LUIGI MANGIONE’S COUSIN WINS BALTIMORE COUNTY COUNCIL SEAT

Luigi Mangione’s cousin, Republican Nino Mangione, narrowly won election to the Baltimore County Council on November 3, 2026, keeping the District 5 seat he was already filling. Nino is the first cousin of Luigi Mangione, who pleaded guilty in August to federal stalking charges tied to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, TMZ reported.

According to The Banner, Nino collected 16,835 votes, or 48.7%. Democrat Shawn McIntosh got 15,607 votes (45.2%), and unaffiliated candidate Cory Shaffer took 2,087 (6.0%).

The Maryland Association of Counties summarized the unofficial result as 49% to 45%. It cautioned that close results could change as pending votes were counted.

District 5 is the county’s northernmost, running from Lutherville to the Pennsylvania line, according to Baltimore Brew. The Banner says registered Democrats and Republicans are split almost evenly there.

The race centered on development in the county’s northern area. The Banner reported that Nino pledged to protect land north of the Urban-Rural Demarcation Line, and McIntosh also backed protecting the line while pushing to make the county more affordable.

Nino previously served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2019 to 2026, TMZ said. He joined the council to fill a vacancy, and Baltimore Brew reported he took the seat when Wade Kach retired. He won the Republican primary on June 23, 2026, with 72.90% of the vote against Theaux M. LeGardeur, per the Maryland State Board of Elections.

The council grew from seven to nine members after a 2024 ballot measure. The Maryland Association of Counties said it will now have five Democrats and four Republicans.

Nino’s win came days after Luigi’s lawyers asked a New York state court to dismiss the state murder case against him on double jeopardy grounds, TMZ reported. Luigi pleaded guilty in August to interstate stalking resulting in death and stalking through the use of interstate facilities resulting in death.