Vanessa Atterbeary

About this race

The county's elected chief executive, found in charter counties such as most of Maryland's. Runs county departments, prepares and proposes the annual budget to the county council, and can sign or veto the bills the council passes.

2 candidates ran for Howard County Executive in the general election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

About Vanessa Atterbeary

Attorney; general counsel, KRA Corp.. Represented District 13 in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2015 to 2026, chairing the Ways and Means Committee and earlier serving as vice chair of Judiciary. A former assistant attorney general for the District of Columbia, she grew up in Columbia and Clarksville.

What they say they'll focus on:

• Fund public schools
• Work with police on public safety in malls, parks and theaters
• Oppose immigration arrests at community events
• Opportunities and safety for children and families

Summarized in our words from source 1, source 2, source 3, checked October 2026. Not an endorsement.

Where they stand

Strongly left, AI estimate from their own website and their Wikipedia article (73% confidence).

How we got this: our AI model read their Wikipedia article and their campaign site and placed Vanessa Atterbeary by the policy positions stated there. It is never told the candidate's party. The positions it found: economy, taxes & spending (moderately left); guns (strongly left) (details under Issue by issue).

73% confidence means the positions it found mostly pointed one way. We show an AI estimate only at 70% or higher, and it's less certain than a voting record or donor score. How AI estimates work · the exact instructions it follows

Issue by issue

AI-estimated from their own website and their Wikipedia article, never told the candidate's party. The percentage is the AI's confidence in which way that stance leans. An issue appears only when the AI finds a clearly stated position (it must be at least 60% sure they took one) and is at least 70% confident in its direction; otherwise we leave the issue out. The exact instructions

Funding

$1.5M raised.

Source: Maryland State Board of Elections, reports through 2026-10-18.

More about Vanessa Atterbeary

Campaign website · Facebook · Instagram · Ballotpedia

Social accounts are the ones linked from the candidate's own campaign site, or listed on Wikidata.

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Also running

• Nater Kane · Green

Compare everyone in this race →

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Quick answers

What party is Vanessa Atterbeary?

Vanessa Atterbeary is running as a Democrat.

What does the Howard County Executive seat do?

The county's elected chief executive, found in charter counties such as most of Maryland's. Runs county departments, prepares and proposes the annual budget to the county council, and can sign or veto the bills the council passes.

Who is Vanessa Atterbeary running against?

Nater Kane, for Howard County Executive.

How much money has Vanessa Atterbeary raised?

$1.5M as of the latest state campaign-finance filings.

Is Vanessa Atterbeary liberal or conservative?

On SpectrumVote's left–right scale, Vanessa Atterbeary is strongly left, AI estimate from their own website and their Wikipedia article (73% confidence). This is an AI estimate and less certain than a published score.

Should I vote for Vanessa Atterbeary?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Compare Vanessa Atterbeary's record, funding and endorsements with the other candidates in this race and decide based on what matters to you.