Baltimore County's District 6 Republican primary just picked up a plot twist: a retired police officer who spent years performing in blackface as an Al Jolson impersonator is now on the ballot. He is running as Bobby Al Jolson Berger and is pitching his campaign as a way to serve his neighbors in southeast Baltimore County.
Filed As 'Bobby Al Jolson Berger'
Berger appears on the ballot as Bobby Al Jolson Berger and is listed among the candidates for Legislative District 6, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections. The same state filing shows three incumbents - Ric Metzgar, Bob Long, and Robin Grammer Jr. - are also seeking the GOP nominations in District 6.
Performer Past Draws Criticism
Berger has long performed in blackface as a tribute to 1920s entertainer Al Jolson. He told reporters he stopped the practice in 2016 after protests and public backlash. "I stopped because the people that came to scream about it might hurt people that were inside when they left," Berger told WYPR. WYPR reports Berger describes the House bid as his first political campaign and says he wants to help people if elected.
Controversy Goes Back Decades
Local reporting traces the dispute back decades. Berger was reportedly fired from his city police job in the 1980s over the blackface act, later suing and winning reinstatement, and a planned 2015 fundraiser for six officers charged in Freddie Gray's death was canceled after his involvement drew criticism. Those details were chronicled by The Baltimore Sun, which reported critics called the proposed fundraiser racist and in poor taste. The episode remains part of Berger's public record as he seeks a seat in the statehouse.
What To Watch In The GOP Primary
The Republican primary in District 6 will be decided on June 23, 2026, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections' 2026 election calendar. Voters in the district, which includes Dundalk and nearby neighborhoods, will choose up to three delegates on that day.
Berger's filing injects an unpredictable element into a normally low-profile, down-ballot race and is likely to force voters to weigh his past public conduct alongside his promises as a candidate. Expect the debate over his candidacy to surface at local forums and in campaign mail in the run-up to the primary.
