Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

2026 Primary Election

• Adil Ahmed — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Adil Ahmed is a Democratic candidate running to represent Howard County on the Democratic Central Committee during the 2026 Maryland primary election cycle. A resident of Columbia, Maryland, Ahmed officially filed his campaign paperwork on December 23, 2025. In this local contest, voters are tasked with selecting up to twenty representatives for the committee, with election rules stipulating that no more than half of the members can be elected from the same gender. Campaigning to serve his community as a male committee member, Ahmed operates an official campaign website at adilforhoco.carrd.co to connect with voters.

• Teresa Baker — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Teresa Baker is a Democratic candidate running for the Democratic Central Committee in Howard County, Maryland. A dedicated advocate for public servants, she has been extensively involved with the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE). Baker previously served as the President of NARFE Chapter 1734 in Howard County, taking office in 2023. She was also elected to serve as First Vice President of the Maryland Federation of NARFE for the 2025-2027 term. In these roles, Baker has engaged with state and federal legislative committees to protect the earned retirement benefits of active and retired federal workers.

• Mae A. Beale — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Mae A. Beale is a dedicated community leader and lifelong Democrat running for the Howard County Democratic Central Committee in Maryland. A resident of Columbia for over four decades, she brings extensive experience in public service, having previously served on the committee and volunteered for numerous campaigns, including President Obama's 2012 reelection. A retired licensed practical nurse and health insurance specialist at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Beale later founded her own event planning business, In Grand Style. At age 82, she earned a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Maryland Global Campus.

• Jonathan K. Branch — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Jonathan K. Branch is a dedicated healthcare professional, Army veteran, and community leader running for the Democratic Central Committee in Howard County, Maryland. Branch has served as a registered nurse at Walter Reed Hospital for nearly five decades. As an active member of the local Democratic Party, he previously served on the Howard County Democratic Central Committee and as a 2012 Maryland Electoral College delegate. Branch is also a strong advocate for veterans, serving as co-chair of the Howard County Commission for Veterans and Military Families, where he works to expand local resources.

• McNeal Brown, Jr. — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  McNeal Brown, Jr. is a dedicated local leader and the current Chair of the Howard County Democratic Central Committee. Elected to the committee by Howard County voters in the July 2022 primary, he is currently running for re-election to the Democratic Central Committee in the 2026 Maryland Gubernatorial Primary. As a registered Democrat and active community member, Brown has worked to support Democratic candidates, register voters, and advance the core values of economic fairness and equal opportunity in Howard County. In his leadership role, he continues to advocate for the principles of the Maryland Democratic Party.

• Sean Ford — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Sean Ford is an experienced political organizer and legislative staffer currently serving on the Howard County Democratic Central Committee in Maryland. Elected during the 2022 primary election to a four-year term expiring in 2026, he actively supports the local party infrastructure and serves as the committee's Second Vice Chair. Over his career, Ford has worked on numerous political campaigns across the state. In 2022, he served as the field director for Peter Franchot's gubernatorial campaign and Congressman David Trone's reelection effort. Additionally, he has worked as a legislative staffer in the Maryland General Assembly and for the Maryland Lottery.

• Lorinzo Foxworth — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Dr. Lorinzo Foxworth is an elected member of the Howard County Democratic Central Committee in Maryland. A 20-year U.S. Army veteran, he retired as a First Sergeant after serving from 1975 to 1995. Foxworth earned a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix and graduated from the U.S. Army Sergeants Majors Academy. Professionally, he is the owner of The Leader Doc, providing executive leadership coaching, and serves as an adjunct instructor at the University of Maryland Global Campus and the University of Phoenix. He also serves on the Maryland Veterans Commission and the Howard County Commission for Veterans and Military Families.

• Sanjay G. George — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Sanjay G. George is a lifelong resident of Howard County, Maryland, running for the Howard County Democratic Central Committee. A proud Democrat, George brings extensive political and community advocacy experience to this role. He recently served as a Constituent Services Representative for U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney and managed Gabriel Moreno's campaign for the Maryland House of Delegates. Dedicated to community engagement, he has also worked closely with local nonprofits. George earned a bachelor's degree in financial economics from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and resides in Ellicott City.

• Joshua Hirsh — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Joshua Hirsh is a Democratic leader running for the Howard County Democratic Central Committee in Maryland. A longtime county resident, he earned a political science degree with Phi Theta Kappa Honors from Howard Community College. Living with cerebral palsy, Hirsh is a fierce disability rights advocate, earning an appointment to the Howard County Commission on Disabilities in 2020. His extensive political background includes serving as Vice President of the Young Democrats of Howard County and interning at the County Council. Elected to the Central Committee in 2022, Hirsh continues to advance inclusive Democratic values across his community.

• Lillian Holmes — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Lillian N. Holmes is a Democratic candidate running for election to the Howard County Democratic Central Committee in Maryland. Residing in Columbia, Maryland, Holmes is an active participant in Maryland's local Democratic politics. She officially filed her active candidacy for the Central Committee on February 19, 2026, organizing her ongoing campaign under the registered committee name "Friends of Lillian N. Holmes". In addition to her current local political campaign in Howard County, Holmes previously served as a Democratic presidential elector for the state of Maryland during the 2016 United States presidential election.

• Sandra Holt — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Sandra Holt is a Democratic political candidate who resides in the state of Maryland. She is currently running as a candidate for the Democratic Central Committee representing Howard County in the upcoming 2026 primary election. Holt officially filed her local candidacy for the committee position on February 24, 2026. The Democratic Central Committee serves as the local governing body for the Democratic Party, and Howard County voters can select up to twenty members to serve on the board. As an active candidate in this local contest, Holt organizes her current political campaign out of her home community of Clarksville, Maryland.

• Alex Horn — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Alex Horn is a dedicated community advocate running for election to the Howard County Democratic Central Committee in Maryland. Currently serving as an active member of the local party apparatus, Horn has demonstrated a strong commitment to engaging voters and building Democratic Party infrastructure. He first gained local recognition as a student advocate who successfully organized around education policy, including testifying on school start times. Operating out of Columbia, Maryland, his current campaign committee, People for Alex Horn, is focused on the 2026 primary election. Horn continues to fight for Democratic values across Howard County.

• Musa Jafri — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Musa Jafri is a dedicated public servant running for the Democratic Central Committee in Howard County, Maryland. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) with a degree in political science, Jafri demonstrated early leadership as the Student Government Association's director of civic engagement. Currently, Jafri serves as the Delegation Administrator for the Howard County Delegation in the Maryland General Assembly, supporting local legislative efforts. He also remains active in grassroots organizing, serving as a Member-at-large for the Columbia Democratic Club. Jafri is committed to advancing the Democratic Party's values and civic participation.

• Adriane Jemmott — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Adriane Jemmott is an experienced attorney and political advocate running for the Howard County Democratic Central Committee in Maryland. With over two decades of legal experience, she practices alternative dispute resolution. Jemmott has been deeply active in local and national advocacy campaigns. Her civic background includes serving as an Advocacy Institute Leadership Fellow, an Obama Fellow, and a member of an advisory committee to a county executive. First appointed to the Howard County Democratic Central Committee in 2023, Jemmott brings professional leadership experience to her ongoing role in the Democratic Party.

• Alli Krist — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Alli Krist is a Democratic candidate for the Democratic Central Committee in Howard County, Maryland. A former teacher who left the education field during the pandemic, she is now a dedicated local small business owner. In 2022, she and her husband, Matt, opened Backwater Books, an independent bookstore located in historic Old Ellicott City. Her bookstore actively supports the local arts and literature scene by hosting community book clubs, writing groups, and live music events. Krist is also a community advocate who has publicly backed essential local initiatives, including Ellicott City flood mitigation projects and expanded transit options.

• Joanne R. LaCroix — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Joanne R. LaCroix is an active political candidate running for a seat on the Democratic Central Committee in Howard County, Maryland. A resident of Columbia, Maryland, LaCroix is participating in the 2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election as a member of the Democratic Party. She officially filed her candidacy for the local party committee position on February 23, 2026. Because public biographical details and professional background information regarding LaCroix are currently sparse, her campaign profile remains primarily defined by her central committee run. As a candidate, she is engaging in the local Democratic Party's upcoming 2026 primary election.

• Marina Lambrinou — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Dr. Marina Lambrinou is running for the Democratic Central Committee in Howard County, Maryland. A native of Cyprus, she is a dedicated educator and researcher focusing on migration policy, student activism, and educational equity. Dr. Lambrinou currently serves as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate at Loyola University Maryland’s School of Education and the Center for Equity, Leadership, and Social Justice in Education. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Studies from UNC Greensboro. In her current academic role, she co-leads an NSF-funded project examining the experiences of Latina undergraduate students in engineering programs, advocating for minoritized youth.

• Julian Yuri Lanese — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Julian Yuri Lanese is an active political candidate in the state of Maryland. He is running as a Democratic candidate for the Howard County Democratic Central Committee in the upcoming 2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election. Lanese officially filed his candidacy for this local party leadership contest with the Maryland State Board of Elections on February 23, 2026. State election records indicate that he is a resident of Columbia, Maryland. Publicly available campaign information regarding his professional background and specific political platform remains sparse, as his public footprint largely consists of official state election ballot filings.

• Linda Lamppert Leslie — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Linda Lamppert Leslie is a candidate for the Democratic Central Committee in Howard County, Maryland. A dedicated community leader and long-time resident of Columbia, she actively works to advance progressive values. Leslie currently serves as the Secretary of the Columbia Democratic Club for the 2024-2026 term, supporting local Democratic candidates and outreach. She is also a recognized community advocate, contributing as a PATH Ally for the Maryland Just Power Alliance and participating in the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County. Professionally, she has a background in platform adoption. She is a proud alumna of Beloit College.

• James Ward Morrow — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  James Ward Morrow is a labor attorney running for the Howard County Democratic Central Committee in Maryland. He previously served on the Central Committee and as President of the Young Democrats of Maryland. Morrow currently works as Assistant General Counsel for the American Federation of Government Employees. He also teaches labor law as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland School of Law. As a member of the Democratic Party, Morrow has previously run for the Maryland House of Delegates. He holds a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University and a J.D. from the University of Maryland.

• Sriram Padmanabhan — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Sriram Padmanabhan is a candidate running for election to the Democratic Central Committee in Howard County, Maryland. As a resident of Howard County, he is participating in the local Democratic Party's internal leadership elections to help shape its platform, support grassroots initiatives, and organize voter outreach. Outside of his political involvement, Padmanabhan is known in the region as an experienced physician. Dr. Padmanabhan serves as the Chief of Cardiology at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center in Baltimore, where he specializes in treating adult cardiovascular disease. He is running to represent his community and strengthen the local party.

• Kimberly Pfeifer — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Dr. Kimberly Pfeifer is a Democratic candidate running for the Howard County Democratic Central Committee in Maryland. With over 25 years of experience in the international development and social justice non-profit sectors, she brings a wealth of policy and research expertise to her campaign. Dr. Pfeifer holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Florida. Professionally, she served as the Head of Research at Oxfam America and previously worked as a researcher for the AFL-CIO. Dedicated to her local community, she serves on the board of the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center of Howard County and the board of UEmpower in Baltimore.

• Shahan Rizvi — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Shahan Rizvi serves as Chair of the Howard County Democratic Central Committee in Maryland. Assuming the leadership role in 2020, Rizvi has actively worked to unite local Democratic clubs and boost civic participation among diverse communities. He earned an undergraduate degree in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and holds a master's degree in Acquisition Supply Chain Management. Beyond his party committee duties, Rizvi is the President of the Howard County Muslim Council. In 2025, the Maryland Comptroller honored him with an AAPI Heritage Month Public Service Award. He resides in Columbia, Maryland.

• Jackie Scott — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Jackie Scott is a Democratic policy lawyer serving on the Howard County Democratic Central Committee in Maryland. She was elected by voters to a four-year term during the 2022 primary election, with her current term running until 2026. Within the local party organization, Scott holds a leadership position on the Executive Board, where she currently serves as the Third Vice Chair. Having resided in Howard County for nearly twenty-five years, she brings extensive local experience to her role. As a committee member, Scott works to support Democratic candidates, organize grassroots community engagement, and assist with voter turnout efforts ahead of the general elections.

• Swati Sharma — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Swati Sharma is a Democratic Party candidate seeking election to the Democratic Central Committee representing Howard County, Maryland. She filed to appear on the ballot for the upcoming 2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election, which is scheduled to take place on June 23, 2026. A resident of Dayton, Maryland, she organized her official electoral campaign under the committee name Friends of Swati Sharma. Publicly available biographical details regarding Sharma's professional background and personal history remain sparse, so her campaign primarily emphasizes her active candidacy for this local grassroots party leadership role within the Howard County Democratic Party.

• Christina M. Sicuranza-Lanese — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Christina M. Sicuranza-Lanese is a Democratic candidate running for a seat on the Howard County Democratic Central Committee in Maryland. Based in Columbia, she officially filed her candidacy on February 23, 2026, to compete in the state's 2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election, which will be held on June 23. Sicuranza-Lanese seeks to serve as a female representative on the local party's central committee, a body that helps shape local Democratic Party operations and ensures equitable gender representation. While specific details regarding her professional background and broader platform remain sparse, her candidacy represents active civic participation in Howard County elections.

• Yolanda Vazquez — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Yolanda Vazquez is a dedicated public servant and community leader running for the Howard County Democratic Central Committee in Maryland. Representing the Democratic Party, she brings a wealth of local experience to her candidacy. Vazquez currently serves as the Director of External Affairs for the Howard County State's Attorney's Office. An active participant in the community, she was reappointed to the county's La Alianza Latina Commission in 2023 and is a member of the Leadership Howard County Premier Class of 2025. Previously, Vazquez worked as a multi-award-winning television correspondent and anchor for Maryland Public Television programs including MotorWeek.

• Vaughn Vogel — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Vaughn Vogel is a Democratic candidate running for election to the Democratic Central Committee in Howard County, Maryland. A licensed real estate professional since 2007, Vogel brings a wealth of experience spanning accounting, fundraising, and operations management. Before entering the real estate industry, he served his country as a veteran of the United States Army, where his military career included service with the 75th Ranger Regiment and the 82nd Airborne Division. In his local community, Vogel serves as a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for the Howard County Association of REALTORS®. His campaign committee is organized as The People for Vaughn Vogel.

• Kim Antionette Parker — Democratic Central Committee in Howard, Maryland

  Kim Antionette Parker is a resident of Marriottsville, Maryland, who recently engaged in local politics within Howard County. A registered member of the Democratic Party, Parker organized a campaign committee named "Friends of Kim Parker." In early 2026, she officially filed as a candidate for a position on the Democratic Central Committee representing Howard County ahead of the 2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election. She submitted her candidacy for the party leadership role on February 23, 2026. However, public election records from the Maryland State Board of Elections indicate that Parker subsequently withdrew from the Democratic Central Committee contest on March 4, 2026.