Jessica Fitzwater

Jessica E. Fitzwater (born December 26, 1983) is an American politician and educator currently serving as the Frederick County Executive in Maryland, a position she has held since December 2022. Prior to her election as executive, she represented District 4 on the Frederick County Council from 2014 to 2022. During her tenure in local government, she has focused on legislation regarding workforce housing, immigrant affairs, and labor standards. A former music teacher and violinist, Fitzwater was recognized as the National Education Association's Political Activist of the Year in 2014.

Early life and education Born in Smithsburg, Maryland, Fitzwater has lived in the state her entire life. She grew up in Smithsburg, where she was influenced by her father, a musician, and began playing music as a child. Her primary instrument is the violin, which she started playing in the fifth grade.

During her tenure on the council, Fitzwater championed the repeal of the county's English-only ordinance. Additionally, she sponsored legislation focused on expanding affordable workforce housing options. She secured the Democratic nomination by winning a three-way primary with 58 percent of the vote. She was sworn in on December 5, 2022, becoming only the second County Executive in Frederick County's history. During the 2025 U.S. federal government shutdown, she implemented expanded health benefits and increased the minimum wage for full-time county employees to $21 per hour. In January 2025, Fitzwater announced the county's intention to intervene in the state approval proceedings for the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP).

In October 2025, Fitzwater announced she was running for re-election in the 2026 Maryland county executive elections.

Personal life Fitzwater is Jewish, observing the faith of her mother's family. Her father was not religious. He died in 2019 while she was pregnant with their second child. She had been a resident of Frederick, Maryland since the mid-2000s.