# Attorney General
**In one sentence:** Maryland’s chief lawyer represents state government and enforces laws protecting residents; statewide voters may vote for up to one candidate. [1][2]

## The candidates
### Anthony G. Brown (Democratic) [2]
- **Background:** Maryland attorney general since January 2023; previously a state delegate, lieutenant governor, and member of Congress. [3]
- **Top stated priorities:** In his questionnaire answers, Brown names consumer protection, public safety, civil rights, environmental protection, and holding powerful interests accountable. [4]
- **Record or experience relevant to this office:** He backed laws creating a Civil Rights Division and giving the office authority to prosecute police-involved deaths; he also practiced law and served as an Army lawyer. [3]

### James B. Rutledge, III (Republican) [2]
- **Background:** Lawyer in private practice in Harford County for four decades; served as a Bel Air town commissioner from 2023 to 2025. [4]
- **Top stated priorities:** In his questionnaire answers, Rutledge names supporting police and local prosecutors, strengthening cybercrime investigations, and prosecuting crimes that harm clean water and the Chesapeake Bay. [4]
- **Record or experience relevant to this office:** His experience includes private legal practice, town government, and a 2022 appointment to the Harford County Judicial Nominating Commission, which helps select judicial candidates. [4]

## Where they differ
- **Federal lawsuits:** Brown says lawsuits can protect Marylanders’ rights and funding from unlawful federal actions; Rutledge opposes suits based on policy disagreements but says action is justified when Washington exceeds its constitutional powers. [4][5]
- **Police oversight:** Brown defends his office’s oversight of police-involved deaths; Rutledge backs notifying officers when prosecutors list them as potentially untrustworthy witnesses. [5]
- **Civil rights:** Brown highlights voting rights, reproductive freedom, and protection from discrimination; Rutledge stresses equal treatment and preventing selective or politically driven enforcement. [4]

## If you care most about...
- **Protecting state funding and limiting federal overreach** -> Brown points to lawsuits defending education and transportation funding; Rutledge says legal challenges should rest on constitutional limits, not policy disputes. [5]
- **Youth crime and rehabilitation** -> Brown supports prevention, mental health care, and programs that steer youth away from incarceration; Rutledge supports rehabilitation while stressing victims’ needs and accountability. [4]
- **Scams and free speech** -> Brown proposes enforcement, public education, and consumer alerts; Rutledge supports fraud enforcement while opposing use of the office to punish political viewpoints. [4]

## What we could not verify
Detailed costs and delivery timelines for both candidates’ proposed priorities: **Not found in sources checked**.

## Confidence
**Medium:** Official records and direct candidate answers support this comparison, but stated plans are not proof of future results. [2][3][4]

## Sources
[1] About the Office of the Attorney General - Maryland Attorney General - https://oag.maryland.gov/our-office/Pages/default.aspx

[2] 2026 General Election State Candidates List - Maryland State Board of Elections - https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2026/general_candidates/2026_GG_statewide_candidatelist.html

[3] Anthony G. Brown, Maryland Attorney General - Maryland Attorney General - https://oag.maryland.gov/our-office/Pages/about-the-attorney-general.aspx

[4] Attorney General: 2026 General Election Voter Guide (includes candidates’ own answers) - Maryland Matters - https://marylandmatters.org/voter-guides/contests/attorney-general/

[5] Rutledge faces steep climb to unseat Brown in low-key attorney general’s race - Maryland Matters - https://marylandmatters.org/2026/10/13/rutledge-faces-steep-climb-to-unseat-brown-in-low-key-attorney-generals-race/