2026 Election Guide · Dorchester County, MD

Certified primary results and the November 3 ballot.

Last updated · September 2, 2026

General election dates

Maryland · 2026

Oct 13
Register or update
Online by 11:59 PM
Oct 22–29
Early voting
7 AM–8 PM daily
Oct 27
Request mail ballot
Printable link: Oct 30
Nov 3
General Election
7 AM–8 PM · drop boxes close 8 PM
County guideDorchester CountyChange county

Federal

US House — Maryland 1st Congressional District

Vote for 1

MD-01 includes Baltimore County, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester. Carroll County is not in MD-01.

General Election

Certified primary results

Democratic (4)

  • Victor Allen Guidice4,274 / 9.98%
  • Dan Schwartzcampaign site ↗Nominee19,821 / 46.28%
  • George Walish3,006 / 7.02%
  • Randi White15,723 / 36.72%

Republican (2)

Qualified write-in: Edward Shlikas. The name is not printed on the ballot.

Statewide

Governor / Lieutenant Governor

Vote for 1

General Election

Certified primary results

Democratic (2)

  • Eric S. Felber and LaTrece Hawkins Lytes74,312 / 11.74%
  • Wes Moore and Aruna Millercampaign site ↗Nominee558,768 / 88.26%

Republican (9)

  • Carl A. Brunner, Jr. and Kevin L. Rhodes, Sr.12,700 / 6.11%
  • L. D. Burkindine and Jeremy M. Shifflett3,746 / 1.80%
  • Dan Cox and Rob Kropcampaign site ↗Nominee89,982 / 43.30%
  • Ed Hale and Tyrone Keys, Jr.74,877 / 36.03%
  • Douglas Larcomb and Martina D. Duncan2,132 / 1.03%
  • John A. Myrick and Brenda J. Thiam13,200 / 6.35%
  • Michael Oakes and Ronald W. Abend2,583 / 1.24%
  • Nancy Jane Taylor and Rachel Hannah "Mohawk" Swift3,690 / 1.78%
  • Shannon Wright and Reba A. Hawkins4,907 / 2.36%

State Legislature

Legislative District 37 and House District 37A or 37B, depending on precinct. Your precinct determines which legislative contests appear on your ballot.

House of Delegates — District 37B

Vote for up to 2

General Election

Certified primary results

Democratic (2)

  • Marco Antonio Garcia (Dorchester County)Nominee4,700 / 46.79%
  • Michele W. Johnson (Talbot County)Nominee5,344 / 53.21%

Republican (2)

  • Chris Adams (Wicomico County)Nominee7,034 / 49.39%
  • Tom Hutchinson (Dorchester County)Nominee7,209 / 50.61%

Dorchester County Offices

Register of Wills

Vote for 1

General Election

  • Democratic

    Terry Dayton Wheatley

  • Republican

    Walter “Dan” Kurth

Certified primary results

Democratic

  • Terry Dayton WheatleyNominee1,991 / 100.00%

Republican (2)

  • Andrew D. Citrone939 / 35.37%
  • Walter "Dan" KurthNominee1,716 / 64.63%

Judge of the Orphans' Court — District 1

Vote for 1

General Election

  • Democratic

    Jerome Junior Harris

Certified primary results

Democratic (2)

  • Jerome Junior HarrisNominee794 / 77.16%
  • Arnell Tyron Limberry235 / 22.84%

Republican

No republican primary reported.

Judge of the Orphans' Court — District 2

Vote for up to 2

General Election

  • Democratic

    Benjamin James Cullen

  • Democratic

    Amy J. Sareen

  • Republican

    Bernie Dryden

  • Republican

    Don Murphy

Certified primary results

Democratic (2)

  • Benjamin James CullenNominee829 / 48.14%
  • Amy J. SareenNominee893 / 51.86%

Republican (2)

  • Bernie DrydenNominee1,604 / 47.64%
  • Don MurphyNominee1,763 / 52.36%

Sheriff

Vote for 1

General Election

  • Democratic

    Christine LaMonica

  • Republican

    Mark K. Lewis

Certified primary results

Democratic (2)

  • Christine LaMonicaNominee1,513 / 72.64%
  • LeRoi Robinson-Grant570 / 27.36%

Republican (2)

  • Mark K. LewisNominee2,751 / 77.10%
  • James W. Phillips, Jr.817 / 22.90%

Judicial Retention

Ballot Questions

Three statewide constitutional amendments appear on every Dorchester County ballot.

Question 1Ch. 155

Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026

Would require the governor's proposed budget to include the money needed to carry out wages, hours, benefits, and other employment terms in collective-bargaining agreements with state employees, including terms set by a neutral decision-maker.

Plainly: A vote for would require the proposed state budget to fund those agreements. A vote against would leave the current funding law in place.

Official ballot wording

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: 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: A vote AGAINST the amendment means that the law about funding agreements between the State and State employees stays the same.

Question 2Ch. 878

Temporary Appointments on the Commission on Judicial Disabilities

Would allow temporary substitute appointments when a commission member is recused or disqualified, or when a term expires before a permanent replacement is appointed.

Plainly: A vote for would allow qualified former or temporary members to fill those gaps. A vote against would leave the commission's current membership rules in place.

Official ballot wording

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: 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 on the Commission 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: A vote AGAINST the amendment means that current membership rules for the Commission stay the same. Temporary appointments are not allowed if a member is recused, disqualified, or if a member's term ends.

Question 3Ch. 881

Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress

Would clarify that certain Maryland constitutional standards apply only to General Assembly districts, allow the General Assembly to give the Supreme Court of Maryland original jurisdiction over congressional maps, and make federal law the source of congressional-district boundary criteria.

Plainly: This question does not draw a new congressional map. A vote for would change the state constitutional rules that govern future congressional maps. A vote against would leave the current Maryland Constitution unchanged.

Official ballot wording

The proposed Constitutional Amendment clarifies that certain standards in the Maryland Constitution apply only to districts used to elect members of the General Assembly; authorizes the General Assembly to grant original jurisdiction to the Supreme Court of Maryland to review the congressional districting plan of the State; and requires the criteria for boundaries of congressional districts to be determined by applicable federal laws.

For: For the Constitutional Amendment

Against: Against the Constitutional Amendment

Dorchester County Questions

Dorchester Question A

Administrative Structure Review

Would move the county administrative-structure evaluation from at least once every four years to the first fiscal year of each County Council term.

Plainly: A vote for changes when the required review occurs. A vote against keeps the current at-least-once-every-four-years schedule.

Dorchester Question B

County Budget Preparation and Adoption Dates

Would move the proposed-budget deadline from May 1 to May 15 and the annual-budget adoption deadline from May 31 to June 15.

Plainly: A vote for moves both deadlines later. A vote against keeps the current May 1 and May 31 deadlines.

Dorchester Question C

County Manager Responsibilities

Would revise and clarify the county manager section covering vacancies, studies, Council-meeting attendance, an assistant county manager, day-to-day operations, and the process for a county manager vacancy.

Plainly: A vote for adopts the revised county-manager responsibilities and procedures. A vote against keeps the current charter language.

Dorchester Question D

Governmental Transparency and Public Access

Would add a charter section covering government transparency, in-person and remote access to meetings, and access to public records.

Plainly: A vote for adds the new transparency and public-access section. A vote against leaves it out of the charter.

Sources & Notes

Ballot styles vary by precinct. Legislative District 37 and House District 37A or 37B, depending on precinct. View the certified ballot PDF ↗

The certified general-election ballot controls which candidates, offices, selection instructions, and questions appear here. Official primary results provide the nomination record.

A standard write-in line appears after candidate lists on the certified ballot. Qualified write-in candidates are named separately and are not presented as printed candidates.

Authoritative records: Maryland State Board of Elections candidate portal · Dorchester County Board of Elections

If anything here conflicts with an official election record, trust the election authority. Found an error? Email dearamerica704@gmail.com.