Nino Mangione, the Republican cousin of Luigi Mangione, has won a seat on the Baltimore County Council after making public safety and violent crime central themes of his campaign.
Mangione, 39, narrowly defeated Democrat Shawn McIntosh on Tuesday in the contest for Baltimore County Council District 5. He received 48.72 percent of the vote, compared with McIntosh’s 45.16 percent.
Throughout the campaign, Mangione warned voters about what he described as rising levels of murder, shootings and carjackings across Baltimore County.
His focus on crime has drawn particular attention because of the notoriety surrounding his first cousin, Luigi Mangione, who has admitted to shooting UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson in December 2024.
Luigi Mangione, 27, was arrested after a nationwide manhunt. In August, he told a federal court, “I shot Mr Thompson.” The case provoked intense debate across the United States, while supporters who believe in his innocence have gathered outside his court appearances.
Violent crime was among the first issues featured on Nino Mangione’s campaign website.
“Violent crime is increasing in Baltimore County. Every day we read or hear about another random act of violence against our citizens,” the campaign said.
“Murders, shootings, carjackings, and robberies are all at record levels and are increasing every day.”
The Republican cousin of Luigi Mangione has won a seat on the Baltimore County Council after campaigning on tackling violent crime, securing a narrow victory over his Democratic challenger
The focus on crime comes as his first cousin Luigi faces a major legal battle over the December 2024 killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan
Nino Mangione narrowly beat out Democrat Shawn McIntosh in the race for Baltimore County Council District 5, on Tuesday, taking 48.72 percent of the vote against her 45.16 percent
Combating crime was a defining part of Mangione’s message to voters, with his campaign highlighting concerns affecting residents throughout the district.
The result is especially notable because Mangione joined the council only earlier this year. In June, local Republicans appointed him to fill a vacant seat.
Tuesday’s election was his first chance to win the position directly from voters rather than retain it through a party appointment.
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Mangione already had experience in elected office. He served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2019 until June 2026, when he resigned to accept the county council appointment.
At the same time, his cousin Luigi continues to fight a complex legal case connected to Thompson’s death.
Thompson, 50, was shot outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024, while attending an investor conference in New York.
The killing triggered a nationwide manhunt. Five days later, Mangione was arrested at a McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
The prosecution soon became one of the most closely watched criminal cases in the country. Alongside the alleged killing, it fueled a broader public debate about health insurers, medical costs and the American healthcare system.
Thompson, 50,(not pictured) was shot dead outside a hotel in New York while in the city for an investor conference. The then 26-year-old was arrested in Pennsylvania five days later and subsequently charged in connection with the killing
Mangione’s arrest produced an extraordinary public response. Some commentators pointed to anger over insurance companies and the high cost of healthcare, while others denounced what they saw as the celebration of a killing.
In August 2026, Mangione pleaded guilty to two federal stalking charges linked to Thompson’s death and acknowledged in court that he had shot the executive.
A separate murder case brought by New York state, however, remains unresolved.
His lawyers recently asked a state court to dismiss that prosecution. They argue that continuing the case after his federal guilty pleas would breach the constitutional protection against double jeopardy.
That legal challenge has introduced another major hurdle in the prolonged proceedings, and the court has not yet ruled on the request.
For Nino Mangione, the campaign remained centered on local issues, particularly neighborhood safety and concerns about crime across Baltimore County.
His victory represents a significant step for the Republican as he builds a career in local government.
Mangione now has an electoral mandate of his own, while his infamous cousin continues to face the fallout from a case that has held the nation’s attention.
