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The Charles County Democratic Central Committee chose Yonelle Moore Lee on Saturday to fill the vacant District 27A seat in the House, setting up a conflict with Prince George鈥檚 County Democrats who backed a different candidate Tuesday.
The conflict means that Gov. Wes Moore (D) will make the choice between Moore Lee and the Prince George鈥檚 County nominee, to represent the district that straddles the two counties.
Moore Lee, 50, chair of the county鈥檚 school board, won the support of 12 of the 14 central committee members present at Saturday morning鈥檚 roughly two-hour meeting.
鈥淵our trust in me really means a lot. I will not let you down,鈥� Moore Lee said after the vote. 鈥淚鈥檓 not sure what the next steps may be and what will happen, but either way, I鈥檓 very, very proud.鈥�
The governor has 15 days to choose between Moore Lee and Odom, once the names are forwarded to him, but the 2026 General Assembly is set to convene sooner than that, on Jan. 14.
The seat became vacant after was sworn in last month as state senator for District 27, that includes portions of Charles, Calvert and Prince George鈥檚 counties. Harris replaced former Democratic Sen. Michael Jackson, who left to become superintendent of Maryland State Police.
Harris attended Saturday鈥檚 special public hearing in Charles County and spoke on behalf of Odom, 71, a member of the Prince George鈥檚 Democratic Central Committee who received one vote.
Lamont Tyler Bunyon, who runs an optometry practice in Prince George鈥檚, also received a vote from the Charles County Democrats, as he did at the Prince George鈥檚 meeting.
As at Tuesday night鈥檚 meeting in Prince George鈥檚, Harris was among a few elected officials to speak on behalf of a candidate Saturday.
Reuben Collins II, president of the Charles County Board of Commissioners, and Del. Debra Davis (D-Charles) both spoke on behalf of Moore Lee.
鈥淎s chairperson of the Board of Education, she leads one of the most complex public institutions in our region overseeing a $529 million budget and serving over 28,000 students,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淪he has proven her ability to lead in high-stakes environments, build consensus across diverse viewpoints and deliver outcomes that matter to families. That鈥檚 real governing experience.鈥�
Each candidate was asked several questions that included their plans to support the central committee as a 鈥渧alued鈥� partner. They all agreed.
They differed slightly when asked what legislation or policy areas they would be most prepared to immediately work on.
Although each candidate mentioned education as a priority, Moore Lee specifically touched upon the multibillion-dollar Blueprint for Maryland鈥檚 Future education reform plan.
鈥淲e have made a promise and a commitment to a world class education with the Blueprint. It鈥檚 supposed to be fully implemented by 2030, that is something that鈥檚 very important to me,鈥� she said.
Bunyon said a main priority for him would be health care, especially with his work as an optometrist. He noted how several friends died in their 50s.
鈥淲e have to do a better job arguing for better health care, advocacy [and] awareness resources, because it鈥檚 a lot of preventable things that can be done,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 hate to say that I鈥檓 going to run there and try to be a doctor to folks, but I鈥檓 supposed to because I鈥檓 trained to do it.鈥�
Odom said public safety 鈥渋s a strong suit鈥� for him, with a specific focus on juvenile justice reform, domestic violence and emergency response and prevention. Besides his 31 years of service in the Army and Coast Guard, he also worked as an acting fire chief in Prince George鈥檚.
The meeting did have a little humor when Charles County committee Vice Chair Elaine Hardee asked Odom how he would define ethical leadership and model it as a delegate.
In a previous question, Odom summarized ethics in public service.
鈥淪hould I say ditto on that?鈥� Odom said to several laughs in the room.
In the meantime, the Prince George鈥檚 Central Committee has scheduled another public hearing Monday to select someone to replace Del. Jazz Lewis (D-Prince George鈥檚). The former House majority whip, who has represented District 24 since 2017, 聽more than two weeks ago he鈥檚 stepping down to work as the director of government relations at the University of Maryland, his alma mater.
Lewis鈥� last day will be the same day as the central committee meeting.
