Sam Cogen
Democratic · MD · Sheriff of Baltimore City
Sam Cogen is the Democratic sheriff of Baltimore City. He was elected in 2022 after a 25-year career in the sheriff's office, and he sought another term in the 2026 Democratic primary.
Where Sam Cogen stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (2 records), Civil Rights (2 records)
Opposes
Immigration (2 records)
Track record
Track record — Immigration
Immigration · 2 oppose
Sam Cogen announced that ICE agents would not be allowed past Baltimore City courthouse security to make arrests unless they presented a federal judicial warrant.
January 15, 2026Opposes Immigration
Source: baltimoresun.com · researched July 13, 2026
Sam Cogen publicly condemned an ICE detention inside a Baltimore courthouse and opened a criminal investigation into how a state employee invited the federal agents inside, saying courthouse immigration enforcement undermines public trust and access to justice.
June 30, 2025Opposes Immigration
Source: wbaltv.com · researched July 13, 2026
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 2 support
Sam Cogen's first labor-contract negotiation as sheriff produced a ratified three-year agreement with 17% total salary increases, two-deputy staffing for evictions, new career ranks, and removal of the disputed law-enforcement bonus-pay clause.
February 10, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: baltimorefishbowl.com · researched July 13, 2026
As Baltimore City sheriff, Cogen launched a new Neighborhood Services Unit in May 2025, created by a state law (House Bill 1293). Its deputies enforce alcohol laws, answer 311 complaints, and check problem bars, with about 10 deputies paid for by higher liquor-license fees.
May 30, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: wbal.com · researched July 13, 2026
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 2 support
Sam Cogen announced that ICE agents would not be allowed past Baltimore City courthouse security to make arrests unless they presented a federal judicial warrant.
January 15, 2026Supports Civil Rights
Source: baltimoresun.com · researched July 13, 2026
Sam Cogen publicly condemned an ICE detention inside a Baltimore courthouse and opened a criminal investigation into how a state employee invited the federal agents inside, saying courthouse immigration enforcement undermines public trust and access to justice.
June 30, 2025Supports Civil Rights
Source: wbaltv.com · researched July 13, 2026
Track record — General
General · 6 records
Governor Wes Moore, U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume, and Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown endorsed Sam Cogen in the 2026 Baltimore sheriff primary.
June 24, 2026
Source: baltimoremagazine.com · researched July 13, 2026
A federal judge dismissed nine of the ten employment claims a former deputy sheriff brought against Sheriff Sam Cogen, letting only a retaliation claim go forward.
August 21, 2025
Source: app.midpage.ai · researched July 13, 2026
When signing Maryland's Renters' Rights and Stabilization Act, Governor Wes Moore credited Baltimore Sheriff Sam Cogen's work on the measure and presented him with the first ceremonial pen.
April 26, 2024
Source: wtop.com · researched July 13, 2026
As sheriff-elect, Sam Cogen opposed the outgoing administration's consultant extension and prospective Axon body-camera purchase, calling the technology costly and proprietary and questioning whether public funds were being used properly.
November 2, 2022
Source: baltimorebrew.com · researched July 13, 2026
Samuel Cogen signed Baltimore City Council testimony as president of the South Baltimore Neighborhood Association supporting rezoning at 2 East Wells Street for new ground-floor commercial tenants.
November 4, 2020
Source: baltimore.legistar.com · researched July 13, 2026
A federal judge threw out the remaining lawsuits blaming Cogen for the charging papers he signed against officers in the Freddie Gray case. The court found the complaints did not show he lacked probable cause or acted with malice, and that immunity protected him.
August 23, 2018
Source: app.midpage.ai · researched July 13, 2026
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 1 record
Baltimore's inspector general reported that Sam Cogen's detail-pay order triggered a Workday code he said he did not know was misconfigured, causing $2.238 million in overpayments; Cogen did not notify the city or labor commissioner about his order.
February 12, 2025
Source: baltimorebrew.com · researched July 13, 2026
Past race Sam Cogen ran in:
- Sheriff · June 23, 2026 · Baltimore city, Maryland · incumbent
Profile last researched July 13, 2026.