NOTE: The St. Mary’s County Democratic Central Committee shared the following press release:
LEXINGTON PARK, Md. – The St. Mary’s County Democratic Central Committee isn’t waiting for election season to arrive; it’s bringing the election season to St. Mary’s County. Riding one of the strongest fundraising stretches in the organization’s history, the Committee has voted to deliver the first half of its planned campaign support to every candidate on its 2026 slate months ahead of schedule and months before voters head to the polls.
“Campaigns are won in the months before anyone’s paying attention,” said Michael Bellis, chair of the St. Mary’s County Democratic Central Committee. “Our supporters made it possible for us to get resources to our candidates early, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
Months of exceptional fundraising have allowed the Committee to accelerate its investment timeline while continuing to build a war chest for the remainder of the cycle.
The early investment backs the Committee’s full endorsed slate:
- Chuck Borges — State Senate, District 29
- Jennifer Clancy — House of Delegates, District 29A
- Adrianne M. Mathis — House of Delegates, District 29B
- Shaara Watts — House of Delegates, District 29C
- AnnMarie Abell — County Commissioner President
- Sheila Milburn — County Commissioner, District 1
- Brandon Russell — County Commissioner, District 2
- Joshua Kyte — County Commissioner, District 3
- Ryan Daniels — County Commissioner, District 4
- Curtis King — Judge of the Orphans’ Court
- Carl Sturgis — Sheriff
With resources in hand early, campaigns gain the freedom to expand voter outreach, recruit volunteers, sharpen their message and lay the groundwork that winning campaigns are built on.
“People here are fed up,” Bellis said. “They’re tired of politicians who’d rather wage culture wars than deal with what actually matters: housing our families can afford, an economy that isn’t dependent on any one industry, and leaders who listen to the people instead of special interests. We can’t afford more years of stagnation. That’s what this wave of support is about.”
Candidates and Central Committee members gathered this week at Democratic Headquarters in Lexington Park to mark the milestone and kick off the next phase of the campaign season.
The Committee will continue backing its slate throughout the 2026 cycle with coordinated voter outreach, volunteer engagement, communications, fundraising and hands-on campaign support.
About the St. Mary’s County Democratic Central Committee
The St. Mary’s County Democratic Central Committee is the official Democratic Party organization for St. Mary’s County. The Committee works year-round to recruit candidates, engage voters, support Democratic campaigns and elect leaders who will move St. Mary’s County forward.
