Uy concedes to Milam in MoCo sheriff race after primary

Official plans to finish out term that expires in November

June 25, 2026 5:07 p.m.

Though the results of Tuesday’s Democratic primary election are not yet certified, Montgomery County Sheriff Maxwell Uy has officially conceded to opponent Will Milam.

“The voters indicated who they want and I’m at peace with that,” Uy told Bethesda Today on Thursday. “I respect our processes; they’re there for a reason. … And I want to wish sheriff-elect Milam all the best in his new role.”

Milam, a Poolesville resident and the former assistant sheriff for Prince George’s County, has received 65.4% of the Democratic vote while Uy received 34.6% so far, with mail-in ballots still to be counted, according to unofficial results from the State Board of Elections. No Republicans filed to run, which means Milam is certain to win the election to the four-year post in November.

After watching the election results trend in Milam’s favor on Tuesday night, Uy said he texted congratulations to his opponent. First elected in 2022, Uy was hoping to serve a second term.

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“Obviously, from a numerical standpoint, there was no chance of me winning,” Uy said.

Several hours after the polls closed on Tuesday night, Milam told Bethesda Today he was “deeply” grateful to the county voters who placed their trust in him and his vision for the county sheriff’s office.

“Throughout this campaign, I’ve had the privilege of speaking with residents from all over the county. I’m thankful for those conversations … and for the opportunity to listen to the concerns and the priorities of the community,” Milam said.

In a statement on Wednesday, Milam said he was mindful that many voters supported Uy. He said he was “committed to earning” their trust and “ensuring that every member of our community feels heard, respected, and represented.”

A career in law enforcement

Looking back on his career, Uy said he always wanted to serve in law enforcement and was a police explorer in high school while growing up in Fremont, California. After serving in the military, Uy applied to be a deputy with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office and was hired at age 21 in 1994. Uy has worked at the office ever since, serving under Sheriff Raymond Kight and then Sheriff Darren Popkin, who left office in 2022. Uy said Thursday that Popkin was a mentor to him as he moved up through the ranks.

“As a 21-year-old, never did I dream I’d have the opportunity to serve as a sheriff for the county,” Uy said Thursday. “It was a privilege to serve in different commands within the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.”

In 2022, Uy was elected sheriff, making him the first Asian American to hold the post in the county. His four years in office have been defined by navigating challenges such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and struggles with recruitment and retention of deputies and sheriff’s office employees.

Through those challenges, Uy has said he aimed to maintain the services provided by the sheriff’s office. He has noted in candidate forums that his efforts toward increasing recruitment at the office were beginning to bear fruit in the past year, with the attrition rate for employees at the office dropping to 5% in recent months.

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In June 2025, Uy found himself under attack by the local union that represents sheriff deputies, which claimed he cultivated a toxic work environment for deputies and mishandled staffing shortages. The union, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1994 MCGEO, is the largest in the county and endorsed Milam.

Montgomery County sheriff’s candidates, Sheriff Maxwell Uy (standing left) and Will Milam (standing right), speak to voters at a District 18 Breakfast Club meeting at Parkway Deli in Silver Spring on May 11. Photo credit: Elia Griffin

According to the union, nearly 80% of union members in the sheriff’s office participated in a vote of no confidence in Uy’s leadership in September.

Uy repeatedly disputed the union’s claims, calling them “meritless” and “misleading.”

Milam repeated many of the union’s criticisms against Uy during his campaign and said he would improve the operation of the office. Milam also focused on what he said would be his key priorities, including addressing workplace culture, improving staffing and focusing on expanding the office’s services with a dedicated domestic violence intervention unit. He also has discussed reforming the county’s eviction process.

Uy spent much of the campaign defending his performance and leadership. Ultimately, county voters overwhelmingly decided it was time to move on from his leadership.

What’s next?

In the coming months, Uy said he’ll ensure that Milam’s administration is well-connected with officials across the county, noting that Milam’s assistant sheriff experience occurred in another county.

“Traditionally, the last few sheriffs — myself, Sheriff Popkin, Sheriff Kight — we had come up through the ranks in the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office,” Uy said. “He is coming in from the outside, so you know he’ll have his own challenges, but I want to make sure that I create as smooth a transition as I can for him.”

Looking back on his 32 years at the sheriff’s office – nearly four of which have been spent leading the department – Uy said he was proud of his service.

“I’ve always prioritized serving the residents, as well as making sure we meet the needs of the employees. I hope that continues to be a priority,” he said.

Milam is expected to be sworn in as the new sheriff in December. Uy did not indicate on Thursday that he planned to continue working for the sheriff’s office and said he expected to retire in November.

So far, Uy said he does not have any immediate plans once he leaves office, but indicated that he will try to stay busy.

There are “to-do lists that I’ve been putting off at home,” Uy said. “So, I think I’m going to be doing catching up on some errands, you know, things I need to do at the house. But I’m sure I’ll do something. I’ve been working since I was 15, and I joined the military at 17, and I’ve been here since I was 21. I’m sure I’ll do something.”

That “something” could include mentoring and volunteering, he said. “I hope to play a role in doing some good stuff,” he added.

Montgomery County Sheriff Maxwell Uy speaks to reporters inside his Rockville office. Photo credit: Elia Griffin

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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine