State

Comptroller

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

What this office does: The comptroller is Maryland's chief tax collector and fiscal officer, and one of three votes on the Board of Public Works, which approves state contracts.

Candidates Compare by issue

Sonya Dunn

Republican

The gist

Supports favoring Maryland-based firms in state contracts.
Opposes the 2025 capital gains and IT services taxes.
Supports HB 392 and HB 1554 to retain manufacturing jobs.
Supports a stronger compliance unit for failed state agency audits.
Pledges conservative revenue forecasting.

More about Sonya

View sources (1)

Supports favoring Maryland-based firms in state contracts.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Comptroller, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Contracts · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Primary factor: Is the company a Maryland-based firm?”
Opposes the 2025 capital gains and IT services taxes.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Comptroller, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Tax policy · onyourballot.vote411.org
“AGAINST: 2025 BRFA (Tax Changes) - 2% capital gains tax on high earners and 3% tax on IT/data services”
Supports HB 392 and HB 1554 to retain manufacturing jobs.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Comptroller, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Tax policy · onyourballot.vote411.org
“FOR: HB 392 & HB 1554 - Short term revenue loss but helps retain manufacturing jobs and reduce food deserts in Maryland.”
Supports a stronger compliance unit for failed state agency audits.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Comptroller, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Tax policy · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Adds teeth to compliance unit to address repeated failed audits by state agencies.”
Pledges conservative revenue forecasting.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Comptroller, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Revenue · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I plan to use conservative forecasting practices with a spectrum of investment risk profiles.”

Brooke Elizabeth Lierman

DemocraticIncumbent

The gist

Supports weighing labor standards and MBE goals in state contracts.
Supports free federal tax filing for Marylanders.
Led expanded taxpayer branch offices and call-center staffing.
Secured a record $121 million in returned unclaimed property.
Led new state-of-the-economy reports on federal funding cuts.

More about Brooke

View sources (1)

Supports weighing labor standards and MBE goals in state contracts.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Comptroller, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Contracts · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I evaluate vendor track records, commitment to MBE goals, labor standards, local economic impact, and accountability mechanisms”
Supports free federal tax filing for Marylanders.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Comptroller, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Tax policy · onyourballot.vote411.org
“keep fighting for free federal tax filing”
Led expanded taxpayer branch offices and call-center staffing.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Comptroller, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Tax policy · onyourballot.vote411.org
“expanded branch offices, boosted call center staff, and launched new tools to ease filing”
Secured a record $121 million in returned unclaimed property.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Comptroller, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Tax policy · onyourballot.vote411.org
“returned a record $121 million in unclaimed property in FY25”
Led new state-of-the-economy reports on federal funding cuts.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Comptroller, 2026 General Election
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · VOTE411 answer: Challenges · onyourballot.vote411.org
“My office now publishes state-of-the-economy reports to keep policymakers and the public informed.”

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; 3 issues covered in this race.