Baltimore County FOP Endorses Nick Stewart for County Executive

Fraternal Order of Police backs former school board member in crowded Democratic field

Apr. 4, 2026 at 8:13pm

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The Fraternal Order of Police in Baltimore County has endorsed Nick Stewart in the race for county executive. Stewart, a former school board member, is running in a crowded Democratic primary. He has pledged to rebuild the police department, which he says is down about 320 officers currently and will lose another 200 in the next 18 months due to retirements.

Why it matters

The FOP endorsement is seen as an important boost for Stewart's campaign, as law enforcement support can be crucial in local elections. Stewart has also criticized the current county council's leadership, accusing them of being too secretive on key decisions.

The details

Stewart told WBAL that he will work to rebuild the police department if elected, saying 'We need more officers, and they need to be supported.' He also criticized some recent actions of the county council, including the 'secretive way they appointed Kathy Klausmeier as the interim president' and their handling of issues like the inspector general and pension system. Stewart also opposes proposals to build data centers in the county, saying 'This doesn't add a whole lot of overall value to our economy' and amounts to 'taxing our residents indirectly to support this.'

  • The Fraternal Order of Police in Baltimore County endorsed Nick Stewart on April 4, 2026.

The players

Nick Stewart

A former school board member running in the crowded Democratic primary for Baltimore County executive.

Fraternal Order of Police

The union representing police officers in Baltimore County, which has endorsed Nick Stewart in the county executive race.

Kathy Klausmeier

A member of the Baltimore County Council who was appointed as interim council president in a move that Stewart criticized as 'secretive.'

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What they’re saying

“We need more officers, and they need to be supported. We are down about 320 officers right this minute. We're going to be down another 200 in the next 18 months due to retirements that we won't be able to backfill.”

— Nick Stewart, Candidate for Baltimore County Executive

“Think about the secretive way they appointed Kathy Klausmeier as the interim president. Think about the secretive way they tried to oust the inspector general, or the secretive way that they drew the council manic maps, or the secretive way that they tried to grift their own pensions or pension system.”

— Nick Stewart, Candidate for Baltimore County Executive

What’s next

The Democratic primary for Baltimore County executive will be held on June 24, 2026.

The takeaway

The FOP endorsement gives a boost to Nick Stewart's campaign, as he promises to rebuild the county's police force and criticizes the current county council's leadership. The crowded Democratic field highlights the competitive nature of the race to succeed the outgoing county executive.