The Ballot Brief
Dorchester County, Maryland

Maryland House of Delegates District 37B

4 candidates are tracked for Maryland House of Delegates District 37B on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Edmund J. Barrett, Michele W. Johnson, Chris Adams and Tom Hutchinson. Candidate information follows official Dorchester County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Edmund J. Barrett (Democratic), Michele W. Johnson (Democratic), Chris Adams (Republican), Tom Hutchinson (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Maryland House of Delegates District 37B (2 seats; vote for up to 2); Chris Adams, Tom Hutchinson are sitting members, per the General Assembly's roster. Also filed but not printing: Marco Antonio Garcia (declined), per the State Board of Elections. Party nominees were chosen at the June 23 primary; unaffiliated candidates qualified by petition. The field is the State Board of Elections' certified 2026 Gubernatorial General candidate list (updated September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Voters choose 2; the top 2 finishers win seats. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. Sitting officeholders on the ballot: Chris Adams, Tom Hutchinson.

Maryland › Dorchester County › Maryland House of Delegates District 37B

Edmund J. Barrett

Democratic

Top priorities

  • Work with local businesses, farmers and industries to grow the Eastern Shore's economy
  • Focus on affordability and the cost of living for Shore families
  • Prioritize water and air quality and expanding affordable housing

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Barrett is a retired Army colonel who has worked as a school teacher, a professor at the U.S. Naval War College and a Habitat for Humanity volunteer, and he lives in Salisbury with his wife and four children, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Michele W. Johnson

Democratic

Top priorities

  • Support quality public schools, libraries, parks and higher education access
  • Support small businesses, watermen, farmers and heritage tourism
  • Address climate change, clean air and water, and flood protection

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Michele W. Johnson has more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and more than 10 years in federal and state government, per her campaign site. She served eight years on the board of Congressman Elijah Cummings' Youth Program, per her campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
Chris Adams

Chris Adams

RepublicanIncumbent

Biography

Chris Adams is the Republican candidate for Maryland House of Delegates District 37B on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified candidate list. Chris Adams is a sitting member for the district, per the General Assembly's roster. No campaign website was listed on the State Board of Elections' candidate filing as of September 8, 2026.

Tom Hutchinson

Tom Hutchinson

RepublicanIncumbent

Top priorities

  • Expand access to affordable healthcare and mental health services
  • Lower energy and utility costs
  • Support farmers and watermen

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Hutchinson founded a home services company on the Eastern Shore in 2020 after 30 years leading sales and marketing teams for national healthcare analytics organizations, per the campaign site. He holds an MBA from Loyola University Maryland and has served on the Cambridge Main Street board, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
Next on your ballotMaryland Senate District 37

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Maryland House of Delegates District 37B in 2026?

4 candidates are tracked for Maryland House of Delegates District 37B on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Edmund J. Barrett, Michele W. Johnson, Chris Adams and Tom Hutchinson. Candidate information follows official Dorchester County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Maryland House of Delegates District 37B election in Maryland?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Maryland are on the Maryland election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Dorchester County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Dorchester County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Maryland election office, or see the full Dorchester County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Dorchester County ballot

3 tracked races in Dorchester County, Maryland. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Maryland House of Delegates District 37ASee all 3 Dorchester County races
Candidate profiles
Edmund J. Barrett, full profileMichele W. Johnson, full profileChris Adams, full profileTom Hutchinson, full profileOfficial Maryland election office