(3/25) With Incumbent Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner facing a term limit when her current term expires in November 2022, there is expected to be a crowded Democratic Primary field that will attempt to succeed her. The first two candidates threw their hats in ring late last month: Kai Hagen and Jessica Fitzwater. Both Hagen and Fitzwater currently serve on the County Council. Hagen is an at-large member who was elected in 2018 and previously served on the Frederick County Board of County Commissioners from 2006 to 2010. Fitzwater has represented District 4, which covers the East side of Frederick and parts of Oakdale and Lake Linganore, for two terms since 2014.

Hagen is a self-proclaimed organizer and elected leader for the past twenty years in Frederick County. He believes that Frederick County is a special place and he is dedicated to preserving and enhancing it. He hopes to effectively meet the big issues the county is currently facing, including economic challenges, systematic racism, affordable housing, public education, and climate change. Hagen says his vision for Frederick County is to "use our community’s gifts - our beautiful natural resources and increasingly diverse community - to ensure that Frederick County continues to be a vibrant and sustainable place to live."

Fitzwater says that she is committed and invested in Frederick County and wants to continue her approaches she has used on the County Council if given the chance to be County Executive. She has said that Livable Frederick is a valuable tool to handle many important issues, including affordable housing, public health, and the economy. "I am focusing on making sure that we are a community where there is opportunity for all," Fitzwater has said. "For me, that means strengthening our schools, supporting a robust economy, building climate resilience, and making sure that everyone has the opportunity to live, work and thrive here."

Hagen, Fitzwater, and any other Democratic challengers will face off in the primary on June 28, 2022. The winner will advance to the 2022 General Election to be held on November 8, 2022. Candidates still have over half a year to declare their intent to run for the position and the expectation is that several more candidates will file in that time frame on both sides of the aisle. Currently, no Republicans have filed to run for County Executive at this time.