Del. Vanessa Atterbeary Announces Bid for Howard County Executive in 2026

Del. Vanessa E. Atterbeary (D-Howard), chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, announced she will forgo a run for reelection and a potential bid for speaker of the House to instead enter the race for Howard County executive in 2026. Atterbeary revealed her decision in an interview, stating she reached this conclusion after the recent budget session and upon turning 50 in June. A formal announcement is scheduled for October 15.

Atterbeary expressed her affection for legislative work in Annapolis but explained that the end of the past session prompted reflection about her future direction. Her entry into the county executive race adds significant weight to the contest to succeed term-limited County Executive Calvin Ball. She joins Howard County Councilperson Deb Jung and fellow Delegate Jessica Feldmark (D-Howard) in what is shaping up to be a competitive Democratic primary.

The political implications of Atterbeary's decision extend beyond the county level. As chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee since 2022, appointed by House Speaker Adrienne Jones, Atterbeary was considered a leading contender to become the next speaker should Jones decide not to seek an eighth full term. Jones, who turns 71 in November, filed for re-election in June, but Atterbeary's departure from the succession conversation creates new uncertainty about future House leadership.

Both Atterbeary and Feldmark serve on the House Ways and Means Committee, with Feldmark chairing the revenue subcommittee since 2023. This creates an interesting dynamic where two committee colleagues will now compete for the same county executive position. Atterbeary acknowledged that many expected her to remain in the legislature and pursue the speakership, noting that supporters approached her about running for county executive over a year ago, but she initially dismissed the idea while focused on addressing serious budget issues during recent legislative sessions.

The race for Howard County executive carries substantial importance for Maryland's political landscape, as Howard County represents a key jurisdiction with influence on statewide policies. Atterbeary's background in budget and fiscal matters through her committee leadership could bring specialized expertise to county governance, particularly in managing economic development, education funding, and infrastructure projects. Her decision to leave a powerful legislative position underscores the growing significance of county executive roles in addressing local challenges and implementing policy directly affecting constituents.