Brandon Scott

Brandon Maurice Scott (born April 8, 1984) is an American politician who has risen from the neighborhoods of Park Heights in Baltimore to become the city’s youngest mayor at age 36. After graduating from St. Mary's College of Maryland with a degree in political science, he entered public service as a liaison for City Council President Stephanie Rawlings‑Blake, quickly gaining a reputation for advocacy on public safety and open‑data initiatives. Elected to the Baltimore City Council’s 2nd district in 2011, Scott became one of the youngest council members ever, chairing the Public Safety Committee and spearheading reforms such as the reinstatement of police oversight and the passage of an ambitious open‑data policy in 2018. His leadership during the 300 Man March and his opposition to controversial police surveillance programs highlighted his progressive stance, while his partnership with attorney Jim Shea during the 2018 lieutenant‑governor campaign demonstrated his collaborative approach to governance.

As mayor since December 8, 2020, Scott has faced the twin crises of COVID‑19 and a surge in violent crime, balancing public health mandates with efforts to overhaul policing budgets and launch community‑focused violence‑reduction strategies. He instituted the Group Violence Reduction Strategy, which achieved a 33.8 % drop in gun violence in the Western District, and championed guaranteed‑income pilots and housing reforms that removed owner‑occupied homes from tax sales. His response to the 2024 Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse earned national attention, and his re‑election in November 2024 made him the first Baltimore mayor since Martin O’Malley to secure a second term. Throughout his career, Scott has remained deeply rooted in his Frankford community, balancing a demanding public role with family life alongside his wife, Hana Pugh, and their two children.