In a repeat of 2018, current County Executive Calvin Ball and faced off and beat former County Executive Allan Kittleman. 

For the second time, incumbent County Executive Calvin Ball defeated former County Executive Allan Kittleman in November, 56.49 percent to 43.38 percent. Unlike their deep blue neighbor to the southwest, Howard County has traditionally been a purple bellwether jurisdiction.

Before being elected County Executive in 2018, Calvin Ball served three terms on the Howard County Council. Much of the Ball administration has been focused on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, distributing vital funds to residents and businesses, standing up testing facilities, and implementing vaccine distribution plans. As of May 2021, Howard County led the state in the percentage of the eligible population who are fully vaccinated.

Former County Executive Allan Kittleman also comes with a long background in public service. While serving as County Executive, he made it a priority to act on many challenges that had been neglected for years, including purchasing and preserving the Harriet Tubman School, the last segregated school in Howard County.  Prior to his time as County Executive, Kittleman also served as a member of the Howard County Council, and in the Maryland State Senate.