Democratic Central Committee in Legislative District 15, Maryland

2026 Primary Election

• Saman Qadeer Ahmad — Democratic Central Committee in Legislative District 15, Maryland

  Saman Qadeer Ahmad currently serves on the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, representing District 15 in Maryland. She began her career working in the U.S. Congress and served in the Obama Administration while attending law school. As a small business owner, Ahmad manages her own law practice, counseling local businesses on corporate law. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Interfaith Works and the Maryland Democratic Asian American and Pacific Islander Diversity Leadership Council. In 2020, Ahmad was a Biden Delegate to the DNC. She lives in North Potomac with her husband, where they are raising their two young children.

• Colin C. Richard — Democratic Central Committee in Legislative District 15, Maryland

  Colin C. Richard is a political candidate running for the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee representing Legislative District 15 in Maryland. As a dedicated Democrat based in Gaithersburg, Richard is focused on improving local party procedures. A central theme of his 2026 campaign is advocating for democratic reforms related to legislative vacancy appointments. Emphasizing that a large percentage of local state legislators were initially appointed rather than elected by voters, Richard strongly supports updating committee policies to mitigate the appointment process and ultimately restore voter selection for public representation.

• William Roberts — Democratic Central Committee in Legislative District 15, Maryland

  William Roberts is a civil rights attorney running for the Democratic Central Committee from Legislative District 15 in Maryland. A Clarksburg resident, he brings extensive public policy experience, previously serving as legislative director and chief counsel for U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin. Roberts is a Senior Vice President at the Center for American Progress. Locally, he has served as chair of the Montgomery County Renters Alliance, chair of the Upcounty Citizens Advisory Board, and president of the Association of Black Democrats. He holds undergraduate and law degrees from Howard University.

• Andrea Lauren Shedler — Democratic Central Committee in Legislative District 15, Maryland

  Andrea Lauren Shedler is a dedicated political organizer running for the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee in Maryland's Legislative District 15. With a background that spans freelance television production and nonprofit fundraising for cancer research, Shedler has seen firsthand the importance of advocating for healthcare improvements for the sick and poor. Since 2020, she has actively supported Democrats across Maryland and Northern Virginia. Her experience includes serving as a legislative staffer in the Maryland House of Delegates, a precinct leader, and a member of the 2024 Ballot Questions Advisory Committee. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration.

• Milan Alexander van Dam — Democratic Central Committee in Legislative District 15, Maryland

  Milan Alexander van Dam is an active political candidate running to represent Maryland's Legislative District 15 on the Democratic Central Committee. A resident of Potomac in Montgomery County, he officially filed his candidacy for the 2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election on February 23, 2026. Running as a dedicated member of the Democratic Party, his electoral campaign is formally organized under the committee name Friends of Milan van Dam. To connect with local residents and voters, van Dam maintains a digital campaign presence through his official website, milanformoco.com, as well as on Facebook and Instagram using the handle milanformoco.