Judge of the Orphans' Court in Queen Anne's, Maryland

2026 Primary Election

• Barry A. Schwartz — Judge of the Orphans' Court in Queen Anne's, Maryland

  Barry A. Schwartz is a Democratic candidate running for Judge of the Orphans' Court in Queen Anne's County, Maryland. Schwartz is an active figure in local politics and currently serves as a member of the Queen Anne's County Democratic Central Committee, working to support civic engagement on Maryland's Eastern Shore. He is deeply involved in community organizing and recently spoke at the No Kings Rally at the Centreville courthouse square. Schwartz previously ran a successful primary campaign for the Orphans' Court in the 2022 election cycle. He continues to focus his efforts on serving his community and expanding the local Democratic presence.

• Don McKeough — Judge of the Orphans' Court in Queen Anne's, Maryland

  Don McKeough is a Democratic candidate running for the office of Judge of the Orphans' Court in Queen Anne's County, Maryland, during the 2026 election cycle. Based in Chester, Maryland, his campaign is officially registered under the committee name "McKeough, Don Citizens for". In the 2026 Maryland Gubernatorial Primary Election, McKeough filed for his candidacy in February 2026 and appeared on the Democratic ballot as an unopposed candidate for the Orphans' Court, where voters could select up to three individuals for the bench. As a candidate for local judicial office, McKeough seeks to serve the residents of Queen Anne's County in matters of probate.

• Jeff H. Starling — Judge of the Orphans' Court in Queen Anne's, Maryland

  Jeff H. Starling is a Democratic candidate running for the office of Judge of the Orphans' Court in Queen Anne's County, Maryland, in the 2026 election cycle. Based in Centreville, Maryland, Starling officially filed to run in the regular primary election on February 24, 2026. For his political efforts, he organized the campaign committee named "Friends of Starling". He is competing on the 2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election ballot, where he is listed as an unopposed Democratic candidate for one of the three available seats on the Orphans' Court. As an active candidate, he seeks to serve Queen Anne's County in this judicial role.

• Kimberly Jean Cascia — Judge of the Orphans' Court in Queen Anne's, Maryland

  Kimberly Jean Cascia is a Republican Judge on the Orphans' Court of Queen Anne's County, Maryland. First elected to the position in November 2010, she has secured multiple re-elections, with her current term ending in December 2026. During her judicial tenure, Cascia served as the Chief Judge of the Orphans' Court from 2019 to 2023 and worked as Vice-Chair of the Conference of Orphans' Court Judges from 2014 to 2016. Outside of her professional judicial duties, Cascia is an active small business owner and farmer. Since 2005, she has successfully operated Cascia Vineyards and Winery in Maryland. She is also a mother of two children.

• John T. McQueeney, Jr. — Judge of the Orphans' Court in Queen Anne's, Maryland

  John T. McQueeney, Jr. is a Republican candidate running for Queen Anne's County Judge of the Orphans' Court in Maryland in the 2026 election. With a long history of public service in the county, McQueeney previously ran for the same judicial office during the 2022 Republican primary. He brings extensive local government experience to his candidacy, having formerly served as an elected Queen Anne's County Commissioner. For many years, he has also served on the Queen Anne's County Board of License Commissioners, frequently acting as the board's chairman. Additionally, McQueeney is an active local party leader, serving on the Queen Anne's County Republican Central Committee.

• Laurie J. Plemons — Judge of the Orphans' Court in Queen Anne's, Maryland

  Laurie J. Plemons is a Republican candidate running for Judge of the Orphans' Court in Queen Anne's County, Maryland. Professionally, Plemons has worked as a self-employed administration specialist and consultant. Actively involved in local politics, she has served as a member of the Queen Anne's County Republican Central Committee and as president of a regional Republican Women's club. In 2022, Plemons was appointed to the Queen Anne's County Redistricting Board, where she acted as a co-chair. Before her current campaign, she previously sought election to the local Orphans' Court during the 2018 and 2022 election cycles.

• Roger Twigg — Judge of the Orphans' Court in Queen Anne's, Maryland

  Roger Twigg is a Republican candidate running for Judge of the Orphans' Court in Queen Anne's County, Maryland. He previously ran for the same position in the 2022 Republican primary election and for Clerk of the Circuit Court in 2014. Twigg has been a resident of Centreville, Maryland, for decades. He holds a bachelor's degree in government and public policy and a master's degree in legal and ethical studies from the University of Baltimore, where he graduated with honors. He also earned a post-graduate certification in paralegal litigation. His educational background focuses on legal processes and public service.