State

Attorney General

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The attorney general is Maryland's chief lawyer: represents the state and its agencies in court, gives legal opinions and enforces consumer protection laws.

Candidates Compare by issue

James B. Rutledge, III

Republican

Baltimore County

The gist

Pledges expanded cyber-crime investigations.
Pledges prosecution of environmental crimes harming the Chesapeake Bay.
Supports restorative justice only alongside accountability.
Opposes using the office to label political speech disinformation.
Supports suing Washington only when it exceeds constitutional authority.

More about James

View sources (1)

Pledges expanded cyber-crime investigations.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Attorney General, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Priorities · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Thwart cyber predators by pushing cyber-crime investigations to the next level”
Pledges prosecution of environmental crimes harming the Chesapeake Bay.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Attorney General, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Priorities · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Protect clean water and our Chesapeake Bay by investigating and prosecuting environmental crimes that harm them.”
Supports restorative justice only alongside accountability.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Attorney General, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Criminal justice · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Restorative justice can complement — but not replace — accountability.”
Opposes using the office to label political speech disinformation.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Attorney General, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Disinformation · onyourballot.vote411.org
“What I will not do is use the office to punish political speech or label a political viewpoint as 'disinformation'”
Supports suing Washington only when it exceeds constitutional authority.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Attorney General, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Advocacy · onyourballot.vote411.org
“The AG should defend the people of MD when the federal government exceeds the authority granted to it by the US Constitution.”

Anthony G. Brown

DemocraticIncumbent

The gist

Supports restorative justice and diversion programs for juveniles.
Pledges enforcement against scams and deceptive advertising.
Pledges legal action against unlawful federal policies.
Pledges to enforce civil rights laws.
Pledges environmental protection as a top priority.

More about Anthony

View sources (1)

Supports restorative justice and diversion programs for juveniles.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Attorney General, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Criminal justice · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support evidence-based approaches, including restorative justice and diversion programs”
Pledges enforcement against scams and deceptive advertising.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Attorney General, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Disinformation · onyourballot.vote411.org
“should aggressively combat scams, fraud, deceptive advertising, and schemes that exploit consumers”
Pledges legal action against unlawful federal policies.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Attorney General, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Advocacy · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will continue taking action against unlawful federal policies that harm Marylanders”
Pledges to enforce civil rights laws.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Attorney General, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Civil rights · onyourballot.vote411.org
“defend constitutional rights, enforce civil rights laws, protect vulnerable communities”
Pledges environmental protection as a top priority.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Attorney General, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Priorities · onyourballot.vote411.org
“My top priorities are protecting consumers, improving public safety, defending civil rights, safeguarding the environment”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 5 issues covered in this race.