House of Delegates in Legislative District 17, Maryland

2026 Primary Election

• Julie Palakovich Carr — House of Delegates in Legislative District 17, Maryland

  Julie Palakovich Carr serves as a Democratic member in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 17, an area that includes Gaithersburg and Rockville. She assumed office in January 2019. Prior to her election to the state legislature, Palakovich Carr served two terms on the Rockville City Council, beginning in 2013. Her professional background is in science policy, informed by her academic credentials, which include a master's degree in biology from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor's degree in biology from Boston University. Before entering public service, she worked as a public policy manager for the American Institute of Biological Sciences.

• Christopher Stephen Reed — House of Delegates in Rockville, MD

  Christopher S. Reed is a Democratic candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates in Legislative District 17. A lifelong resident of the area, he was born in Silver Spring and raised in Rockville. Influenced by a family history of civil service, Reed became involved in student government and community volunteering from a young age. He has spent the past year working as a substitute teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools, gaining firsthand insight into the educational system. Reed's platform is centered on key state and local issues, including environmental restoration, infrastructure improvement, and bolstering support for Maryland's farmers and teachers. The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 23, 2026.

• Ryan Spiegel — House of Delegates in Legislative District 17, Maryland

  Ryan Spiegel is a Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates for Legislative District 17, which includes Gaithersburg and Rockville. He was appointed to fill a vacancy and assumed office in July 2023, serving on the Appropriations Committee. Prior to his state appointment, Spiegel had a long record of public service on the Gaithersburg City Council from 2007 to 2023. He also served as president of the Maryland Municipal League. By profession, Spiegel is an attorney and a partner at the law firm Thompson Hine, where his practice focuses on government contracts. He earned his undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Maryland and his Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School.

• Joe Vogel — House of Delegates in Legislative District 17, Maryland

  Joe Vogel is a Democratic Delegate running for re-election in Maryland’s Legislative District 17, representing Gaithersburg and Rockville. Born in Uruguay, Vogel immigrated to the U.S. at age three. First elected in 2022, he made history as one of the first Generation Z members of the Maryland General Assembly. In Annapolis, Vogel serves as a Deputy Majority Whip and sits on the Ways and Means Committee. He champions youth mental health, inclusive education, and climate action. Vogel holds degrees from George Washington University and Harvard. He is dedicated to delivering bold, progressive solutions for Maryland's future.