A state senator who recently accused the Baltimore County Council of violating state and federal civil rights law and is likely to sue may run to succeed County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. in 2026, becoming the fourth person to consider a run for the position.

“I’m certainly considering it,” Democratic Sen. Charles E. Sydnor III, 50, said Tuesday of his intentions. Olszewski is currently running in the 2nd Congressional District against Republican Kim Klacik. “Nothing’s been decided yet,” Sydnor said.

He ruled out a run for Baltimore County state’s attorney.

Sydnor has represented western Baltimore County since January 2020. Olszewski’s current term ends in November 2026. Council Chair Izzy Patoka and Councilman Julian Jones have said they will run; Councilman Pat Young is also considering a campaign. All three are Democrats. Arbutus lawyer and good governance advocate Nick Stewart is also rumored to be considering a campaign, though he declined to confirm anything Tuesday. The county executive currently earns $192,000 annually.

Whoever wins in 2026 could inherit a radically different council if county voters pass a ballot measure on Election Day to expand the seven-member council by two. If approved, this measure would go into effect in the 2026 election cycle. The council passed a related bill July 1, led by Patoka, its chief sponsor.

Expansion advocates said the measure would offer women and minorities more chances to run for office. The Republican council members said they voted to expand despite early trepidation because Patoka assured them the council would remain bipartisan.

Sydnor is one of a handful of Democratic state legislators, including House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, who said Patoka’s bill violated state law and the federal Voting Rights Act. They and Olszewski threw their weight behind a competing effort in August to expand the council by four seats, which failed to gather enough signatures to appear on the ballot.

Baltimore Sun reporter Hannah Gaskill contributed to this article.