Who Is The Current Mayor Of Baltimore And How Old Are They?

Brandon M. Scott has served as Mayor of Baltimore since May 2020 and was born in 1985, making him 39 years old as of 2024. Scott is the city's second-youngest mayor in the modern era and represents District 1 on the City Council before his election to the top office.

How Baltimore's Mayor Is Elected

Baltimore voters elect the mayor to a four-year term with no term-limit restrictions written into the city charter. The next mayoral election will occur in 2024, with the winner taking office in May of that year. Unlike some cities, Baltimore does not use a runoff system; the candidate with the most votes in the general election wins outright, even without a majority.

To run for mayor in Baltimore, a candidate must be a registered voter, a U.S. citizen, at least 21 years old, and a resident of the city for the 12 months immediately before the election. The Baltimore City Board of Elections handles registration deadlines and candidate filing requirements, which typically close several months before Election Day.

Scott's Path to the Mayoralty

Scott grew up in West Baltimore and attended Woodlawn High School before studying at Coppin State University. He was elected to City Council in District 1 in 2011 at age 26, making him one of the youngest council members in the city's history. During his time on council, he chaired the Education, Workforce and Youth Committee and served on the Finance Committee, positions that shaped his mayoral platform around education funding and workforce development.

He ran for mayor in 2020 against incumbent Bernard "Jack" Young and two other candidates, winning with 35 percent of the vote. His election reflected voter interest in generational change, though at 35 at the time he was not the youngest person ever elected mayor. That distinction belongs to Thomas D'Alesandro Jr., who became mayor in 1947 at age 33 and later served in Congress.

The Mayor's Role in Baltimore City Government

Baltimore's mayor functions as the chief executive of the city and chairs the Board of Estimates, which approves all city spending and contracts. The mayor appoints the police commissioner, fire chief, and heads of major agencies like the Department of Public Works and the Department of Housing and Community Development, subject to City Council confirmation in some cases. The mayor also proposes the city budget each year, which the Council then votes to approve or amend.

The position carries symbolic weight in a city with deep historical roots. Baltimore has had 59 mayors since incorporation as a city in 1796, ranging in tenure from a few months to over a decade. Scott's administration has prioritized gun violence reduction, vacant property rehabilitation, and education equity as central policy areas.

Age and Experience in Baltimore Civic Leadership

Scott's relatively young age when elected reflected a broader shift in Baltimore politics toward candidates under 45. The average age of City Council members has trended younger over the past 15 years, though most senior positions in city government remain held by people over 50. Scott's election was notable partly because Baltimore had experienced significant population decline and demographic shifts, and many voters saw his age as connected to appeals for innovation in city management.

For residents interested in learning about city government more broadly, the Baltimore City Council website maintains public records of all legislation, voting records, and council meeting schedules. The mayor's office website also publishes budget documents, administrative directives, and agency performance metrics annually.

Related Questions

How long does a Baltimore mayor serve? Baltimore mayors serve four-year terms with no term limits, so a mayor can seek re-election indefinitely. The next mayoral election is scheduled for November 2024, with the winner taking office in May 2025.

How can I find out what the mayor is working on? The Office of the Mayor publishes press releases, policy announcements, and administrative orders on the city's official website under the mayor's office section, updated regularly.

What happens if the mayor resigns or cannot serve? The Baltimore City Charter provides that the President of City Council assumes the duties of mayor until a special election can be held, typically within 90 days.