The race for Prince George’s County Council District 1 is heating up after three candidates entered the race in hopes of winning this year’s election, which will result in the district’s first nonincumbent council member in years.
Michelle García, Martin Mitchell and Darwin Romero have all filed their candidacies with the county Board of Elections. They are vying to replace Councilmember Tom Dernoga, who is term-limited.
No matter who wins in November, the outcome could be historic. All three candidates identify as people of color. García would be the first Latina elected to the seat. Mitchell would be the first Black or Afro-Caribbean council member to represent the district, and Romero would be the first immigrant elected to the seat. For at least the past 25 years, District 1 voters have elected only white-identifying candidates to fill the seat.
District 1 includes the City of Laurel, West Laurel, South Laurel, Beltsville, Adelphi, Calverton and parts of College Park.
This year is a gubernatorial election year. Voters will not only elect county candidates, but also statewide offices including governor, seats in the Maryland General Assembly and congressional seats. The primary election will take place June 23, followed by the general election Nov. 3.
Like most of the state, Prince George’s County tends to favor Democratic candidates, meaning primary winners often go on to win the general election.
Locally, all three candidates said their campaigns are focused on quality-of-life issues in the district, including education, development and community engagement.
García, 50, of Beltsville, currently serves as chief of staff for Dernoga. She said her experience living in the county, combined with her background in local government and policy, would make her an effective council member from day one.
“Those are things that nobody else can bring to the table,” she said. “I am qualified to do this. And I enjoy it.”
Mitchell, 35, of Laurel, is the only candidate previously elected to a public office. He served on the Laurel City Council from 2021 to 2023.
Now working as a public affairs consultant, Mitchell said he sees himself as a grassroots candidate focused on community engagement.
“Grassroots can be successful, even if up against the machine,” he said. “My support comes from the people. I always believe that there are more people than there are politicians.”
Romero, 49, of Montpelier, who works as a contract manager said he is not a career politician but feels current leaders are disconnected from residents. If elected, he said he would be more visible, connected and proactive with constituents.
“If we’re gonna have public servants who represent our community, they need to connect with the community,” he said. “I understand [ the community’s] needs and I understand their struggles, because I have gone through that.”
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Martin Mitchell was the only candidate to be elected to an office; however, while Mitchell was elected to a public office (Laurel City Council), Michelle García was also elected to a party office on the Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee in 2018 and re-elected in 2022.
The Laurel Independent will sponsor the Prince George’s County Council District 1 Candidate Forum on April 16 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Laurel Boys and Girls Club. All candidates will be on hand for a community discussion and Q&A session. Register for the event here.