UPDATE 4/1/2026: On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, the State Board of Elections website has again changed Ralph E. Patterson II’s status for the District 4 seat. The status now reads ” Active.” Also, as of this update, neither the SBE, the CCBE, nor Patterson has responded to email requests from the Southern Maryland Chronicle. The Chronicle continues behind the closed doors election drama.
LA PLATA, Md. – The Maryland State Board of Elections updated Ralph E. Patterson II’s status to withdrawn for the 2026 Charles County Commissioner District 4 race as of March 31, 2026, leaving voters in the district with no candidate on the ballot for the upcoming primary and general elections.
Patterson, the incumbent commissioner for District 4, had filed for re-election and initially stood unopposed after the candidate filing deadline passed. On March 23, 2026, the State Board disqualified him from the race. The disqualification stemmed from the late filing of his 2025 financial disclosure statement, according to a response from the State Board to The Southern Maryland Chronicle.
The Charles County Board of Elections held a closed session lasting nearly three hours last week and voted to reinstate Patterson on the ballot. However, the State Board continued to list him as disqualified until the March 31 update changed his status to withdrawn. No public reasoning has been provided by either board for the final change.
The Southern Maryland Chronicle sent emails seeking clarification to the Maryland State Board of Elections, the Charles County Board of Elections and Patterson’s campaign. No responses had been received by the publishing time on March 31.
District 4 includes growing communities across Charles County in Southern Maryland, where residents depend on the commissioner for decisions on infrastructure, public safety, land use and economic development. With the filing deadline now closed and no other candidates having entered the race, the seat will appear as a blank line on both the Democratic and Republican primary ballots and the general election ballot scheduled for June 23 and November 3, 2026.( Barring any rulings regarding adding candiates)
Maryland election law requires candidates for county commissioner to meet strict eligibility standards, including timely submission of financial disclosure statements and campaign finance reports. Failure to comply can result in removal from the ballot to maintain process integrity. The law limits options for filling vacancies after the filing period ends, typically leaving the seat open or relying on rare write-in campaigns.
Patterson had served as District 4 commissioner prior to the 2026 cycle. His removal and subsequent withdrawn status mark an unusual development in a race that had drawn no challengers. Charles County forms a key part of Southern Maryland’s political landscape alongside St. Mary’s and Calvert counties. The Board of Commissioners handles issues that directly affect thousands of families, including school funding, road improvements and growth management.
The situation highlights the importance of precise compliance with election deadlines and paperwork requirements administered by both local and state boards. Residents in District 4, which encompasses established neighborhoods and newer developments, now face an election without a listed contender for the commissioner position they have come to rely on for local representation.
The State Board of Elections maintains the official candidate list that reflected Patterson’s disqualification until today’s update. The Charles County Board of Elections had taken action to reinstate him following its closed session, but the state-level status change overrides that step under Maryland election procedures.
As of March 31, 2026, no further updates or appeals have been publicly announced. Southern Maryland Chronicle reporters continue to monitor developments and await responses from the involved parties. Residents seeking information on the 2026 elections can contact the Maryland State Board of Elections or the Charles County Board of Elections directly.
This development arrives as Charles County prepares for a full election cycle with competitive races in other districts. The open seat in District 4 stands out because it leaves voters without a choice on the ballot, potentially prompting community discussions about representation and possible write-in efforts. Election officials have not indicated any special provisions to reopen filing or address the vacancy at this stage.
The sequence of events began with Patterson’s disqualification on March 23, followed by the local board’s reinstatement vote and culminated in the State Board’s withdrawal listing on March 31. Throughout the process, no detailed public explanation has been released beyond the initial financial disclosure issue. The lack of transparency has left District 4 residents and political observers seeking clarity on how the seat will be filled and what options, if any, remain for voters.
Southern Maryland’s rapid growth makes consistent local leadership especially important. District 4 voters have historically participated actively in county elections, expecting clear choices on the ballot. With the primary less than three months away, the blank line in this race could influence turnout and spark broader conversations about election procedures in Charles County.
