Meet Vanessa

About Vanessa Atterbeary

Vanessa Atterbeary has always believed that you need to fight for what you believe in. Growing up, she watched her parents dedicate their lives to serving Howard County. Her father’s dedication to civic engagement and her mother’s career as a public school teacher laid a foundation of community responsibility and commitment that has guided her whole life. Vanessa is known in Annapolis for her insistence on being a voice for the voiceless. She has repeatedly proven that she will fight against the status quo, take bold action, and fiercely protect vulnerable populations. In Annapolis, that meant passing laws that protect survivors of abuse, improve gun safety, strengthen the prosecution of sexual predators, fortify public education, and expand access to justice. Here in Howard County, that means taking on Donald Trump, ensuring every child receives a world-class education, and making our county more affordable.  

She believes public trust is earned through action, and service is measured by results. That is why she led Maryland’s first-in-the-nation police accountability reforms and fought for bold education and economic initiatives for Maryland families. As one of Maryland’s most effective legislators and Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, she has demonstrated real leadership as a Maryland Delegate by rolling up her sleeves to solve complex problems. She has taken on the NRA and Moms For Liberty in order to protect Marylanders from gun violence and the dangerous MAGA agenda. In part, her success can be attributed to her commitment to consensus-building and bringing people together, but also her ability to always stand up proudly for what is right. Vanessa will be the Howard County Executive that we need in this moment.

Vanessa is ready to bring that same fighting spirit of service home to Howard County. Her campaign is about honoring the people who live and work here, those who make the community home, and protecting our values from those who seek to tear us apart. It is about making sure families can afford to live here, that children thrive in great schools, that we keep ICE out of our communities, and ensuring that we always stand up for Howard County residents. Vanessa is ready to lead. She is ready to fight for Howard County.