Tara Jackson will likely remain top prosecutor in Prince George’s County

Interim Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Tara Jackson is on her way to serving a full term as the county’s top prosecutor.

Initial vote tally shows Jackson with a nearly 17-point lead over District 2 County Council member Wanika Fisher in what was one of the most expensive primary races in the county. Deputy state’s attorney for Charles County Karen Piper Mitchell placed a distant third in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.

No Republicans are running for the position in the heavily Democratic Prince George’s County, where the primary election is typically decisive.

Jackson was appointed as the county’s interim state’s attorney last June after Aisha Braveboy vacated the position and transitioned to county executive.

Jackson celebrated her victory with dozens of supporters Tuesday night in Largo. As polls closed Tuesday evening, campaign staff dragged more chairs into the watch party to make room for the stream of supporters trickling in.

“I grew up here, but what also grew in me ... was my sense of fairness,” she said to a crowd of supporters as she stood next to her son. “What grew stronger was my faith. What continued to build was my determination to find justice for those who far too often went without.”

Sen. Angela Alsobrooks attended the watch party wearing a “Team Jackson” button. She stood front and center while Jackson addressed her supporters and thanked the senator for being her “ride or die”

While she was county executive, Alsobrooks appointed Jackson as chief administrative officer and has been a supporter of her campaign.

“I think we’re going to have a good night here in Prince George’s County,” Alsobrooks told the crowd.

On the campaign trail, Jackson emphasized her track record as interim prosecutor. She’s spent the past year working to modernize the office’s website and internal case management system and, she said, taking an individualized approach to trying cases.

“True public safety requires us to think beyond the immediate case and consider the long-term outcome for the individual and the community,” she wrote in response to questions from The Banner for its voter guide. “The goal is never punishment for its own sake, and it is never leniency without accountability.”

Jackson said the county needs a state’s attorney who will be hard on repeat and violent offenders and help victims pursue justice. It’s important to her that the county holds young people accountable while also offering them chances to redeem themselves.

She has previously served in a number of other roles in the county, including acting county executive, chief administrative officer and deputy county attorney. She also used to work as a lawyer in a private practice.

Jackson co-hosted her election watch party with Prince George’s County Sheriff John D.B. Carr and Clerk of the Circuit Court Mahasin El Amin. Carr and El Amin both easily cruised to reelection on Tuesday.

Throughout the evening, Jackson, El Amin and Carr called themselves “the courthouse team,” referring to how closely they work together in their roles.

“When I swore her in a little over a year ago, I can say I almost cried,” El Amin said of Jackson. “Because I knew having her in the office is what we needed in Prince George’s County.”

Prince George’s resident Pablo Kieta, 55, praised Jackson’s leadership in the many roles she’s held in public office.

“I would like to keep her in office so she can keep up with the good work she started,” Kieta said. “We know she’s going to do a phenomenal job for our county.”

Maryland Parole Commissioner and Prince George’s County resident Roderick I. Wellington has worked with Jackson and said she’s the right person to be the county’s top prosecutor.

“I’ve seen the work that her staff does,” he told The Banner Tuesday night. “Prince George’s County residents want to make sure that our streets are safe, and we have the ticket here today that’s going to make sure that happens.

The race between Jackson and Fisher was competitive. Jackson raised about $560,000 over the course of her campaign, and Fisher raised more than $380,000, according to campaign finance reports.

Jackson retained significantly more cash on hand with $169,143 to Fisher’s $88,800. Mitchell trailed Jackson and Fisher in fundraising, bringing in about $56,000, campaign finance reports show.