See our full voter guide here, with information on other races and how to vote. A video of a state’s attorney candidate forum by PGCTV is available here.
This summer, Prince George’s County voters in the Democratic primary will decide who will be the county’s lead prosecutor, called a state’s attorney.
The Prince George’s County state’s attorney runs the county office that decides what crimes to prosecute, and advocates for victims of crimes. Wanika Fisher, Tara Jackson and Karen Piper Mitchell, all Democrats, are running for state’s attorney. We have statements from them below.
First, some context:
This elected role has often been a stepping stone to higher office
| Most recent Prince George’s County State’s Attorneys | Highest office achieved |
| Aisha Braveboy, 2018-2025 | Prince George’s County Executive (Current) |
| Angela Alsobrooks, 2011-2018 | U.S. Senator (Current) |
| Glenn Ivey, 2002-2011 | U.S Representative (Current) |
| Jack Johnson, 1995-2002 | Prince George’s County Executive (2002 -2010) |
The current state’s attorney, Tara Jackson, served as acting county executive from December 2024 to June 2025. She was appointed to fill the gap after Angela Alsobrooks was elected to the U.S. Senate, and did not run in the followup 2025 election to fill the county executive vacancy.
After Aisha Braveboy was elected to the county executive seat in 2025, the county’s circuit court judges selected Jackson to serve as state’s attorney.
County Councilmember Wanika Fisher (District 2), a former state legislator, said that she did not seek the state’s attorney’s position after Braveboy vacated it because doing so could have triggered an expensive off-cycle special election for her county council seat. According to The Washington Post, Fisher also signed a letter asking the judges not to select a state’s attorney so that an unelected incumbent would not have an advantage in the 2026 election.
Now Fisher is challenging Tara Jackson in the June 23 primary, as is Karen Piper Mitchell, who has been a deputy state’s attorney for Charles County for fifteen years.
State’s attorney candidate statements
We asked each candidate to tell us what they have accomplished for our communities, and what their goals would be as state’s attorney among other questions. Responses below, in alphabetical order:
Residence: Hyattsville
Age: 37
Fun fact: Wanika is a skilled crafter who enjoys cooking traditional South African, Indian, and Nigerian dishes — and is passionately obsessed with turtles!
Wanika Fisher is your neighbor, your advocate, and your friend — a proud 20+ year Hyattsville resident who has knocked on doors, marched alongside residents, and shown up at vigils, not just at election time, but always. Raised by parents of small business owners, she calls herself “The People’s Prosecutor” because her accountability and loyalty belong entirely to the people of Prince George’s County.
Accomplished for Community: A 360° Record — Unmatched Experience
- As a Prosecutor — fought for victims and held violent offenders accountable.
- As a Criminal Defense Attorney — defended people’s rights and learned both sides of the courtroom.
- As a State Delegate, House Judiciary Committee — helped write the laws used in our
courtrooms. - As Chair of Public Safety, County Council — oversees every public safety agency in PG County and manages a $1.2 billion budget, delivering results, not promises.
Specific accomplishments:
- Secured Right to Counsel — guaranteed renters legal representation in eviction proceedings
- Passed DaCara Rose’s Law — eliminated the waiting period to report a missing loved one
- Founded the School Pedestrian Safety Workgroup for safer school routes.
- Passed 8 bills championing PG County seniors’ health, safety, and quality of life.
- Led statewide police reform, including accountability for the repeal of the Police Bill of Rights.
- Introduced CR-009-2026 for formal ICE detainee accountability.
Goals:
- Violent Crime — pursue relentlessly; protect families from gun violence.
- Human Trafficking & Domestic Violence — bring the full force of the law for the most vulnerable.
- Cybercrime & Digital Predators — tackle the next generation of crime targeting families online.
- Equal Justice — build a system where justice depends only on what is right, not where you live or who you are.
I will fight like you matter — because in Prince George’s County, you do.
Spending: —-
Who’s on your team? Endorsements at www.wanikafisher.com
Residence: unincorporated Upper Marlboro.
Age: 56
Accomplished for community: Throughout my career, I have dedicated myself to serving our community and being an influence for good. I have over 25 years of experience as a prosecutor, executive leader, and public servant, giving me a broad perspective that combines knowledge of our justice system, the challenges facing public safety, and the needs of our residents.
Goals: As State’s Attorney, I believe that Prince George’s County should be a place where people can live, work, play, and prosper in safety. My goal is to pursue justice that is strong, fair, and rooted in integrity, dignity, accountability, and hope for all Prince Georgians.
I will continue to lead an office that is responsive, transparent, and accountable, treating victims of crime with empathy and respect and ensuring that persons charged with crimes receive due process. I will be tough on repeat and violent offenders, protect residents from financial fraud and abuse, hold our young people accountable for their actions while creating pathways for redemption and restoration, strengthen partnerships with our business community to improve economic growth, and lead with accountability and transparency.
Spending: County Government has a challenging responsibility to balance fiscal stewardship with the need to provide high-quality services that residents rely on every day. An effective and well-managed government requires making thoughtful decisions about priorities, managing limited resources responsibly, and adapting to changing needs while maintaining essential services. There should be an ongoing review of County programs and investments to ensure taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently, effectively, and in a manner that best serves the residents of Prince George’s County.
Who’s on your team? Community group affiliations: Board of Directors, Foundations School; Member, Character Committee of the Fourth Appellate Judicial Circuit
Endorsements: Senator Angela Alsobrooks, Congressman Glenn Ivey, Governor Wes Moore, Former County Executive Rushern Baker, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates, Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy, Attorney General Anthony Brown, Prince George’s County Public Safety Coalition, Prince George’s County Educators’ Association
Residence: Upper Marlboro
Age: 53
Fun Fact: I am a certified scuba diver.
Accomplished for community: I am most proud of mentoring youth as the Assistant Director of the Tutoring Ministry at my church and coaching youth football, instilling discipline, confidence, and opportunity that changed lives beyond the field. Additionally, I am proud of my 26 years of dedicated service ensuring justice exists within our court system as well as supporting and developing promising young lawyers to execute the duties of an effective prosecutor.
Goals: I aim to build a highly functioning State’s Attorney’s Office that is responsive, transparent, and trusted by the community. By balancing smart prosecution of serious offenses with meaningful diversion and prevention programming, we can reduce recidivism and address the root causes of crime. Success means safer neighborhoods, stronger partnerships with residents and law enforcement, and an office that delivers consistent, fair, and data-driven results for all.
Spending? County government should always examine spending for efficiency, particularly in areas where programs lack clear performance metrics or measurable outcomes. I believe we must closely examine duplicative services, underutilized contracts, and administrative overhead. In addition, I believe there is an opportunity to utilize technology to ensure that staff is not working harder but smarter.
Who’s on your team? I am the Assistant Director of the Tutoring Ministry at First Baptist Church of Glenarden International.
Campaign finance tallies
Jackson has raised the most money for her campaign, with over $200,000 in her bank account on May 12. Her larger donations include $5,000 from Governor Wes Moore’s campaign, and a handful of large donations from real estate industry and waste management companies. Only about 10% of her more than 1300 contributions in 2025 and 2026 come from out of state donors. About 75% are in amounts less than $500.
Fisher had almost $160,000 in her campaign account May 12. Large donations in 2025 and 2026 include $6,000 from the Prince George’s Business PAC along with at least three union groups. About a quarter of the approximately 800 contributions made to her campaign in 2025 and 2026 are from out of state, and 80% are under $500.
Mitchell trailed behind both candidates with less than $15,000 available to spend.
For information on how to vote and candidates for other offices, see our full voter guide here.