Nobody likes appointments.

Filling an elected position by appointment feels antidemocratic. It reeks of backroomery. The people involved decide on the degree of transparency — and almost always choose the blurry view.

Yet, as Anne Arundel County Democratic and Republican party leaders decide this weekend on the next state senator for Annapolis and the next delegate for Pasadena, one consideration will rise above all others.

Electability.

The choice comes down to which candidate can hold the seat in 2026 and improve their party’s prospects.

Saturday morning, the Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee will pick between Del. Shaneka Henson of Annapolis, Del. Dana Jones of Arnold and little-known political donor Robert J. Leonard of Deale for the District 30 Senate seat.

Who is better suited to a purple district, the progressive or the pragmatist? Democrats nationwide face the same conundrum, trying to learn the lessons of November.

Henson said Democrats drifted too far into lightning-rod social issues and that pocketbook concerns will decide future elections.

“People want someone who is a true independent thinker,” she said.

Jones sees it as the need to protect Maryland from President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress — who won after strangling abortion rights, vilifying the LGBTQIA+ community and threatening mass deportations.

“I don’t know whose values these are, frankly, but they are not Maryland values,” she said.

Both plan to run in the June 2026 primary if they lose Saturday’s vote at the Annapolis library, which will decide which name goes to Gov. Wes Moore for appointment.

The committee faces this choice because Sarah Elfreth was elected to Congress. She’ll take the oath at noon Friday. She and County Executive Steuart Pittman are staying neutral in picking her replacement.

Leonard, who says he won’t run for the seat if appointed, would be a dodge for the committee. Democrats, though, seem unlikely to give up the advantages of incumbency and experience when a $3 billion state budget deficit and the potential for a historic loss loom.

The last Republican to win this seat was Aris T. Allen, the barrier-breaking Black physician elected in 1978. It’s been even longer since someone outside Annapolis won it.

Today, Jessica Haire, the Republican candidate for county executive in 2022, and former delegate Herb McMillan, her primary election nemesis that year, could mount strong campaigns for the Senate seat in 2026. Former Mayor Mike Pantelides, Del. Seth Howard and County Councilwoman Shannon Leadbetter live in the district, too.

It is a potentially divisive moment for Democrats.

Henson is clashing with parts of the Democratic coalition — supporters of those lightning-rod issues — and earned the personal scorn of Pride Annapolis President Joe Toolan. Jones was the target of an anonymous email attack by someone claiming to support Henson.

Henson’s liability is her violation of ethics rules in 2023. A House panel determined she sought state funding for her church without disclosing her personal or professional ties. She was listed as the church’s lawyer, although she says it was without her knowledge.

House Speaker Adrienne Jones kicked her off the powerful Appropriations Committee and handed the job to Dana Jones. Despite being instructed to apologize, Henson doesn’t sound contrite.

“The ethics report comes down to a communication issue,” she said. “I’ll be sure to let my constituents know that I have learned everything I can learn on that.”

That explains Jones’ near sweep of endorsements from elected officials in the county. Among them was House Ethics Committee Chair Sandy Bartlett.

Jones said the support also reflects her work for other Democrats. Last year, she raised almost $20,000 for the successful state abortion rights referendum and in the last four years raised almost as much for down-ballot candidates.

“In a purple district, it’s also about linking arms with your teammates,” she said. “You can tell that I’m not just saying that.”

Jones’ liability is her progressive politics. A good thing in a Democratic primary can be an opportunity for a strong Republican in a district that gets more conservative outside deep-blue Annapolis. Maryland’s perennial second-string party will be looking to build on that under Rep. Andy Harris and his wife, Nicole Beus Harris, the party chair.

Picking Henson or Jones would set off a round of more appointments.

Annapolis Alderman Brooks Schandelmeier and Central Committee member Dylan Behler are likely candidates to replace the winner. Chrissy Holt, who lost to Elfreth in the 2018 Senate primary, plans to apply.

Similar strategizing will also dominate the choice of a new delegate in District 31. It’s a Republican stronghold home to potential candidates for county executive — Del. Nic Kipke and Councilman Nathan Volke— in 2026.

The Republican Central Committee will meet Friday night at the Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company building in Severna Park to choose between Jason DuBois of Severna Park, former school board member Corine Frank of Pasadena and LaToya Nkongolo of Severna Park. One will replace Del. Rachel Muñoz, who resigned Wednesday after a health scare.

The Republicans will find it almost impossible to reject Frank. She’s the deputy finance director for the national GOP, the former executive director of the Maryland party and a one-time campaign manager for Volke. Volke is on the committee, as is Kipke’s wife, Suzannah.

The wild card is Chuck Yocum, a school board candidate in November. He was sunk by past allegations of sexually abusing students while a teacher in Pasadena. Lockstep support for him among party leaders was an embarrassing misjudgment.

A fresh start might be the argument for Dubois, a newcomer.

There are other factors, of course. You can argue that balancing between effective campaigning and ideology defines electability.

The undeniable truth about this process is that it signals the start of the 2026 election season.