Here are the Prince George’s races and issues we’re watching on Election Day

Although the primary is typically decisive in deep-blue Prince George’s County, Banner reporters will still be watching a handful of contests on Election Day.

As you’re filling out your early voting ballot or if you’re planning to head to the polls on Tuesday, check out our voters’ guide for information on candidates and ballot questions and how to find your polling center.

Here are the Prince George’s races we’re keeping our eyes on.

County executive

Aisha Braveboy has a lot going for her: the power of incumbency, a massive financial advantage and a lone challenger running a write-in campaign. Needless to say, she is expected to easily win Tuesday.

We’ll follow the results as they come in on Election Day, and Banner reporter Jack Hogan will provide on-the-ground coverage into the evening. But the real work starts Nov. 4, when Braveboy will (probably) begin her first full term in office with plenty on her plate: a chronically underperforming school system, a depleted federal workforce, a council under fire for questionable grant awards and more than a few major economic development projects on the horizon. Stay tuned.

Board of Education

Banner reporter Mennatalla Ibrahim is focusing on four races for Prince George’s County Board of Education.

District 2 pits Terence Clegg, a Greenbelt resident who has worked for the Department of Human Services for the past few years, against Caroline Decaire-Goldin, a Riverdale resident who currently works as the director of teaching and learning at the D.C. State Education Agency.

Both candidates have experience working with kids and families: Clegg through nonprofits and Decaire-Goldin as an elementary school teacher.

The seat has been open since June, when board member Jonathan Briggs suddenly resigned.

In District 3, Brentwood council member Juan Arango-Millan is running against Jamie McGonnigal, a parent of an elementary school student and former PTA president at the Hyattsville Elementary.

In The Banner voters’ guide, Arango-Millan highlighted the need to ensure multilingual learners and special education students receive math support, as well as his desire to see funding promised in the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future result in stronger outcomes for students.

McGonnigal noted that his son has benefited from excellent math teachers, and he wants to ensure other students have the same support. He also noted that the Blueprint can be transformative if implemented well. “School districts need enough flexibility to respond to their individual communities rather than treating every mandate as one-size-fits-all,” he said.

The District 6 contest pits newcomers Tyra Janet Bennett and Ashley Kearney against each other.

Bennett graduated from Prince George’s County Public Schools and founded the District 6 Literacy & Learning Lab.

Kearney is an at-large member of the Seat Pleasant City Council and has served in several education leadership roles, according to her bio.

District 9 is the only competitive race with an incumbent.

Chandrai “CJ” Jackson-Saunders has served on the board’s District 9 seat since February and was a teacher in D.C. Public Schools for 35 years, according to her bio. She’s also worked as a school psychologist.

Her challenger, Erica Bennett, is a PGCPS principal and was an educator for nearly 30 years, including a stint in D.C. Public Schools, according to her bio.

Question A

Should the County Council be allowed to impose taxes and fees on businesses “deemed to have an adverse impact on community health, safety, and welfare,” including tobacco and liquor stores?

It’s unclear what metrics the county would use to determine whether a business falls under one of these categories. Under the county charter, local lawmakers cannot raise certain taxes and fees unless voters approve them on the ballot.

The county is currently facing a lawsuit challenging the legality of an annual $5,000 fee on tobacco shops, liquor stores, gun stores and storage facilities.

And just this week, the council passed a legally questionable bill to ban the sale of tobacco and related products.

A “yes” vote would allow the council to impose fees on businesses without a public vote. A “no” vote would maintain the status quo.

Question B

In 2016, county voters approved the addition of two at-large seats on the council. Now they’re being asked whether those seats should remain.

Proponents of the measure say the additional council seats create a loophole that lets sitting council members serve more than two consecutive terms, which is otherwise barred.

But opponents, including one sitting at-large member, believe the measure is a personal attack.

At-large council member Jolene Ivey has frequently clashed with Chair Krystal Oriadha, a supporter of the ballot question.

A “yes” vote would eliminate the at-large seats, reducing the council from 11 to nine members. A “no” vote would allow the at-large seats to remain.

Special election in New Carrollton

Voters in New Carrollton get a double dose of civic engagement this month. Less than a week after Election Day on Nov. 3, the city’s 13,000 residents will head back to the polls — on Monday, Nov. 9 — for a special election to pick a new mayor.

Phelecia Nembhard was voted out of office by the city council in September over allegations that she violated a hiring freeze. City Council member Briana Urbina and former Mayor Katrina Dodro, who lost to Nembhard in 2025, are running to fill the remainder of the term, which ends in May 2027. Regardless of the special election’s outcome, both Urbina and Dodro say they will run for a full term next year.