The Montgomery County Board of Elections unanimously certified Councilmember Will Jawando as the Democratic nominee for county executive on Thursday, setting up a general election against Republican Esther Wells in a county that hasn't elected a GOP executive in decades.

Jawando, a second-term at-large council member, won the crowded Democratic primary with 40.15% of the vote, collecting 52,738 out of 131,363 ballots cast. He will face Wells on Tuesday, November 3.

"I'm honored to be the Democratic nominee for Montgomery County Executive, and I'm ready to fight every single day for every resident of this county," Jawando said after the certification. "I’m deeply grateful to Governor Wes Moore, Senator Angela Alsobrooks and the over 40 organizations who believed in our vision and for standing with us.” 

For Bethesda and Chevy Chase residents, the certification effectively determines who will oversee county planning, housing, transportation and a $7.9 billion operating budget starting in December.

The Republican matchup

Wells won her primary with 60.78% of the Republican vote, collecting 6,850 out of 11,271 total Republican ballots, according to the Board of Elections certification. The Republican primary drew fewer than a tenth of the Democratic turnout.

Jawando's council record

Jawando has served on the council since 2018. His votes offer a window into how he would govern the county's executive branch.

During the May 15 budget straw vote, Jawando voted with the 9-2 majority to approve the county's $7.9 billion fiscal year 2027 operating budget. He also pushed through a motion, passing 7-4, to reallocate $36 million from the six-year capital improvements program to Montgomery County Public Schools. That move funded two rounds of school spending that had been slated for cuts.

The council rejected outgoing County Executive Marc Elrich's proposed 6% property tax rate increase. Jawando supported that rejection, opting instead for a progressive income tax structure to close the budget gap.

“Now the real work begins, and together, we’re going to deliver for every single person who calls Montgomery County home,” Jawando said.

What the next executive inherits in Bethesda

The next county executive will take over a government that has begun deploying new housing tools in Bethesda neighborhoods. In June, the county used its Right of First Refusal law for the first time locally, working with Yoke Management Partners to preserve 52 naturally occurring affordable units at Tilbury Gardens in Bethesda and Argyle Street Apartments in Rockville.

What's next

The general election is Tuesday, November 3. No candidate forums or debate dates have been announced. Jawando cited endorsements from Gov. Wes Moore, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, and more than 40 organizations heading into the fall campaign.