Ben Smith, who served as executive director of the Maryland Democratic Party since December of 2018, has resigned.

Yvette Lewis, who took over as party chair several weeks ago, told Democratic leaders of Smith’s decision in an email Thursday obtained by Maryland Matters.

Lewis said she was “grateful” for Smith’s service, but offered no details about his departure.

“As Democrats, we are in the middle of a season of change,” she wrote. “I am deeply committed to seeing us through the transitions and challenges that lie ahead. I believe that when this journey is over — together we will put a Democrat in the White House and in the Governor’s Mansion.”

Smith, former chairman of the Baltimore City Democratic Central Committee, became executive director of the state party when Maya Rockeymoore Cummings was elected party chair. But Rockeymoore Cummings resigned late last fall to run in the special election to replace her husband, the late U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D), and Lewis, a former party chair, took over.

One Democratic source said Lewis has already picked a replacement for Smith, but is not ready to announce her choice.

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