Election Day 2026: Executive, Council Races, More On Montgomery County Ballot

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Election Day is Nov. 3, and residents will be voting for candidates running in local, state and congressional races.

Maryland's race for governor and lieutenant governor pits incumbents Wes Moore and Aruna Miller against Republicans Dan Cox and Rob Krop.

Also in contention for the state's top post are Green Party candidates Andy Ellis and Owen Silverman Andrews and Working Class Party team Cathy White and Cathy Permut.

In the Maryland General Assembly, dozens of House of Delegates and Senate seats are up for grabs in the 2026 election cycle.

County-wise, voters will have the chance to make selections for the Board of Education's at-large post and 1st, 3rd and 5th district seats in addition to every district's council member post.

The outcome of the races will heavily impact critical decision-making on the county's budgetary, housing, transportation and school policies.

Residents can register on Election Day. However, voters must provide documentation that confirms both their identity and address.

Permissible documents include a valid Maryland driver's license, learner's permit, or state ID card. A change-of-address card, paycheck, bank statement, or utility bill can also prove residence.

On Election Day, residents must vote at their assigned polling place. Otherwise, they must vote by provisional ballot, according to the Board of Elections.

Residents can use an online tool provided by the state to find their designated voting district and polling station.

Election Day voting will run from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents can request mail-in ballots in person at their local board but must be submitted by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.

Note: You can check the status of mail-in or provisional ballots online. Anyone who requested a mail-in ballot and decides to vote in person on Election Day must vote by provisional ballot at the polls.

Who Are The Candidates?

County Executive Challengers

Competing for the county executive post are Democrat Councilmember Will Jawando and Esther Wells, the Republican candidate who previously ran for the 1st District on the Montgomery County school board in the 2022 election.

The two candidates were whittled down from a list of seven candidates, five Democrats and two Republicans.

The county executive position the pair are challenging oversees the daily administration of county departments and submits proposals for the county budget.

The current County Executive is Marc Elrich (Democrat), who is running for an at-large seat on the County Council.

County Council At-Large Candidates

One of the most contested races this election cycle was for the County Council at-large seat, which saw 18 candidates vie for the four-year post.

After the primary, however, just five candidates advanced to the November election. Only four candidates can be proclaimed winners.

The five candidates who advanced include:

• Marc Elrich, Democrat
• Scott Evan Goldberg, Democrat
• Laurie-Anne Sayles, Incumbent, Democrat
• Karla Silvestre, Democrat*
• Sherwin Wells, Republican

The at-large position is responsible for voting on the county's operating budget, introducing and passing legislation and providing oversight on multiple departments.

County Council Candidates By District

1st District

• Julie Yang, Democrat*
• Reardon "Sully" Sullivan, Republican*

2nd District

• Marilyn Balcombe, Incumbent, Democrat
• Arian Borghei, Republican*

3rd District

• Jud Ashman, Democrat*
• Ricky Fai Mui, Republican

4th District

• Kate Stewart, Incumbent, Democrat*

5th District

• Kristin Mink, Incumbent, Democrat
• Josephine Salazar, Republican

6th District

• Natali Fani-González, Incumbent, Democrat
• Louella Tham, Republican

7th District

• Dawn Luedtke, Incumbent, Democrat
• Harold Maldonado, Republican

Board Of Education Race (Non-Partisan)

At-Large Candidates

• Brenda M. Diaz*
• Omar Lazo*

1st District

• Grace Rivera-Oven

3rd District

• Sally A. McCarthy
• Cassandra "Cassi" Sung*

5th District

• Elma-Lorraine Diggs

To view a full list of candidates in Montgomery County at the local level, click here.

* indicates candidates who returned Patch's questionnaire

What Are The Ballot Questions?

This election season, in addition to voting for candidates, voters will also face three ballot questions.

The ballot topics are state budget funding, temporary judicial appointments, and the controversial redistricting measure that nearly didn't make the cut.

Questions that will be on the November ballot are below:

• Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026: Providing that each budget submitted by the Governor shall include proposed expenditures necessary to implement wages, hours, fringe benefits, health benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment in each collective bargaining memorandum of understanding with State employees, whether the State and State employees reached those terms and conditions by mutual agreement or through a neutral decider's order.
  • For the Constitutional Amendment -A vote FOR this amendment means that the Governor has to include money in the proposed State budget to pay for agreements between the State and its employees. Agreements might include changes to wages, hours, fringe benefits, health benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment. The Governor must put enough money in the State budget to cover the agreed upon pay and benefits for employees, whether those terms were negotiated or decided by a neutral decision-maker.
  • Against the Constitutional Amendment - A vote AGAINST the amendment means that the law about funding agreements between the State and State employees stays the same.
• Temporary Appointments on the Commission on Judicial Disabilities: Authorizing temporary substitute appointments to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities when a member is recused or disqualified, or when a member's term expires. In these situations, the Commission Chair may recall a former member of the Commission, or the Governor, at the request of the Commission Chair, may appoint a temporary substitute member or extend the term of a current member until a permanent replacement is appointed. Only individuals who meet the constitutional eligibility requirements may be recalled or appointed to the Commission.
  • For the Constitutional Amendment - A vote FOR this amendment means that temporary appointments to the Commission are allowed if a member is recused, disqualified, or if a member's term ends without a replacement. The Commission Chair can temporarily fill an opening with a former member. The Governor can, at the request of the Commission Chair, pick a temporary substitute to fill an opening on the Commission or extend the term of a current member until a replacement is appointed. Only individuals who meet the constitutional eligibility requirements may be recalled or appointed to the Commission.
  • Against the Constitutional Amendment - A vote AGAINST the amendment means the Commission's current membership rules stay the same. Temporary appointments are not allowed if a member is recused, disqualified, or if a member's term ends.
• Electoral Districts – General Assembly and Congressional Representatives: For the purpose of clarifying that certain requirements apply only to districts for the election of members of the Senate of Maryland and the House of Delegates; authorizing the General Assembly to grant original jurisdiction to the Supreme Court of Maryland to review the congressional districting plan of the State; and providing that nothing in the Maryland Constitution provides applicable criteria for the boundaries of a congressional districting plan.
  • For the Constitutional Amendment
  • Against the Constitutional Amendment

For full coverage of the 2026 election in Maryland, go here.