Board of Education in Commissioner District 1, Maryland

2026 Primary Election

• Shannon Long Bent — Board of Education in Commissioner District 1, Maryland

  Shannon Long Bent is a non-partisan candidate and current President of the Queen Anne's County Board of Education, representing District 1 in Maryland. Appointed to the Board by Governor Larry Hogan in November 2021, she was elected to a full term in 2022 and filed for re-election in 2026. Professionally, Bent is a Principal Systems Engineer with deep experience in program management, including decades of work at the NSA and Northrop Grumman. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland University College and an Executive MBA from the University of Maryland, College Park. As a Church Hill resident and parent, she is focused on student equity and success.

• Chris Blanton — Board of Education in Commissioner District 1, Maryland

  Chris Blanton is a non-partisan political candidate in Maryland, recognized for his campaign to serve on the Board of Education for Queen Anne's County Public Schools, representing District 1. Blanton actively participated in the 2022 election cycle. He successfully advanced past the non-partisan primary election held in July 2022 to compete for the District 1 seat. Ultimately, he was defeated by Shannon Long Bent in the general election on November 8, 2022. Blanton maintains a campaign committee based out of Church Hill, Maryland, continuing his engagement with local public education and school board representation in Queen Anne's County.