Comptroller of Maryland · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Maryland comptroller race?
Brooke Lierman has the strongest record in the Maryland comptroller race. Brooke Lierman scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Brooke Lierman's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Sonya Dunn (5 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Sonya Dunn
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 63
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Brooke Lierman
On the ballot as Brooke Elizabeth Lierman
64 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 25
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Sonya Dunn
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Brooke Lierman
- Mark against2026-09-16
A September 2026 legislative audit found her office had not used available enforcement tools on more than $600 million in unpaid taxes; the office agreed with some recommendations and disputed parts.
Sources: Baltimore Sun, Sept. 16, 2026, FOX45 (WBFF), Sept. 17, 2026, Baltimore Sun, guest commentary by Comptroller's office staff, Sept. 27, 2026
- On the record2026-04-01
Said in April 2026 that her office had flagged more than 5,000 suspicious tax returns and blocked over $15 million in fraud ahead of the filing deadline.
Source: Baltimore Sun, April 1, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Sonya Dunn. Her candidacy is active with the State Board of Elections. No ethics, court or campaign finance finding found.
Source: State Board of Elections, 2026 general election candidate list
Brooke Lierman. Her campaign committee, Brooke Lierman for Maryland, is registered and active with the State Board of Elections. No ethics, court or campaign finance finding against her was found.
Source: State Board of Elections, 2026 general election candidate list
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Sonya Dunn. No public record found.
Brooke Lierman. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Sonya Dunn. No public record found.
Brooke Lierman. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Sonya Dunn. No public record found.
Brooke Lierman. Delegate from 2015 to 2023 and comptroller since January 2023, with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Brooke Lierman
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Sonya Dunn. No public record found.
Brooke Lierman. Has held sworn state office since 2015, as delegate and then comptroller. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Brooke Lierman
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Sonya Dunn. Business career in finance, procurement and acquisition management and enterprise operations, with an MBA and a master's in procurement; no prior public office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Sonya Dunn, Baltimore Sun voter guide, May 20, 2026
Brooke Lierman. Comptroller since January 2023 and two terms in the Maryland House of Delegates, District 46 (2015 to 2023).
Source: Ballotpedia, Brooke Lierman
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Sonya Dunn. Published a seven-part first-100-days plan tied to the comptroller's powers, including 10-year stress tests by the Bureau of Revenue Estimates and questioning contracts from her Board of Public Works seat.
Brooke Lierman. Sitting comptroller who chairs the Board of Revenue Estimates; her questionnaire sets out specific plans for revenue reporting, tax filing tools and replacing the state's 30-year-old financial management system.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Sonya Dunn. Three channels: completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, answered the Baltimore Sun questionnaire, and publishes issue pages on her campaign site.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Sonya Dunn, Baltimore Sun voter guide, May 20, 2026, Sonya Dunn campaign site
Brooke Lierman. Two channels: answered the Baltimore Sun and Capital Gazette voter guide questionnaire and publishes a campaign site. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Baltimore Sun voter guide, May 20, 2026, Ballotpedia, Brooke Lierman
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Sonya Dunn. Lists Bowie as her hometown and Prince George's County as her jurisdiction. Years of residence not found.
Sources: Baltimore Sun voter guide, May 20, 2026, State Board of Elections, 2026 general election candidate list
Brooke Lierman. Graduated from Walt Whitman High School in Maryland, lives in Baltimore and represented Baltimore's District 46 for eight years. In-state share of contributions not available from state filings opened.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Brooke Lierman, Baltimore Sun voter guide, May 20, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Sonya Dunn. No public record found.
Brooke Lierman. Heads the Office of the Comptroller, the state's tax collection agency, since January 2023. Staff size not found in sources opened; the September 2026 legislative audit of its collections is scored under criterion 15.
Source: Ballotpedia, Brooke Lierman
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Sonya Dunn. No public record found.
Brooke Lierman. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Sonya Dunn. No public record found.
Brooke Lierman. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Sonya Dunn. No public record found.
Brooke Lierman. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Sonya Dunn. No public record found.
Brooke Lierman. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Sonya Dunn. No public record found.
Brooke Lierman. A September 2026 legislative audit of the office she heads found it did not use available enforcement tools on more than $600 million in unpaid taxes and did not investigate about 6,500 questionable returns. Her office agreed with some recommendations.
Sources: Baltimore Sun, Sept. 16, 2026, FOX45 (WBFF), Sept. 17, 2026, Baltimore Sun, guest commentary by Comptroller's office staff, Sept. 27, 2026
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Maryland comptroller race?
Brooke Lierman has the strongest record in the Maryland comptroller race. Brooke Lierman scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Brooke Lierman's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Sonya Dunn (5 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Maryland comptroller race in 2026?
Sonya Dunn (Republican), Brooke Lierman (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Sonya Dunn a good candidate for Comptroller?
Sonya Dunn has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Brooke Lierman a good candidate for Comptroller?
Brooke Lierman scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 25 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Maryland race scored, and the Maryland 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.