Will Jawando won the Democratic primary for Montgomery County executive, defeating two council colleagues despite a $1.4 million attack-ad campaign. He faces Republican Esther Wells on Nov. 3.

The outcome will determine who controls the budget, zoning and planning board appointments that shape development across Bethesda and the rest of the county.

With about 70% of ballots counted on election night in June, Jawando held 40.8% of the vote (36,517 votes), FOX 5 DC reported. Councilmember Andrew Friedson trailed at 33.5% (29,968 votes). Councilmember Evan Glass finished third with about 22% and conceded on Thursday, June 25. Jawando's lead held through the mail-ballot count, according to Montgomery Perspective analyst Adam Pagnucco.

The turnout gap was stark. Roughly 89,000 Democrats cast ballots, compared to just 8,600 Republicans.

The seat opened after voters approved a November 2024 charter amendment reducing consecutive term limits for county executive from three to two. That blocked County Executive Marc Elrich from seeking reelection.

Jawando's endorsement edge

Jawando, 43, a Silver Spring native and former civil rights attorney who has served on the council since 2018, locked down progressive support early. He secured the Montgomery County Education Association's (MCEA) "Apple Ballot" endorsement in December 2025. Pagnucco called it "the number one endorsement in MoCo politics."

Gov. Wes Moore endorsed Jawando in June 2026. Jawando's pollster Fred Yang described the governor's backing as "critical" to the outcome, according to Pagnucco's analysis.

Friedson built a fundraising advantage and won the realtors' endorsement in March 2026. The real estate industry then bankrolled the Affordable Maryland PAC, which spent $1.4 million on ads attacking Jawando starting in May 2026. The PAC later targeted Glass as well.

The Maryland State Board of Elections opened an investigation into whether Jawando coordinated with an outside group in June 2026 but cleared him about a week later.

Jawando told WTOP after the primary: "We didn't go negative, even though I was the subject of over a million and a half dollars of negative ads, which is pretty unique in a county executive race. The voters saw through that."

The tax vote that shaped the race

A May 2026 council vote to abolish the $692 Income Tax Offset Credit for homeowners gave Friedson a campaign weapon. On a straw vote, all three candidates voted no. On the official vote, Glass and Jawando switched to yes. Friedson used the flip in campaign mailers.

What the general election looks like

Wells, a certified public accountant from Montgomery Village and president of the Montgomery County Taxpayers League, won the Republican primary with more than 60% of the vote, according to FOX 5 DC.

She told WTOP she sees a path through unaffiliated voters and disaffected Democrats. Nearly 200,000 unaffiliated county residents could not vote in the primary.

No Republican has won the county executive seat since 1974. Democrats make up nearly 60% of registered voters.

Jawando has picked up new backing for November. The Sierra Club's Maryland chapter endorsed him on Aug. 24, shifting from its primary support of Glass, Bethesda Magazine reported.

The general election is Nov. 3.