Adams-Stafford Tastes Victory

Shayla Adams-Stafford Wins Prince George’s County District 5 Special Election

By Kennedy Edgerton

Career educator and entrepreneur Shayla Adams-Stafford won the special election for the District 5 seat on the Prince George’s County Council. She will officially take office on June 17.

Adams-Stafford won by a landslide in last week’s election, defeating Republican candidate and Marine Corps veteran Fred Price Jr. by 7,471 votes, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections. She earned 92.62% of the total vote, dwarfing Price Jr.’s 6.37%. Residents cast 8,662 ballots in total. Her victory marked a near-district sweep in a county where Democratic voters outnumber Republicans.

The seat opened last November when Councilwoman Jolene Ivey won a special election for an at-large seat. District 5 includes Bladensburg, Cheverly, Glenarden, Landover, and Seat Pleasant — areas with development needs ranging from housing to workforce equity.

Adams-Stafford’s background spans education and professional coaching. The newly elected councilmember served on the Prince George’s County Board of Education, representing District 4 since December 2020. She is also the co-founder and CEO of AdaptiveX — a nonprofit providing education and workforce development resources to neurodivergent learners and underrepresented community members. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Several key issues in District 5 occupy the top of Adams-Stafford’s list of priorities. Her campaign focused on reducing property taxes to help seniors save, investing in skills training to create high-wage careers, pursuing community development and affordable housing, and enacting climate change initiatives.

Council Chair Edward Burroughs III (District 8) expressed excitement over Adams-Stafford’s victory, referencing his time serving alongside her on the Board of Education.

“I am so excited for the future of our County Council and the direction we are heading with the addition of Shayla Adams-Stafford,” Burroughs said in a public statement.