Vanessa Atterbeary

County Executive in Howard, Maryland

Vanessa Atterbeary is a candidate for County Executive in Howard, Maryland — 2026 Primary Election. Running as Democratic.

Also running: Bob Cockey, Deb Jung, Liz Walsh.

Vanessa Atterbeary is a Democratic candidate for Howard County Executive. A native of Columbia, Maryland, she served in the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 13 from 2015 until her resignation in 2026 to focus on her executive campaign. During her tenure, she chaired the House Ways and Means Committee and the Work Group to Address Police Reform and Accountability in Maryland. An attorney, she earned her B.A. from the College of William and Mary and her J.D. from Villanova University School of Law. Her legislative priorities have included education funding, gun control, and police reform.

Website: https://www.vanessaatterbeary.org