Harford County election results showed Julian Jones leading Patrick Dyer by nearly 60,000 votes Tuesday night, and Jones declared victory in Towson after the reported totals showed him ahead. With 246 of 258 precincts reporting, Jones had 145,694 votes to Dyer's 88,022.
Jones said, "I want to thank the people of Baltimore County for your trust. Thank you for your faith in me, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you and make history tonight." The reported count also included 998 write-in votes.
Jones in Towson
Jones, 63, defeated Republican Patrick Dyer, 64, in the Baltimore County executive race after spending nearly 12 years on the County Council. He first was elected in 2014 to represent the Randallstown area and became the Baltimore County Council's first Black chairman in 2018.
At the polls Tuesday, Jones said, "They're angry about gas prices" and "They're angry about a lot of things. They don't like the way the country's going." After the polls closed in Towson, Bertony Paul said, "Julian Jones is so close to the people" and added, "You see him campaigning and on the street, and he knows everybody."
Baltimore County executive race
Jones's victory carries historic weight because he would be the first Black person elected Baltimore County executive. Baltimore County is Maryland's third-largest county by population, and the office was established in 1956.
The race also capped a campaign that started with Jones emerging from a five-way Democratic primary in June with 38.1% of the vote. He defeated his closest primary rival, fellow council member Izzy Patoka, and entered the general election with endorsements from Gov. Wes Moore and U.S. Sen. Angela.
County Council to county executive
Jones reclaimed the council chairmanship from January 2021 to January 2025, then moved into a countywide race after January 2025, when D'Andrea Walker briefly served as acting county executive after Johnny Olszewski left for Congress and Kathy Klausmeier was later appointed to complete Olszewski's term. The election leaves Jones with the task of turning campaign promises into an agenda on schools, public safety, affordability and county growth.
How Jones will pay for proposals such as building 15 schools and eight new recreation centers is not explained.
