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County Commissioner · District 3 · Charles County · 2026 Primary
County Commissioners act as both the lawmaking body and the executive branch for their county, meaning they pass local ordinances and oversee all county departments. They are responsible for setting property tax rates and adopting the annual budget, which determines funding levels for essential services like public schools, road maintenance, and emergency responders. Their decisions on land use and zoning also directly influence how your community grows and what types of businesses or housing can be built.
View all candidates in this raceMcKayla Wilkes is a candidate for Charles County Commissioner in District 3 and founder of Schools Not Jails, an advocacy organization focused on preventing the school-to-prison pipeline. She previously ran for Congress in Maryland's 5th District in 2020 and again in 2024, where she built a grassroots movement that won more votes than any Democratic challenger in forty years. Her personal background includes childhood incarceration due to grief over her aunt's death at the Pentagon, health struggles during pregnancy involving denied insurance coverage, and living paycheck-to-paycheck. Wilkes advocates for community-first development, fully funded schools, youth leadership, housing stability, reinvesting cannabis revenue locally, and government accountability. She emphasizes that political decisions should reflect what the community is actually asking for rather than lobbyist preferences. Her campaign spirit is guided by the memory of her former field director, Tom Johnson.
Sources: Campaign website
Housing Stability for Working Families
Implementing a countywide rent stabilization program and tenants union to protect renters, prevent displacement, and support long-term community stability.
“"Implementing a countywide rent stabilization program and tenants union to protect renters, prevent displacement, and support long-term community stability."”
Funding our Schools and Infrastructure
Requiring residential developers to pay increased fees so new growth directly supports public school construction, operation, modernization, and county infrastructure.
“"Requiring residential developers to pay increased fees so new growth directly supports public school construction, operation, modernization, and county infrastructure."”
Centering Youth Development
Creating a countywide youth services program that partners directly with young people to gather data and recommendations on the services, programs, and activities they want to see in their communities.
“"Creating a countywide youth services program that partners directly with young people to gather data and recommendations."”
Reinvesting Cannabis Revenue Locally
Directing tax revenue from marijuana sales toward public education and youth programming, ensuring those funds are used to strengthen opportunities for the next generation.
“"Directing tax revenue from marijuana sales toward public education and youth programming."”
County Government Accountability
Supporting the establishment of an independent Office of Inspector General to investigate misuse and restore public trust.
“"Supporting the establishment of an independent Office of Inspector General to investigate misuse and restore public trust."”
Land Use / Environment
Enacting a moratorium on future data center construction and establishing a public task force to study impacts and develop strong regulations for any possible future development.
“"Enacting a moratorium on future data center construction and establishing a public task force (e.g. residents, advocates, and subject-matter experts) to study impacts and develop strong regulations for any possible future development."”
A Maryland Matters article from June 2023 reports Wilkes announced she would run for the Democratic nomination for the 5th Congressional District again in 2024. It notes her previous performance against U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, where he received significantly higher vote shares than her in both 2020 and 2021 primaries. The article highlights her desire to represent changing demographics in Southern Maryland and states she plans to unseat Hoyer if he seeks another term.
“"Requiring residential developers to pay increased fees so new growth directly supports public school construction, operation, modernization, and county infrastructure."”
Source“"Implementing a countywide rent stabilization program and tenants union to protect renters, prevent displacement, and support long-term community stability."”
Source“"Requiring residential developers to pay increased fees so new growth directly supports public school construction, operation, modernization, and county infrastructure."”
Source“"Creating a countywide youth services program that partners directly with young people to gather data and recommendations on the services, programs, and activities they want to see in their communities."”
Source“"Directing tax revenue from marijuana sales toward public education and youth programming, ensuring those funds are used to strengthen opportunities for the next generation."”
Source“"Supporting the establishment of an independent Office of Inspector General to investigate misuse and restore public trust."”
Source“"Enacting a moratorium on future data center construction and establishing a public task force (e.g. residents, advocates, and subject-matter experts) to study impacts and develop strong regulations for any possible future development."”
Source“"Enacting a moratorium on future data center construction and establishing a public task force (e.g. residents, advocates, and subject-matter experts) to study impacts and develop strong regulations for any possible future development."”
Source