County Executive in Baltimore County, Maryland

2026 Primary Election

• Julian Jones — County Executive in Baltimore County, Maryland

  Julian Jones is a Democratic candidate for Baltimore County Executive and has served on the Baltimore County Council for District 4 since 2014. He was the first person to be elected as Council Chairman for three consecutive terms. Before his political career, Jones served for 29 years with the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, where he was the first African American to hold the ranks of lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, and division chief. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Jones is also a business owner and licensed real estate agent. His legislative priorities have included education, public safety, fair housing, and police reform.

• Izzy Patoka — County Executive in Baltimore County, Maryland

  Israel "Izzy" Patoka is a Democratic candidate for Baltimore County Executive. He has represented the 2nd District on the Baltimore County Council since December 2018 and was elected to serve as council chair for the 2024 term. A community planner by profession, Patoka earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree in Geography and Environmental Planning from Towson University. His career in public service spans multiple levels of government and community organizations. He previously served as the Deputy Director for the Baltimore County Department of Planning, the Director of the Mayor's Office of Neighborhoods for Baltimore City, and as Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives for the state. He also worked as Director of Community Development for LifeBridge Health.

• Mansoor Shams — County Executive in Baltimore County, Maryland

  Mansoor Shams is a Democratic candidate for Baltimore County Executive and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served for four years, attaining the rank of corporal. He holds an MBA and a master's degree in government from Johns Hopkins University. His professional background includes working as an assistant to two SEC Chairmen and owning and operating multiple small businesses, including an export company and two retail ventures. Shams is also the founder of MuslimMarine.org, a platform through which he has earned national recognition for his work countering prejudice and fostering dialogue. He and his wife are parents to four children who have attended or are graduates of Baltimore County Public Schools.

• Nick Stewart — County Executive in Baltimore County, Maryland

  Nick Stewart is a business attorney and lifelong Democrat running for Baltimore County Executive in the 2026 election. Raised in Timonium and residing in Catonsville, Stewart earned his bachelor's from the University of Maryland and a law degree from George Washington University. His public service includes four years as vice chair of the Baltimore County School Board and eight years on the Workforce Development Board. He also co-founded the advocacy group We the People - Baltimore County. His campaign prioritizes tackling the affordability crisis, expanding housing options, and modernizing government.

• Pat Young — County Executive in Baltimore County, Maryland

  Pat Young is a Democratic politician serving on the Baltimore County Council, where he has represented the first district since 2022. He has officially announced his candidacy for the office of Baltimore County Executive in the 2026 election. A native of Catonsville, Maryland, Young attended Mount Saint Joseph High School. After graduating, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving from 2001 to 2005. His military career included significant overseas deployments, featuring two combat tours in Iraq and participation in a humanitarian mission in Liberia. Following the completion of his military service, Young pursued higher education at Towson University, where he earned his bachelor's degrees. His career in public office began in 2015 when he was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates. He served in that capacity until his successful 2022 campaign for his current seat on the county council.

• Patrick V. Dyer — County Executive in Baltimore County, Maryland

  Patrick V. Dyer is a Republican candidate for Baltimore County Executive in the 2026 election. A Lutherville resident and founder of the investment firm Capital Portfolio Management Inc., he brings over 30 years of business experience to his campaign. Dyer is a graduate of Loyola Blakefield, Loyola College, and holds an MBA from the University of Baltimore. His platform prioritizes addressing crime, improving education, and ensuring fiscal responsibility to create a more business-friendly county. A husband and father of four, Dyer has also served as president of the Associated Italian American Charities and the Hibernian Society of Baltimore.

• Kimberley Stansbury — County Executive in Baltimore County, Maryland

  Kimberley Stansbury is a Republican candidate for Baltimore County Executive. A Towson resident and graduate of Towson University with a B.S. in Political Science, she has been the office manager for a physical therapy practice for over 25 years. Stansbury is running on a platform centered on enhancing public safety, improving education, and ensuring government transparency and accountability. She advocates for greater support for law enforcement, increased parental involvement in schools, and responsible development. Having previously run for the same office, her campaign emphasizes her deep community roots and extensive local involvement, including leadership roles in community associations and the PTA.

• Rob Daniels — County Executive in Baltimore County, Maryland

  Rob Daniels is an unaffiliated candidate for Baltimore County Executive. A Pikesville resident and career trial attorney, he has served as an Assistant State's Attorney and is currently an Assistant Attorney General with the Maryland Office of the Attorney General. Daniels' platform prioritizes public safety, including fully staffing the police force, alongside initiatives for economic opportunity and transparent governance. He emphasizes his experience in the Executive Branch and his law enforcement background. In 2024, Daniels was a candidate for a Baltimore County Circuit Court judge seat. He is running a campaign focused on practical, commonsense solutions.