Bethesda Today launches voters guide for June 23 primary election

Offices on the ballot include MoCo executive, five open County Council seats

May 22, 2026 4:01 p.m. | Updated: May 22, 2026 4:04 p.m.

With five weeks to go until the June 23 gubernatorial primary election, here is Bethesda Today’s 2026 Primary Election Voters Guide, where you’ll find information about candidates running for state, local and federal offices as well as guidance on how and where to vote.

The primary ballot is crowded this year, with five Democrats and two Republicans seeking their party’s nomination for Montgomery County executive. Five spots on the 11-member County Council — three of four at-large seats and two of seven district-level seats — are also up for grabs, attracting a sea of political hopefuls.

Further down the ballot, a union-backed candidate is seeking to oust incumbent Maxwell Uy in the Democratic primary for county sheriff. There are also 12 candidates running for four seats on the county Board of Education, a non-partisan office.

Maryland has a closed primary system, meaning only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote in their party’s primaries. Unaffiliated voters can still receive a ballot to cast in non-partisan contests, including for the school board.

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In a county where Democrats outnumber Republicans by 4-1, victory in the Democratic primary is widely regarded as tantamount to election: There has not been a Republican elected to a Montgomery County office in nearly a quarter of a century.

At the federal level, U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney of Potomac is seeking re-election to a second term in Maryland’s 6th District while U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Takoma Park is seeking re-election to a sixth term in the 8th District. Both have challengers in the Democratic primary.

At the state level, most members of Montgomery County’s delegation to the Maryland General Assembly are seeking re-election this year. Others, including Del. Pam Queen (D-Dist. 14) and Del. Bonnie Cullison (D-Dist. 19), are retiring at the end of their current terms, making way for new leaders to represent those districts in Annapolis.

Our 2026 Primary Election Voters Guide includes answers to commonly asked questions about voting as well as information submitted by candidates. It also has links to our most recent stories on local government and politics.

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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine