Jessica Nichols

Jessica Nichols portrait

for Howard County Council

"Educator Recommended" Maryland Apple Ballot

Educator. Advocate. Community Builder.

“When I came to Howard County over a decade ago, I immediately knew that this community was worth fighting for. I’ve bravely fought for our home, our way of life, and our collective prosperity at every level of government. I’ve spoken out no matter the personal cost. And I never let a title stop me from doing the right thing. I know what it’s like to face the harsh realities of economic instability, community stressors, and housing insecurity - and there is no place for hardship in a county as amazing as ours.

I promise to make Howard County affordable, connected, and safer on the County Council, because when the stakes are this high - anything less is unacceptable.”

Jessica Nichols signature

Our Agenda for Opportunity in Howard County

  • Uplifting and Advancing Our Schools

    As Howard County’s Teacher of the Year, I see the potential in our kids every day and the weight they carry when our systems don’t keep their promises. I’ve stood in our classrooms, listened to their stories, and fought for fair budgets, safe schools, and learning environments where every child feels seen.

    Our students deserve leaders who won’t back down and won’t settle for “good enough.” They deserve a future built on equity, safety, and true investment.

    I'll Fight For

    Fully Fund the Future
     • Meeting our Blueprint obligations
    • Protecting school budgets from political games

    Modern, Safe, and Equitable Schools
     • Funding to repair aging buildings
    • Improved drills and communication with first responders

    Support and Retain Great Educators
     • A “Grow Your Own” teacher pipeline
    • More loan assistance for new educators
    • Fair, bias-free hiring practices

    Opportunity for Every Student
     • Lower student-to-counselor ratios
    • Universal access to advanced courses
    • Expanded career and technical training

    Protect the Freedom to Learn
     • Safeguards against book bans
    • A clear policy that school resources won’t be used for ICE enforcement

  • Ensuring Trust, Safety, and Community Well-Being

    Trust isn’t built by slogans — it’s built by truth, accountability, and showing up for people before they’re in crisis. I’ve spent years advocating for the full, complicated humanity of our neighbors, and I’ve seen what happens when communities feel unheard or unprotected. Safety cannot exist without support, and support cannot exist without trust.

    We deserve a county where every person — from our youth to our seniors — feels seen, protected, and valued.

    I'll Fight For

    Investments in Prevention & Support
     • Community-led youth mentorship programs that build hope and belonging
    • Fully funded mobile crisis teams staffed by mental health professionals

    Trust Build Through Accountability
     • A civilian oversight board that reflects the people it serves
    • Public reporting on policing data so families know what’s happening

    Protecting Those Who Need It Most
     • Greater mental Health navigators in community spaces
    • Increased support for domestic violence shelters
    • Stronger funding for food access programs

    Safety Without Discrimination
     • A clear ban on using county resources for racial or religious profiling
    • Continued investment in violence- interruption efforts that save lives

  • Building a County Where Families Can Thrive

    Through my work with Columbia Community Care, I’ve looked into the eyes of families who work hard every single day yet still struggle to afford groceries, housing, or a moment of stability. I won’t look away from that reality, and I won’t pretend it’s ok.

    Howard County should be a place where people can breathe — where a full day’s work means a roof you can afford, food on the table, and a future you can count on. I’m running to make sure our county invests in people, not just development.

    I'll Fight For

    Economic Stability & Support
     • Real tax relief for working families
    • A fair, living wage
     • Grants for small business growth
    • Environmentally responsible and capacity cognizant development
     • Investments in sustainable energy solutions to lower energy bills

    Housing People Can Actually Afford
     • More affordable and accessible housing options for those who power our home
    • Stronger tenant protections and resources
     • Support for our unhoused neighbors rooted in dignity - not punishment

    A Connected County That Works for Everyone
     • Walkable, community-centered villages
    • A reliable, expanded bus system
    • More public spaces where neighbors can gather, learn, and build connection

Meet Jessica

Howard County Educator & 2024 Teacher of the Year

For more than 20 years, my classroom has been my home. I have seen the brilliance, the fears, and the resilience of our students, and I have never stopped fighting for them. As Howard County’s Teacher of the Year, I have stood in our classrooms and before the Board of Education demanding positive change and holistic support for our students, our educators, and our HCPSS families. I am ready to carry that same fire, courage, and compassion to the County Council and keep fighting for the future our kids deserve.

Jessica Nichols holding a microphone for a student

Board Chair of Columbia Community Care

I helped build Columbia Community Care from a single table supporting our neighbors into an organization that has fed over 150,000 residents. This work showed me the profound strength of our community - and the critical gaps that leave our ALICE families struggling. It taught me that the government must be a partner in meeting people’s basic needs with dignity and respect. It’s time we put adversity to bed and lay out a real plan for setting all of our neighbors on the path to security and success!

Jessica Nichols smiling in front of a banner for Columbia Community Care

Howard County Mom, Resident & Advocate

As a mom of a Howard County Public School Student, educator, homeowner, and advocate, I care deeply about the future we build together here in Howard County. I have used my voice as President of the Columbia Democratic Club to champion clean energy and insist on accountability, and through Manufacturing Dissent and the No Kings coalition I have stood with neighbors demanding fairness and transparency from our government.

My work on the Howard County Commission for Women strengthened my belief that our policies must protect and uplift every family. I brought the fight to fully fund our schools to the County Council, the County Executive, and the State Legislature in Annapolis, and I am ready to finish that work. I am running to ensure our government works for all of us and delivers real stability and opportunity for every neighbor.

Jessica Nichols and her daughter posing with someone in an blow-up eagle costume at a No Kings rally
Jessica Nichols speaking at a campaign event

Join Team Jessica Nichols - You’re among friends

  • Howard County Councilman Dr. Opel Jones

    Dr. Opel Jones

    Incumbent Councilman, District 2

  • Howard County Education Association (HCEA) logo. Howard County Teacher's Union

    Howard County Education Association

  • Former Howard County Councilman Dr. C. Vernon Gray

    Dr. C. Vernon Gray

    Former Councilman, District 2

  • Howard County Register of Wills Byron MacFarlane

    Byron MacFarlane

    Howard County Register of Wills

  • Delegate Dr. Chao Wu

    Dr. Chao Wu

    State Delegate, District 9A

Join the Team!

Change starts with all of us.

Let’s build a future where every neighbor can thrive.

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Your support helps build the Howard County our families deserve.

A donation is more than support. It is a commitment to creating a community where every family can thrive. Your contribution strengthens this people-powered campaign and helps us reach neighbors, share our vision, and move Howard County forward.