2018 Maryland county executive elections explained

The Maryland county executive elections of 2018 took place on November 6, 2018, with the primary election occurring on June 26, 2018.^[1]

Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Frederick County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and Wicomico County elected county executives.

Anne Arundel County

The incumbent county executive was Republican Steve Schuh, who was elected in 2014 with 61.1 percent of the vote.^[2] He was eligible for re-election and unsuccessfully sought a second term.

Republican primary

Nominee

• Steve Schuh, incumbent county executive^[3]

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Steuart Pittman, president of the Maryland Horse Council and owner of Dodon Farm^[4]

General election

Results

Baltimore County

The incumbent county executive, Democrat Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, won re-election to a second term in 2014 with 56.1 percent of the vote,^[5] but was prevented from seeking a third term due to term limits, creating an open seat.

Kamenetz died on May 10, 2018, making County Administrative Officer Fred Homan acting County Executive^[6] until May 29, when the Baltimore County Council unanimously voted to appoint Don Mohler as county executive. Mohler did not run for election to a full term.^[7]

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Johnny Olszewski, former state delegate from the 6th district (2006–2015) and candidate for state senator in 2014^[8]

Eliminated in primary

• Vicki Almond, Baltimore County Councilwoman^[9]
• James Brochin, state senator from the 42nd district (2003–present)^[10]
• Kevin Francis Marron, perennial candidate^[11]

Recount

The Democratic Party result was in dispute and runner-up Jim Brochin requested a recount, which commenced on July 12, 2018.^[12] On election night, Olszewski finished ahead of Brochin by nearly 350 votes. After absentee ballots were counted, Olszewski finished ahead of Brochin by 9 votes, out of roughly 84,500 cast.^[13] Olszewski ended up winning the recount by 17 votes.^[14]

Republican primary

Nominee

• Al Redmer, State Insurance Commissioner (2003–2005, 2015–present)^[15]

Eliminated in primary

• Pat McDonough, state delegate from the 7th district (2003–2019)

Results

General election

Results

Frederick County

The incumbent county executive was Democrat Jan Gardner, who was elected as Frederick County's first county executive in 2014 with 53.8 percent of the vote.^[16] She was eligible for re-election and sought a second term.^[17]

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Jan Gardner, incumbent county executive^[18]

Republican primary

Nominee

• Kathy Afzali, state delegate from the 4th district (2011–present)^[19]

Eliminated in primary

• Kirby Delauter, member of the Frederick County Council from the 5th district (2010–present)^[20]
• Regina Williams, former Budget Officer of Frederick County^[21]

General election

Results

Harford County

The incumbent county executive was Republican Barry Glassman, who was elected in 2014 with 74.8 percent of the vote.^[22] He was eligible for re-election and sought a second term.

Republican primary

Nominee

• Barry Glassman, incumbent county executive^[23]

Eliminated in primary

• Mike Perrone Jr., member of the Harford County Council from District A (2014–present)^[24]

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Maryann Connaghan Forgan

General election

Results

Howard County

The incumbent county executive was Republican Allan H. Kittleman, who was elected in 2014 with 51.2 percent of the vote.^[25] He was eligible for re-election and unsuccessfully sought a second term.

Republican primary

• Allan H. Kittleman, incumbent county executive^[26]

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Calvin Ball III, member of the Howard County Council from the 2nd district (2006–present)^[27]

Eliminated in primary

• Harry Dunbar, perennial candidate^[11]

General election

Results

Montgomery County

The incumbent county executive was Democrat Ike Leggett, who was re-elected to a third term in 2014 with 65.3 percent of the vote.^[28] He was ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits.

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Marc Elrich, at-large member of the Montgomery County Council (2006–present)^[29]

Eliminated in primary

• Roger Berliner, member of the Montgomery County Council from the 1st district (2006–present)^[30]
• David Blair, businessman^[31]
• Rose Krasnow, former mayor of Rockville^[32]
• George Leventhal, at-large member of the Montgomery County Council (2002–present)^[33]
• William Frick, majority leader of the Maryland House of Delegates (2017–present) from the 16th district (2007–2019)^[34]

Results

Republican primary

Nominee

• Robin Ficker, activist and attorney

Results

Independent candidates

Declared

• Nancy Floreen (Independent), at-large member of the Montgomery County Council^[35]

General election

Results

Prince George's County

The incumbent County Executive, Democrat Rushern Baker, was precluded from seeking a third term by term limits.

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Angela Alsobrooks, Prince George's County State's Attorney^[36]

Eliminated in primary

• Samuel Bogley, former lieutenant governor of Maryland (1979–1983)^[37]
• Billy Bridges^[38]
• Donna Edwards, former U.S. Representative from (2008–2017) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2016^[39]
• Paul Monteiro, former Obama administration official and director of AmeriCorps VISTA^[40]
• C. Anthony Muse, state senator from the 26th district (2007–present)^[41]
• Lewis Johnson, retired U.S. Government Publishing Office employee
• Michael Kennedy
• Tommie Thompson

Results

Republican primary

Nominee, withdrew after primary

• Jerry J. Mathis, real estate agent^[42]

Results

General election

Results

Republican primary winner Jerry J. Mathis withdrew from the race before the general election and his name did not appear on the ballot.^[43]

Wicomico County

The incumbent county executive was Republican Bob Culver, who was elected in 2014 with 55.5 percent of the vote.^[44] He was eligible for re-election and ran for a second term.

Republican primary

Nominee

• Bob Culver, incumbent county executive^[45]

Democratic primary

Nominee

• John William Hamilton^[46]

Independent candidates

Nominee

• Jack Heath, president of the Salisbury city council^[47]

General election

Results

Notes and References

1. http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/41electp/html/forth.html Maryland Elections, forthcoming
2. Web site: Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for Anne Arundel County . elections.maryland.gov . Maryland State Board of Elections . August 26, 2024 . December 2, 2014.
3. News: Furgurson . E. B. III . Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh announces re-election bid . August 26, 2024 . Capital Gazette . September 8, 2017.
4. News: Cook . Chase . The first Democrat enters the 2018 Anne Arundel County executive race . August 26, 2024 . The Capital . November 16, 2017.
5. Web site: Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for Baltimore County . elections.maryland.gov . Maryland State Board of Elections . August 26, 2024 . December 2, 2014.
6. News: Hernández . Arelis R. . Kevin Kamenetz, Maryland gubernatorial hopeful, remembered as a moral politician . August 26, 2024 . The Washington Post . May 11, 2018.
7. News: McLeod . Ethan . Baltimore County Council unanimously appoints Don Mohler, Kamenetz’s chief of staff, as interim executive . August 26, 2024 . Baltimore Fishbowl . May 24, 2018.
8. News: Wood . Pamela . Closely watched race for Baltimore County executive opens with Olszewski announcement . August 26, 2024 . The Baltimore Sun . June 27, 2017.
9. Web site: Vicki Almond announces bid to become Baltimore County's first female executive. Pamela. Wood.
10. News: Wood . Pamela . Jim Brochin joins race for Baltimore County executive . August 26, 2024 . The Baltimore Sun . October 19, 2017.
11. News: 2018 Primary Election State Candidates List. February 19, 2018.
12. News: Wood . Pamela . Recount underway in Baltimore County executive primary race . August 26, 2024 . The Baltimore Sun . July 12, 2018.
13. News: Johnny Olszewski leads in the race for a new Baltimore County Executive . August 26, 2024 . WBFF . July 6, 2018 . en.
14. News: Olszewski wins recount in county executive race by 17 votes . August 26, 2024 . Associated Press . July 15, 2018.
15. News: Wilen . Holden . Al Redmer, Pat McDonough announce candidacies for Baltimore County executive . August 26, 2024 . Baltimore Business Jounal . September 23, 2017.
16. Web site: Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for Frederick County . elections.maryland.gov . Maryland State Board of Elections . August 26, 2024.
17. News: Bohnel . Steve . Gardner wins second term as county executive . August 26, 2024 . The Frederick News-Post . November 6, 2018 . en.
18. News: County races take shape after candidate filing deadline . August 26, 2024 . Frederick News-Post . February 27, 2018 . en.
19. News: Gaines . Danielle E. . Kathy Afzali . August 26, 2024 . Frederick News-Post . September 14, 2017 . en.
20. News: Gaines . Danielle E. . Delauter kicks off campaign for county executive post . August 26, 2024 . Frederick News-Post . May 14, 2017 . en.
21. News: Gaines . Danielle E. . Regina Williams . August 26, 2024 . The Frederick News-Post . May 9, 2017 . en.
22. Web site: Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for Harford County . elections.maryland.gov . Maryland State Board of Elections . August 26, 2024.
23. News: Butler . Erika . Glassman to seek second term as Harford County Executive . August 26, 2024 . The Baltimore Sun . October 17, 2017.
24. News: Anderson . David . Harford Republicans have a number of contested primaries this year . August 26, 2024 . The Baltimore Sun . February 28, 2018.
25. Web site: Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for Howard County . elections.maryland.gov . Maryland State Board of Elections . August 26, 2024.
26. News: Michaels . Andrew . Kittleman launches 2018 re-election campaign for county executive . August 6, 2024 . The Baltimore Sun . June 12, 2017.
27. News: Magill . Kate . Councilman Calvin Ball enters race for Howard County Executive . November 12, 2017. . November 9, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171110044322/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/columbia/ph-ho-cf-calvin-ball-announcement-1116-story.html . November 10, 2017.
28. Web site: Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for Montgomery County . elections.maryland.gov . Maryland State Board of Elections . August 26, 2024.
29. News: Turque . Bill . Montgomery council member Marc Elrich enters 2018 race for county executive . August 26, 2024 . The Washington Post . March 28, 2017.
30. News: Turque . Bill . Roger Berliner officially enters the 2018 Montgomery county executive race . August 26, 2024 . The Washington Post . June 8, 2017.
31. News: Siegel . Rachel . Potomac businessman David Blair enters race for Montgomery County executive . August 26, 2024 . The Washington Post . November 12, 2017.
32. News: Siegel . Rachel . Rose Krasnow, former Rockville mayor, to run for Montgomery county executive . August 26, 2024 . The Washington Post . November 6, 2017.
33. News: Turque . Bill . George Leventhal officially enters race for Montgomery County executive . August 26, 2024 . The Washington Post . June 26, 2017.
34. News: Metcalf . Andrew . Bill Frick Changes Course, To Run for County Executive Instead of Congress . August 26, 2024 . MoCo360 . September 20, 2017.
35. News: Barrios . Jennifer . Nancy Floreen qualifies to run in Montgomery County executive race . August 26, 2024 . The Washington Post . August 22, 2018.
36. News: Hernández . Arelis R. . Pr. George's top prosecutor announces run for county executive . August 26, 2024 . The Washington Post . July 28, 2017.
37. News: Kurtz . Josh . Candidate Filing Deadline: The Night of the Living Dead . August 26, 2024 . Maryland Matters . February 28, 2018.
38. News: Chason . Rachel . Meet the other Democrats vying to be Prince George’s next county executive . August 26, 2024 . The Washington Post . June 14, 2018.
39. News: Siegel . Rachel . Wiggins . Ovetta . Former Maryland congresswoman Donna Edwards to run for county executive . August 26, 2024 . The Washington Post . October 5, 2017.
40. News: Siegel . Rachel . Paul Monteiro, former Obama appointee, running for Prince George’s executive . August 26, 2024 . The Washington Post . August 29, 2017.
41. News: Hernández . Arelis R. . State Sen. Anthony Muse to run for Prince George’s County executive . August 26, 2024 . The Washington Post . June 26, 2017.
42. News: DePuyt . Bruce . Alsobrooks' GOP Opponent Drops Out of County Executive Race . August 26, 2024 . Maryland Matters . August 28, 2018.
43. News: Chason. Rachel. August 29, 2018. Republican Jerry Mathis drops out of Prince George’s County executive race. The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.. 14 November 2018 .
44. Web site: Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for Wicomico County . elections.maryland.gov . Maryland State Board of Elections . August 26, 2024 . December 2, 2014.
45. News: Holland . Liz . Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver files for re-election . August 26, 2024 . Delmarvanow . October 13, 2017.
46. News: Holland . Liz . Democracy on the Shore: Candidates file in as deadline arrives . August 26, 2024 . Delmarvanow . February 27, 2018.
47. News: Holland . Liz . Jack Heath for Wicomico County executive? . August 26, 2024 . Delmarvanow . November 2, 2017.