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State's Attorney · Anne Arundel County · 2026 Primary
The State’s Attorney is the county’s lead prosecutor, responsible for managing the legal office that handles all criminal cases on behalf of the public. This official decides whether to bring formal charges against individuals, oversees criminal trials, and works with law enforcement to address local crime. Because they determine how laws are enforced and which cases are prioritized, this office significantly shapes public safety and the local justice system.
View all candidates in this raceCarolynn Grammas is a former Anne Arundel County prosecutor with more than twenty-five years of experience in Maryland's criminal justice system who resigned to challenge incumbent State's Attorney Anne Colt Leitess for the 2026 Democratic primary. She previously served as Deputy Chief of District Court, led the Auto Manslaughter Trial Team, and prosecuted serious vehicle crash cases, boating cases, and violent crime. Grammas is a registered Democrat who switched parties after decades as a Republican due to her dismay over federal politics under President Donald Trump. She describes herself as committed to restoring integrity, rebuilding trust, and ensuring justice is delivered the right way for victims, prosecutors, and the community.
Sources: Campaign website
Justice you can trust. Fairness you deserve.
Anne Arundel County deserves a State's Attorney who puts victims first, supports ethical prosecutors, and restores integrity to the courtroom.
Carolynn Grammas will bring accountability, professionalism, and lasting justice back to the State's Attorney's Office.
If elected, she said she'd provide more training to prosecutors to avoid the kind of missteps she claims have plagued the office lately.
Source: votegrammas.com
Victims First
Grammas emphasizes putting victims first in her prosecutorial work
“Anne Arundel County deserves a State's Attorney who puts victims first, supports ethical prosecutors, and restores integrity to the courtroom.”
Ethical Prosecutors
Grammas commits to supporting ethical prosecutors and restoring office culture
“Justice you can trust. Fairness you deserve.”
Accountability
Grammas pledges accountability in the State's Attorney's Office
“Carolynn Grammas will bring accountability, professionalism, and lasting justice back to the State's Attorney's Office.”
Prosecutor Training
If elected, she said she'd provide more training to prosecutors to avoid missteps that have plagued the office lately
“Grammas described herself as a victims' champion, but said her zealous advocacy never comes at the expense of defendants' constitutional rights. If elected, she said she'd provide more training to prosecutors to avoid the kind of missteps she claims have plagued the office lately.”
Lawful Convictions
Grammas wants convictions obtained lawfully and fairly that withstand appeal
“She is committed to restoring confidence in the office by ending practices that lead to discovery violations or unethical misconduct—so convictions are obtained lawfully, fairly, and in a way that withstands appeal.”
External news sources report that Grammas has over two decades as an assistant state's attorney in Anne Arundel County before resigning from her position and currently working in St. Mary's County State's Attorney's Office. The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #70 endorsed Grammas citing a broken relationship between police officers and the current prosecutor's office under Leitess, while Leitess disputed these claims and noted the FOP has historically endorsed Republican candidates for this position since 2014.
“Carolynn Grammas has spent more than twenty-five years in the trenches of Maryland's criminal justice system—advocating for victims, holding violent offenders accountable, and upholding the integrity of the State's Attorney's Office.”
Source“She is committed to restoring confidence in the office by ending practices that lead to discovery violations or unethical misconduct—so convictions are obtained lawfully, fairly, and in a way that withstands appeal.”
Source