Smith concedes; Pickard leads in Anne Arundel County executive primary

Allison Pickard led the Democratic primary for Anne Arundel County executive after officials released the first batch of returns Tuesday night. The current District 2 councilwoman is up against District 1 Councilman Pete Smith, who has conceded, and Special Assistant to the County Executive James Kitchin, who had not conceded by 11:10 p.m.

Smiles and elation pervaded throughout Pickard’s Hanover watch party as early numbers showed a strong lead Tuesday evening. She and several other candidates addressed the crowd around 9:45 p.m.

“This is very overwhelming to start. This room represents just a lot of work that started when I announced in 2024 to run for county executive,” Pickard said at her watch party. “I knew I needed that runway to build an amazing team and get around the county, but my passion for this work started well before that.”

She thanked her family and her staff, among others for supporting her.




https://www.capitalgazette.com/2026/06/23/anne-arundel-county-executive-primary-results/