LA PLATA, Md. — The Charles County Board of Elections voted Wednesday, March 25, 2026, to restore District 4 Commissioner Ralph Patterson to the 2026 gubernatorial primary election ballot following an emergency meeting that lasted nearly four hours.
The meeting began at 2:30 p.m. and quickly moved into closed session as board members reviewed documents and consulted with legal counsel. The closed session lasted approximately three hours and 48 minutes before the board returned to open session and voted to reinstate previously disqualified candidates to active status.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote. No detailed public explanation was provided during the open session regarding the board’s reasoning.
According to the Maryland State Board of Elections candidate listing, Patterson had been listed as disqualified as of Monday, March 23, 2026. State election officials confirmed the disqualification was related to the late filing of his required 2025 financial disclosure form.
Following the March 25 emergency meeting, Patterson’s status was restored to active, allowing his name to appear on the 2026 primary ballot.
Patterson, a Democrat, currently serves as vice president of the Charles County Board of County Commissioners and has represented District 4 since December 2022. He filed for re-election and, as of the candidate filing deadline, was running unopposed.
During the public portion of the meeting, the board announced it would “declare candidates for local offices deemed disqualified active for the upcoming 2026 gubernatorial primary election,” followed by a motion, second and unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned shortly afterward.
Under Maryland’s Open Meetings Act, public bodies may enter closed session to discuss certain matters including personnel issues, legal advice and confidential records. Boards are permitted to withhold details discussed in closed session when disclosure could affect legal or administrative matters.
Residents Call For Transparency Following Board Decision
Following the meeting, some residents called for greater transparency about the board’s decision, saying a clearer public explanation could help strengthen confidence in the election process.
Some social media posts also reflected frustration from community members who said the length of the closed session raised questions about how the decision was reached.
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“He filed for re-election and, as of the candidate filing deadline, was running unopposed.”
D4 citizens should mount a write-in campaign.
no write ins for the Primary, 1 of my many complaints.
I think the Rs and the Ds have the option of doing a convention rather than a Primary. Why don’t they? Wheres the press release on the R website\ on the D website that explains why they choose a Primary rather than a Convention. Its so much more for worthy candidates to get in when its a Primary. The contrasts between the way other states do elections + the way MD does it is shocking.