Attorney and former Howard County executive Ken Ulman will step down as chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, effective June 13.
Ulman, who has served as the party’s leader in Maryland since 2023, will transition to “a new role supporting Governor Moore’s economic growth agenda,” according to a news release.
First Vice Chair Dr. Charlene Dukes will serve as the party’s acting chair in the interim until a new leader is elected, but she has declined the opportunity to be recommended to serve as chair permanently.
Gov. Wes Moore is recommending Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman to be the next chair of the Maryland Democratic Party.
“I am grateful for Ken and his willingness to lead our party through an intense and demanding election. His leadership was critical to maintaining Democratic power in this state and I look forward to his continued help and expertise,” Moore said in a statement. “I am recommending County Executive Pittman because I know he is the right leader for this moment. With an all out assault on our state and our values underway from Washington DC, I know Steuart Pittman will put his experience and moral clarity to work to defend our state, fight back against the Trump administration, and ensure Democrats win elections.”
A new chair will be elected on June 21, when the Democratic State Central Committees gather for their regularly scheduled statewide meeting.
Pittman was first elected Anne Arundel County executive in 2018. A native of Davidsonville, Maryland and a graduate of University of Chicago, Pittman worked as a community organizer in Chicago and Des Moines.
Fellow Maryland leaders supported the recommendation of Pittman to be the next party chair.
“Steuart Pittman is a proven leader who knows how to bring Marylanders together,” U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) said in a statement. “He has the vision and the values to move the Maryland Democratic Party forward at a critical time for our state and our country.”
“I could not give a more enthusiastic endorsement of Steuart Pittman to be the next Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party,” said Carl Snowden, Convener of the Caucus of African American Leaders, in a statement. “I have worked closely with Steuart for the past 7 years and he is a leader that listens, that shows up, and that fights for the least among us.”
