Political Notes: State's Attorney Charlie Smith, local state delegates file for reelection
Frederick County State's Attorney Charlie Smith, a Republican who took office in 2007, will seek a sixth term in 2026.
If he is reelected, Smith would be on track to tie Robert Salter Rothenhoefer as the county's longest-serving State's Attorney. Rothenhoefer, a Democrat, held the office for 23 years — from 1959 to 1982, according to the Maryland Manual.
In a phone interview on Monday, Smith said that unlike other positions in government, he views the state's attorney as a career position.
'It's something I still have a passion for, and something I want to continue to do is make Frederick County a safer place to live and work,' Smith said.
Smith filed as a candidate for reelection on March 13, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections. He said he told his staff about his reelection bid at a meeting that same month.
'My staff is always on edge every time four years comes around,' Smith said. 'So I like to let them know that I really would like to continue to lead them and lead this office for at least another term.'
In recent years, Smith said some of his office's biggest accomplishments have been the establishment of the Mental Health Court Program in 2019 and the formation of the INTERCEPT Task Force in 2023 to combat child exploitation and human trafficking.
He said both of these efforts would remain a priority of his in a sixth term. Smith also said his office would continue to push for better public safety legislation at the state level if he is reelected.
As of Monday, no one else had filed as a candidate for Frederick County State's Attorney in 2026. The deadline to file is Feb. 24, 2026, at 9 p.m.
District 3 candidates
Three state delegates representing District 3 in Frederick County filed on Monday to run for reelection in 2026.
State Dels. Kris Fair, Ken Kerr and Karen Simpson — all Democrats — announced their filings in a joint press release on Monday, the last day of the 2025 Maryland General Assembly session.
Both Fair and Simpson took office in 2023 and are seeking a second term.
'I could not be prouder to file today with my colleagues as we continue to produce the much-needed resources for our community, the fastest-growing county and city in Maryland,' Fair said in the release.
'We work well as a team,' Simpson said in the release. 'We look forward to continuing to serve Frederick.'
Kerr, who took office in 2019, is seeking a third term.
'Delegates Fair and Simpson are effective legislators who take on complex bills and work them skillfully through the legislative process,' Kerr said in the release. 'I am proud to serve with them and stand with them for re-election.'
Other legislative districts
As of Monday, no one else had filed as a candidate for state delegate or state senator in District 3 or District 4, which is also in Frederick County.
In District 2A, which includes parts of Frederick and Washington counties, Republicans William Wivell and William Valentine have also filed for reelection. Wivell took office in 2015, while Valentine took office in 2023.
In District 5, which includes parts of Frederick and Carroll counties, two Republican candidates have filed to run for state delegate in 2026 — Sallie Taylor and Steve Whisler.
Taylor previously ran for state delegate in the district in 2022, but lost in the Republican primary.
Whisler currently is the vice president of the Carroll County Board of Education. His term in that role will expire in December 2026, according to the board website.
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Buzz Feed
39 minutes ago
- Buzz Feed
18 People Reacted To Trump Possibly Pardoning Diddy
As you probably know by now, Sean 'Diddy' Combs was indicted in 2024 on federal charges including sex trafficking and racketeering. Recently, HuffPost and BuzzFeed wrote about how Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked the president if he would consider pardoning Diddy. Trump told Doocy, "I haven't spoken to him in years. He used to really like me a lot, but I think when I ran for politics, that relationship busted up, from what I read." "I don't know, he didn't tell me that. But I'd read some … nasty statements in the paper all of a sudden." Trump, who once ran in the same wealthy social circles as Diddy, continued, "You know, it's different. You become a much different person when you run for politics, and you do what's right. I could do other things, and I'm sure he'd like me, and I'm sure other people would like me, but it wouldn't be as good for our country." In other words, Trump didn't give a definitive answer on whether he would pardon Diddy. People in the comments had a lot to say on the topic. Here are some of the best replies: "If Diddy is found guilty, he should not be pardoned. Stop pardoning people who were found or plead guilty." —cole Melton "When considering whether to pardon someone, Trump couldn't care less about whether a person is guilty. As long as the person has some kind words for Trump and/or helped Trump get even richer, the person has a good chance of getting a pardon." "Ask Trump voters if they voted for this corruption of the pardon system."—Carl Hayman "The fact that Trump commented on pardoning Diddy during an active, ongoing trial…I am just speechless. It completely undermines the entire justice system." "Always follow the money. Trump is using the power to pardon as an ATM. He only cares about the next money making opportunity, not law and order, justice, the Constitution, or keeping the guilty in jail. And most assuredly not you and me." —d icard "Even MAGA people on Fox and Breitbart are exploding over this. They hate this idea. Democrats need to keep the topic of Trump possibly pardoning Diddy front and center. Talk about it whenever they can. Keep it in the headlines." —TACO Trump "He says, 'I would certainly look at the facts.' And then what? Ignore them like he did with the results of the 2020 election? It used to be that if you wanted to win a high political office, you had to have character. Now all it takes (at least if you're a Republican) is to be a character." —Carl Olson "'You are the company you keep' has never been more true than as it relates to these two." "There is no justice system if anyone can simply prove love to their president and get a pardon." —Cory Crete"Pardons are now for sale."—James Gettings "Well, being liked is obviously the most important factor in any pardon." —Les Vogt "This isn't just grotesque; it's the rot made visible. Trump floating a pardon for a man indicted for sex trafficking, while reminiscing about party invitations and wounded egos, is less a statement of justice than a confession of moral bankruptcy. It's not about innocence or guilt — it's about whether someone 'used to really like' him." "In Trump's world, the law isn't sacred; it's a velvet rope outside a nightclub, waved aside with the casual shrug of a man picking names from a guest list."—Miles West "If our Republic is still standing in a few years, a different Congress must amend the Constitution to limit presidential pardons." "No more presidential pardons. I would let them commute death sentences, but nothing more. Enough of this abuse. These people had their day in court and have had chances to appeal. I don't trust anyone with that power anymore. Get rid of it." —Charles James "It's so weird (but so typical) that Trump has to tell everyone that Diddy 'used to like me a lot,' as if that's the most relevant thing about the issue. What a terrible thing it must be to live a life actually believing inside that you're incapable of being loved. That's the overriding reality that has made Trump who he is — an immensely insecure, flawed man." —David Hardy "'When you're president you do what's right.' I can't believe he said that because he certainly doesn't abide by that whatsoever." —Jenny Tayla "Whenever he talks about anyone — and I mean anyone — he always comments on if that person likes him or not. Narcissistic dictator." "I pray that Trump does not pardon Diddy. He's just as bad as Jeffrey Epstein and R. Kelly." —smileyzombie492 "Trump is sans empathy. He is a woman-hating dumpster fire." —jamesnylan And finally, "At least he didn't say he would. I was relieved to not read even that. The bar is low. 😭" The article people commented on originally appeared on HuffPost.
Politico
an hour ago
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Trump has a plan to remake the housing-finance system. It's baffling to many lawmakers and experts.
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The insistence on preserving significant sway over the two mortgage giants, which were seized by the Bush administration during the financial crisis and placed in conservatorship, is setting up a potential rift with Republicans — and possibly even some administration aides who have long worked to reduce the government's footprint in the housing market. 'I want to get them out of conservatorship,' said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), chair of the Senate Banking subcommittee with oversight of Fannie and Freddie. 'But I want to be very careful about how we do it, because we need the secondary market, and we need it to work,' he added, referring to the market where mortgage loans are purchased and sold to investors. Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, said 'we need to continue to investigate recapitalization and releasing' the companies from government control. 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The FHFA responded in an email that it is 'studying how, if the President elects to take Fannie and Freddie public, it can be done in the safest and soundest manner which includes keeping them in conservatorship.' It added: 'In any scenario, we will ensure the [mortgage-backed securities] market is safe and sound and that there is no upward pressure on rates.' White House deputy press secretary Harrison Fields said the administration 'is committed to strengthening the Federal Housing Finance Agency to advance the President's mission of restoring the dream of homeownership for all Americans.' Keeping Fannie and Freddie in conservatorship, according to one shareholder, amounts to attaching 'training wheels' as the government figures out how to monetize its stake. 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The Hill
an hour ago
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McCarthy slams Newsom over LA protests: ‘It is embarrassing'
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) slammed California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for his handling of the Los Angeles protests that have ignited over the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the area. 'You've got to look at our governor. First, he created a sanctuary state. Then, if you listen to the protesters. It's really not about immigration. It's about trying to take California back to Mexico. Look at the flags they're waving. Look at what they're saying,' McCarthy said during an episode of 'Cats Roundtable' on WABC 770 AM that aired Sunday. 'I mean, and I don't understand how Democrats are standing with that. I mean, whatever happened to law and order and safe streets. And look what they're doing. They're literally throwing fireballs at cop cars. They're throwing bricks at officers,' McCarthy told host John Catsimatidis. 'I mean, it is embarrassing.' Newsom's office hit back at McCarthy in a statement to The Hill, accusing him of 'chasing relevancy.' 'The former short-term speaker is chasing relevancy and has no idea what he's talking about. This is simply incorrect. First, SB 54 was enacted before Governor Newsom took office. McCarthy should be fully aware of this,' Newsom's office said. 'Second, our state laws do not conflict with any federal law. As a former representative of the California's Central Valley, McCarthy's disrespect for the diverse and rich community that help make this state and the region he represented great is abhorrent. Period. Full stop.' Newsom, along with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D), has received heavy criticism from Republicans over their response to the Los Angeles protests that have seen violent protestors vandalizing a federal building and setting cars on fire. President Trump's administration greenlighted the deployment of Marines and the National Guard to Los Angeles, arguing troops are needed to safeguard personnel and buildings. Newsom, Bass and other Democrats have slammed the move, contending the troops' involvement would further inflame the situation. The Marines made their first temporary arrest of a protester in Los Angeles on Friday. Newsom has pushed back against the criticism, embracing the confrontation with Trump through interviews and public speeches. Some within the Democratic Party are arguing that the California governor, seen as one of the contenders for the party's nomination in 2028, is taking the right approach amidst the blowback. 'This is what Gavin does best. He is absolutely unapologetic about getting up in someone's face and calling out their weaknesses. That's why he's so effective in going after Trump and MAGA Republicans,' one longtime Newsom ally told The Hill this week.
