The 24 Maryland counties (including Baltimore City) each has elected officials to govern the local jursidction. While some county government combine executive and legislative authority in a single Council, the largest have a mayor or county executive and a city or county council. County governments are responsible for:

• Education - through school boards most of which are elected

• Criminal Justice - through elected Sheriffs, State's Attorneys and Judges (the other elective offices this year are largely administrative: Circuit Court Clerk, Register of Wills, and Orphans Court Judges)

• Environment - through planning and zoning

• Healthcare - through appointed health officials

• Civil rights - through criminal justice systems as well as appointed civil rights commissions and agencies

• Immigration enforcement - through criminal justice systems as well as executive actions and county ordinances

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In addition, some incorporated municipalities (towns, cities) also have elected officials to govern them.

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The following counties have local elections in 2022 that are contested (i.e. more than one candidate emerging from the primaries):

• Allegany County 

  • County Commissioners (3) – 4 candidates

  • Cumberland City Council (2) - 4 candidates

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• Anne Arundel County

  • County Executive (1) - 2 candidates​

  • County Council - 6 Districts - 2 candidates each

  • Sheriff (1) - 2 candidates

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• Baltimore County

  • County Executive (1) - 2 candidates​

  • County Council - 7 Districts - 2 candidates each

  • State's Attorney (1) - 2 candidates

  • Sheriff (1) - 2 candidates

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• Baltimore City – no contested elections except School Board

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• Calvert County

  • County Commissioners - 2 at large - 4 candidates, plus 3 districts, 2 candidates each​

  • State's Attorney (1) - 2 candidates

  • Sheriff (1) - 2 candidates

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• Caroline County

  • Sheriff (1) - 2 candidates​

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• Carroll County

  • County Commissioners - 1 contested district - 2 candidates​

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• Cecil County - no contested elections except School Board

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• Charles County

  • County Council President (1) - 2 candidates​

  • County Commissioners - 4 districts, 2 candidates each

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• Dorchester County

  • County Council - 3 contested districts - 2 candidates each​

  • State's Attorney (1) - 2 candidates

  • Sheriff (1) - 2 candidates

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• Frederick County

  • County Executive (1) - 2 candidates​

  • County Council - at large (2) - 4 candidates, plus 5 districts - 2 candidates each

  • Sheriff (1) - 2 candidates

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• Garrett County​

  • County Commissioners - 3 districts - 2 candidates each​

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• Harford County

  • County Executive(1) - 2 candidates  ​

  • County Council President (1) - 2 candidates 

  • County Council - 5 contested districts - 2 candidates each

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• Howard County

  • County Executive(1) - 2 candidates  ​

  • County Council - 4 contested districts - 2 candidates each

  • Sheriff (1) - 2 candidates

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• Kent County

  • County Commissioners (3) - 6 candidates​

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• Montgomery County

  • County Executive (1) - 2 candidates​

  • County Council - 4 at large - 7 candidates, plus 6 contested districts - 2 candidates each

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• Prince George's County

  • CountyCouncil - 1 contested district - 2 candidates​

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• Queen Anne's County​

  • County Commissioners - 1 at large - 2 candidates, plus 3 districts - 2 candidates each​

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• St. Mary's County

  • County Commissioner President (1) - 2 candidates​

  • County Commissioners - 3 contested districts - 2 candididates each

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• Somerset County

  • County Commissioners - 3 contested districts - 2 candidates each​

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• Talbot County

  • County Council (5) - 10 candidates​

  • State's Attorney (1) - 2 candidates

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• Washington County – all non-partisan races

  • County Commissioners (5) - 7 candidates

  • Sheriff (1) - 2 candidates

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• Wicomico County

  • County Executive (1) - 2 candidates​

  • County Council - 2 at large - 4 candidates, plus 3 contested districts - 2 candidates each

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• Worcester County

  • County Comissioners – 1 contested district - 2 candidates

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