2018 Maryland county executive elections


The Maryland county executive elections of 2018 took place on November 6, 2018, with the primary election occurring on June 26, 2018.
Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Frederick County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and Wicomico County elected county executives.

Anne Arundel County

The incumbent county executive was Republican Steve Schuh, who was elected in 2014 with 61.1 percent of the vote. He was eligible for re-election and unsuccessfully sought a second term.

Republican primary

Nominee

Democratic primary

Nominee

Baltimore County

The incumbent county executive, Democrat Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, won re-election to a second term in 2014 with 56.1 percent of the vote, but was prevented from seeking a third term due to term limits, creating an open seat.
Kamenetz died on May 10, 2018, making County Administrative Officer Fred Homan acting county executive until May 29, when the Baltimore County Council unanimously voted to appoint Don Mohler as county executive. Mohler did not run for election to a full term.

Democratic primary

Nominee

  • Johnny Olszewski, former state delegate from the 6th district and candidate for state senator in 2014

Eliminated in primary

Recount

The Democratic Party result was in dispute and runner-up Jim Brochin requested a recount, which commenced on July 12, 2018. On election night, Olszewski finished ahead of Brochin by nearly 350 votes. After absentee ballots were counted, Olszewski finished ahead of Brochin by 9 votes, out of roughly 84,500 cast. Olszewski ended up winning the recount by 17 votes.

Republican primary

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Frederick County

The incumbent county executive was Democrat Jan Gardner, who was elected as Frederick County's first county executive in 2014 with 53.8 percent of the vote. She was eligible for re-election and sought a second term.

Democratic primary

Nominee

Republican primary

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Harford County

The incumbent county executive was Republican Barry Glassman, who was elected in 2014 with 74.8 percent of the vote. He was eligible for re-election and sought a second term.

Republican primary

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

  • Mike Perrone Jr., member of the Harford County Council from District A

Democratic primary

Nominee

  • Maryann Connaghan Forgan

Howard County

The incumbent county executive was Republican Allan H. Kittleman, who was elected in 2014 with 51.2 percent of the vote. He was eligible for re-election and unsuccessfully sought a second term.

Republican primary

Democratic primary

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

  • Harry Dunbar, perennial candidate

Montgomery County

The incumbent county executive was Democrat Ike Leggett, who was re-elected to a third term in 2014 with 65.3 percent of the vote. He was ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits.

Democratic primary

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Republican primary

Nominee

Independent candidates

Declared

Prince George's County

The incumbent County Executive, Democrat Rushern Baker, was precluded from seeking a third term by term limits.

Democratic primary

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Republican primary

Nominee, withdrew after primary

General election

Results

Republican primary winner Jerry J. Mathis withdrew from the race before the general election and his name did not appear on the ballot.

Wicomico County

The incumbent county executive was Republican Bob Culver, who was elected in 2014 with 55.5 percent of the vote. He was eligible for re-election and ran for a second term.

Republican primary

Nominee

  • Bob Culver, incumbent county executive

Democratic primary

Nominee

  • John William Hamilton

Independent candidates

Nominee