running for re-election.[24]

State legislature

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All 47 seats in the Maryland Senate and 141 seats in the Maryland House of Delegates are up for election in 2026. State senators and delegates serve four year terms.[25]

Following the 2022 elections, Democrats expanded their supermajority in the State Senate to 34 seats and in the House of Delegates to 102 seats. Republicans hold 13 seats in the State Senate and 39 seats in the House of Delegates.[6][7]

Local elections

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Elections for county executives in eight of Maryland's 23 counties and numerous local elections will also take place in 2026. County executive elections will be held in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's, and Wicomico counties.[26]

Ballot measures

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Maryland 2026 ballot measures[27]
Proposition Description
Question 1 Establishes a neutral arbitration framework for collective bargaining for state employees.
Question 2 Allows for temporary appointments to the Maryland Commission on Judicial Disabilities when a member is recused, disqualified, or their term ends.
Question 3 Exempts Maryland's congressional districts from redistricting guidelines in the Constitution of Maryland.

References

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  1. ↑ "2026 State Primary Election Dates". National Conference of State Legislatures. September 26, 2025. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  2. ↑ Kurtz, Josh (November 7, 2024). "Trump gains in Maryland: A trend or an aberration?". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  3. ↑ Shulman, Dylan (October 1, 2024). "Maryland has been a 'blue' state for decades, and it's getting more blue". Southern Maryland News. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  4. ↑ Skelley, Geoffrey (March 28, 2024). "Could Larry Hogan turn a blue Senate seat red in Maryland?". ABC News. Archived from the original on March 28, 2024. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  5. ↑ Bansil, Sapna; Archibald, Ramsey (November 6, 2024). "Trump gained ground in almost every county of reliably blue Maryland". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Kurtz, Josh (November 18, 2022). "Dems take two more Senate seats, win Frederick County exec race". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  7. 1 2 Kurtz, Josh (November 9, 2022). "Democrats retain legislative majorities, but some seats have shuffled between parties". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Maryland Presidential Election Voting History". 270toWin. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  9. ↑ "United States Senators, Maryland, historical list". Maryland State Archives. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  10. ↑ Janesch, Sam (November 15, 2024). "Maryland shifted toward Donald Trump more than some other blue states, while giving Kamala Harris her second-biggest win". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  11. ↑ Evans, Rhiannon (March 11, 2026). "Democrats field candidates in every legislative race in Maryland for the first time since 1974". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  12. ↑ "The House Explained". United States House of Representatives. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  13. ↑ Shutt, Jennifer (November 14, 2024). "Republicans clinch 218 seats in U.S. House, scoring trifecta control in Washington". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  14. ↑ Cox, Erin (September 9, 2025). "Gov. Wes Moore tamps down presidential talk, launches reelection bid". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  15. ↑ Wood, Pamela (June 17, 2026). "A party-switcher and a MAGA loyalist are the GOP's top options to take on Moore". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  16. ↑ Crawford, Ian (May 3, 2026). "Moore officially launches reelection bid with Baltimore, Prince George's events". WTOP-FM. Maryland Matters. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  17. ↑ Bazos, Racquel (May 2, 2026). "Wes Moore launches reelection campaign in Baltimore, Prince George's County". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
  18. ↑ Ford, William; Sears, Bryan (July 29, 2025). "Political notes: Hale mulls party switch, Moore gets a new gig, Shetty, Schumitz get fellowships". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  19. ↑ Wood, Pamela (August 20, 2025). "Businessman Ed Hale Sr. will run for governor as a Republican, switching parties". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  20. ↑ Sears, Bryan (May 1, 2025). "Early GOP candidate for governor taps former delegate as running mate". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  21. ↑ Wilson, Katharine (July 1, 2025). "Carroll County farmer launches bid for governor, says high taxes prompted his decision". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  22. ↑ "2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for Governor / Lt. Governor". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
  23. ↑ Gaskill, Hannah (May 27, 2025). "Democrats stuck in political 'wilderness.' Will they pivot to the center in 2026?". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  24. ↑ Wood, Pamela (September 17, 2025). "Lierman launches comptroller reelection bid". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Maryland General Assembly - Functions". Maryland Manual Online. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  26. ↑ "2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election Local Candidates List". Maryland State Board of Elections. October 7, 2025. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Ballot questions for the November 3, 2026 election". elections.maryland.gov. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
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