Independent Civic Intelligence PlatformSouthern Maryland
2026 Election Portals & Candidate Guide
Independent candidate information aggregation for St. Mary's County and Calvert County. Our mission is candidate information aggregation to show candidate stances and positions on issues easily side-by-side without having to dig through campaign websites, Facebook posts, and local news articles primarily for the Southern Maryland region.
Open Elections
Southern Maryland
Civic Mission & Primary Source Verification Disclaimer
Our Mission: Open Elections Southern Maryland is an independent candidate information aggregation service created to help Southern Maryland voters compare candidate stances and policy positions easily side-by-side—without having to dig through separate campaign websites, Facebook posts, and local news articles across St. Mary's and Calvert Counties.
Important Disclaimer — Always Verify With Official Primary Sources:
All data on this website is aggregated and compiled from public records, statements, and media reporting. While we make every attempt to maintain accuracy, voters should always verify critical election details, polling locations, deadlines, and official candidate ballot certifications directly with primary election authorities:
- St. Mary's County Board of Elections: stmaryscountymd.gov/supervisorofelections • (301) 475-4200 Ext. 1625
- Calvert County Board of Elections: calvertcountymd.gov/154/Election-Board • (410) 535-2214
- Maryland State Board of Elections: elections.maryland.gov • 1-800-222-8683
Southern Maryland County Portals
Select your county to explore local commissioner races, sheriff candidates, school boards, and county-specific policy matrices.
St. Mary's County
Leonardtown • Lexington Park • California • Hollywood • Great Mills
Independent candidate information aggregation for St. Mary's County voters, covering the Board of County Commissioners, Sheriff Steve Hall, School Board, and Legislative District 29.
Calvert County
Prince Frederick • Dunkirk • Lusby • Solomons • Huntingtown
Independent candidate information aggregation for Calvert County voters, covering the 5-member Board of County Commissioners, Sheriff Ricky Cox, CCPS School Board, and District 27 & 29C.
Key Regional Issues & Candidate Positions
Southern Maryland voters face defining challenges that shape both St. Mary's and Calvert counties. Explore candidate positions on the five regional cornerstone issues, verified with direct quotes and primary source links.
Top 5 Regional Cornerstone Issues (St. Mary’s & Calvert)
Gov. Thomas Johnson Bridge & MD-4
Can regional leaders secure federal and state capital grants to replace the obsolete 2-lane bridge over the Patuxent River with a 4-lane dual-span?
- Dual-span replacement for the MD-4 bridge bottleneck
- Daily relief for 30,000+ commuters connecting Calvert to NAS Pax River
- Federal INFRA funding & Maryland CTP prioritization
- MD Route 235 & Route 5 corridor upgrades & pedestrian safety
Full-Time Dedication, MetCom Utility Governance & Expanding STS Transit
Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge Replacement & State Capital Transportation Funding
Prioritizing Dual-Span Bridge & Highway Safety
Hyperscale Data Centers & Moratorium
Should Southern Maryland allow multi-gigawatt computing facilities near Lusby and Lexington Park, or restrict them to safeguard groundwater and power bills?
- Calvert County 6-month moratorium on hyperscale computing campuses
- Protecting deep drinking water aquifers from massive cooling drawdown
- Preventing residential electric rate spikes from high-voltage grid upgrades
- Enforcing government transparency and banning local non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)
STOP DATA CENTERS: Protecting Waterways, Aquifers, Health & Watermen
Firm Rejection of Mega Data Centers & Protecting Working Waterfronts
Environmental & Resident Benefits Test on Data Center Proposals
NAS Pax River & Defense Tech Economy
How will commissioners preserve NAVAIR/NAWCAD mission readiness, prevent encroachment, and leverage the defense tech corridor for family-supporting wages?
- Safeguarding 25,000+ military, civil service, and defense contractor jobs
- Preventing incompatible development encroaching on naval flight test airspace
- Expanding STEM engineering degree pipelines via USMSM in California
- Supporting commercial defense spin-offs and airport industrial park growth
Closing the Gap Between Two Economies & Base Diversification
Aggressive Protection of Naval Aviation & Tech Corridor
Defending Farmers & Watermen, Local Business & Base Defense Infrastructure
Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power & Energy
With Calvert Cliffs supplying ~80% of Maryland’s carbon-free electricity and ~15% of Calvert’s county budget, what is the future of plant life extensions and SMRs?
- Supporting NRC 20-year operating license extensions to 2054 & 2056
- Anchoring Calvert County’s tax base to sustain school and emergency funding
- Preserving hundreds of high-wage IBEW union and technical operations jobs
- Scrutinizing behind-the-meter corporate power sales to protect grid reliability
Supporting Clean Nuclear Energy While Protecting Forest Buffers
Defending Calvert Cliffs' Economic Contribution & Power Grid Integrity
Safeguarding Nuclear Baseload While Banning Behind-the-Meter Power Routing
Chesapeake Bay, Watersheds & Farmland
How should local government protect Patuxent River water quality, preserve working waterfronts for oystermen, and keep family farms in active production?
- Patuxent and Potomac River nutrient runoff reduction and shoreline resilience
- Supporting commercial watermen, blue crab harvests, and oyster aquaculture reefs
- Permanent agricultural land preservation through MALPF and Rural Legacy programs
- Safeguarding regional aquifers against saltwater intrusion and industrial depletion
Permanent SMADC Funding, Agricultural Preservation & Codifying Hunting/Fishing Rights
Uncompromising Opposition to Hyperscale Data Centers & Repealing Data Center Tax Credits
Championing Agricultural Right-to-Repair & Technological Nutrient Compliance
Additional County Policy Areas
Education • Budget • Public Safety • HousingPublic Education & Blueprint Funding
Local school funding for CCPS & SMCPS, Blueprint for Maryland’s Future mandates, teacher salaries, and modern school facilities.
Taxes, Fiscal Discipline & County Budget
County property tax rates, income tax brackets, balancing operating budgets, and capital improvement bond ratings.
Public Safety & Sheriff’s Offices
Deputy sheriff recruitment, modern detention center standards, School Resource Officers (SROs), and volunteer fire/EMS funding.
Workforce Housing & Smart Growth
Attainable housing for young defense contractors, educators, and first responders, paired with smart growth town centers.
Southern Maryland Candidate Activity Feed
Maryland’s Favorite Halloween Candy Revealed, And It’s Not What You Think
CALIFORNIA, Md. — The world’s most frightful holiday is just a few days away, and trick-or-treaters across the Old Line State are getting ready to take home a mountain of delicious candy. Between Tootsie Pops and Reese’s Pieces, every child and adult alike has a favorite candy that they simply can’t
20-Year-Old Motorcyclist Dies At Scene Of Prince George’s County Crash; Two Others Injured
CHILLUM, Md. – The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal collision involving a motorcycle that occurred on Sunday in Chillum. The operator of the motorcycle was identified as 20-year-old Alexander Molina-Benitez of Washington,
St. Mary’s Teacher Academy Students Can Earn 12 College Credits Before Graduation
Image: Colleen Gill, supervisor of instructional programs for St. Mary’s County Public Schools, and Melissa Chew, a Teacher Academy of Maryland instructor, present a new dual enrollment partnership with Notre Dame of Maryland University to the St. Mary’s County Board of Education. The agreement will
A New Place To Play! Wills Memorial Park Reopens With Inclusive Playground In La Plata
LA PLATA, Md. – Town of La Plata officials celebrated the reopening of Wills Memorial Park on Saturday, October 24, 2026 by showcasing the park’s revitalized amenities, including a new ADA-accessible playground, designed to promote inclusive play and provide engaging opportunities for all. “What an