Eastern Shore Undercover endorsement for House of Delegates District 38B

In the November 3, 2026, election, one of the hottest races on the ballot is for the Maryland House of Delegates, District 38B. The incumbent, Delegate Barry Beauchamp, is running on the Republican side of the ticket. He is facing Wicomico County Council member Josh Hastings, who is running on the Democratic side.

This race stands out to me. It has two very professional, kind people running for public office.

On a personal level, this is the hardest race for me to endorse. I think they are both great people who truly care about this community.

Still, there are a few things that stand out and make me lean one way over the other.

Let's start with Josh Hastings. I want to give Josh credit for not just following along with the group. We've seen how the last four years have been with the Wicomico County Council, and while Josh has been a part of that group, he didn't always side with the group.

Here's what I mean by that. About two years ago, there was a referendum to try to get rid of the county executive position. Mr. Hastings stood his ground, and he was one of two people who voted against it.

I respect that and have not forgotten it. We have to give credit where credit is due. I believe he should be appreciated for having the strength to make his own decision and not just go along with the crowd.

That being said, there are some other things that I strongly disagree with with Mr. Hastings that I want to share with you all. I firmly disagree with Mr. Hastings on his stance about qualifications for county executive and for leadership positions in general. Mr. Hastings has spoken publicly about how people should have to meet certain qualifications to run for some positions in government.

In my opinion, that should not be the case. These are elected positions, voted on by the people. It's the people's voice.

If the people feel someone is qualified without five different master's degrees, then that's who they should be able to vote for. Having multiple master's degrees doesn't make you a strong leader.

I've worked with some very powerful and influential people over the years. I can tell you that a degree hanging on the wall does not make you a good leader.

Knowing that, I have a very hard time supporting someone who will be in Annapolis making laws that affect each of us, with the mindset that only people with higher education should be eligible for government positions.

Now, let's talk about Delegate Barry Beauchamp. Much like Mr. Hastings, I have a tremendous amount of respect and appreciation for him.

I love that he has always said he's willing to work with both sides of the aisle. You can see it for yourself at any public gathering, whether it's a community event or a political one. Everyone comes up to say hello to Mr. Beauchamp.

Granted, part of that is because he's just a truly genuinely nice guy. I think the other side of that coin is that folks on both sides, Republicans and Democrats, know Barry is going to do what's best for the citizens of the Eastern Shore, Regardless of whether you're a Republican or a Democrat.

Another thing I love about Barry is that he's very transparent with information. If you head over to his Facebook page, Delegate Barry Beauchamp, you'll see he shares a lot about taxes, fees, and where your tax dollars are going. I think that's very important.

I also love his voting record. He's the guy voting against higher taxes. He's the guy voting against the fees you see on your electric bill and your vehicle registration. He's also the guy fighting against fee increases for you to build and maintain a home.

The last thing I'll mention is that this guy is a huge supporter of first responders. If something is going to keep our first responders safe, you can bet your last dollar Delegate Barry Beauchamp is going to be on board.

When it comes down to it, I have to be honest with myself, with my family, and with the followers of this page. For that reason, we have to vote for Delegate Barry Beauchamp.

I'm of the belief that if something's not broke, you don't fix it. Delegate Barry Beauchamp has done a good job while he's been in office in Annapolis. I firmly believe he is the best candidate for this position. I also firmly believe he will continue to do well for the citizens of the Eastern Shore, and more specifically, District 38B.

Eastern Shore Undercover is proud to endorse Barry Beauchamp for the Maryland House of Delegates, District 38B. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.