By MDBayNews Staff
The 2026 race for Frederick County Executive is officially set — and it’s shaping up to be one of the most consequential local elections in Maryland this year.
With the filing deadline closed as of February 24, 2026, three candidates are on the ballot:
- Jessica Fitzwater (D) — incumbent, elected in 2022
- Diane Fouche (R) — former Frederick County Director of Procurement
- William J. “Jeff” Holtzinger (R) — former Mayor of the City of Frederick (2005–2009)
The Republican primary will take place June 23, 2026. The winner will face Fitzwater in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Frederick County is no longer a sleepy red stronghold nor a deep-blue lock. It’s competitive, fast-growing, and increasingly divided over the future direction of growth, spending, and development.
The Incumbent: Jessica Fitzwater’s Record
Jessica Fitzwater, a Democrat and former County Council member, won narrowly in 2022 with just over 50% of the vote. She is seeking a second four-year term.
Her campaign centers on several key achievements:
Education Spending
- Increased funding for Frederick County Public Schools by roughly 30% across her first three budgets.
- Backed record investments in school construction, including rapid build-out of Linganore Creek Elementary.
- Emphasizes strong partnership with the state and maintaining high bond ratings to support capital projects.
From a center-right perspective, the question isn’t whether schools deserve funding — they do. The question is whether the rate of spending growth is sustainable long-term without burdening taxpayers down the road.
Triple-AAA Bond Rating
Frederick County maintains a rare Triple-AAA bond rating. Fitzwater argues this reflects responsible fiscal stewardship and strong reserve management.
Critics, however, note that bond ratings measure debt capacity and stability — not necessarily spending discipline. Growth can be financially stable while still expanding government footprint.
Data Centers and Growth Management
Perhaps the most politically volatile issue in the county: data center expansion.
Fitzwater implemented a limited overlay zone for data centers — capping development to a small percentage of county land and tightening regulations. She frames this as a balanced compromise.
Republican challengers argue it wasn’t enough — and that residents near affected areas feel unheard.
Housing and Affordability
Fitzwater has pushed workforce and senior housing initiatives, streamlined development processes, and supported state legislation aimed at housing affordability.
The tension here is clear: how do you add housing in a fast-growing county without accelerating congestion, infrastructure strain, and quality-of-life concerns?
The Republican Primary: Two Different Lanes
The GOP primary offers voters a choice between two styles of leadership.
Diane Fouche: Fiscal Hawk and Anti-Overdevelopment Voice
Diane Fouche filed late but entered the race with a focused message.
Background:
Former Director of the Frederick County Office of Procurement and Contracting. Resides near Thurmont.
Core Themes:
- Strong opposition to further data center expansion
- Criticism that county spending is “out of control”
- Prioritizing infrastructure and existing residents over new development
- Applying procurement and efficiency expertise to government operations
Fouche’s campaign is issue-driven and confrontational toward the current administration’s growth strategy. She appeals to voters worried about rural preservation, infrastructure strain, and the pace of development.
Her lane: reform, restraint, and regulatory pushback.
William J. “Jeff” Holtzinger: Experience and Executive Leadership
William J. Holtzinger, often known locally as Jeff, brings prior executive experience as Mayor of the City of Frederick (2005–2009).
Core Themes:
- “Problem solver, not another bureaucrat”
- Emphasis on practical governance
- Experience managing municipal growth and infrastructure
- Less sharp rhetorical focus on any single hot-button issue
Holtzinger’s campaign leans on credibility and familiarity. He represents the experienced insider lane rather than insurgent reform.
Where Fouche centers her campaign on stopping or heavily restricting data center growth, Holtzinger has not made it the defining issue of his candidacy.
The Political Landscape
Frederick County is Maryland’s fastest-growing jurisdiction and politically competitive.
Fitzwater won in 2022 by less than one percentage point. That narrow margin makes this race far from a foregone conclusion.
Key issues likely to dominate:
- Growth vs. preservation
- Data centers and infrastructure strain
- School funding sustainability
- Traffic congestion (notably US-15 corridor)
- Housing affordability
- Long-term tax stability
Republicans will need to unify after the June primary and present a clear contrast on growth philosophy and fiscal management.
Fitzwater will likely run on stability, education investment, bond strength, and “managed growth.”
What This Election Really Is About
At its core, this race is about the future identity of Frederick County.
Is it:
- A rapidly expanding suburban engine tied closely to state-level Democratic priorities?
- Or a community that tightens growth controls, slows development pressure, and re-centers fiscal restraint?
The answer will not just shape policy — it will shape what Frederick County looks and feels like in 10 years.
The Republican primary will determine whether the general election is a sharp ideological contrast or a battle of executive experience.
Either way, this is not a low-stakes local race. It’s one of Maryland’s most competitive executive contests in 2026.
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