By MDBayNews Staff
As Montgomery County heads toward a high-stakes Democratic primary in June 2026, newly filed campaign finance reports reveal a sharply divided field—both in dollars raised and in philosophy about how local campaigns should be funded.
The latest disclosures, covering 2025 activity and filed in January 2026, show one clear financial frontrunner and a pair of well-funded challengers relying heavily on taxpayer-backed public financing. Together, the numbers offer an early snapshot of power, influence, and strategy in one of Maryland’s most important local races.
A Clear Leader in Cash: Andrew Friedson
Andrew Friedson, a District 1 County Councilmember, dominates the fundraising landscape using traditional private financing.
In 2025 alone, Friedson raised roughly $1.05 million from more than 1,680 individual contributions, pushing his cumulative total past $2 million since entering the race. He enters 2026 with nearly $1.85 million in cash on hand, giving him a commanding advantage in early advertising, staffing, and voter outreach.
Unlike candidates in the county’s public financing system, Friedson can accept larger individual donations (up to $6,000) and contributions from PACs, unions, and business-aligned groups. His donor list includes significant support from real estate, construction, and development interests—an issue likely to feature prominently as the campaign unfolds.
Notably, his campaign reported raising more than $290,000 in just the first two weeks of 2026, signaling momentum heading into the election year.
Publicly Financed Challengers Lean on Small Donations
Two at-large County Councilmembers—Will Jawando and Evan Glass—are running under Montgomery County’s public financing program, which limits contribution size and bans corporate and PAC money in exchange for generous matching funds.
Will Jawando
Jawando raised $706,215 in 2025, including $205,261 from more than 2,000 individual donors, most giving in $25–$50 increments. He reported at least $561,423 in cash on hand entering 2026 and has requested over $500,000 in public matching funds, which could significantly narrow the gap with Friedson.
Jawando’s campaign frames its fundraising as proof of grassroots support and positions him as a counterweight to what he calls developer-driven politics in the county.
Evan Glass
Glass reported $656,127 raised in 2025, including $145,611 from more than 1,500 individual donors, with the vast majority coming from county residents. He begins 2026 with at least $402,021 on hand, plus a pending request for over $510,000 in matching funds.
Like Jawando, Glass emphasizes “people-powered” fundraising and independence from corporate or special-interest influence.
Under county rules, public matching funds are capped at $870,170 per candidate, with a tiered system that can match small donations at rates as high as 7-to-1.
Long Shots and a Thin GOP Bench
Two other candidates report minimal activity.
- Mithun Banerjee, a Silver Spring resident running as a Democrat under public financing, raised and spent less than $1,000 in 2025. To qualify for matching funds, he must still raise at least $40,000 from 500 qualifying donors.
- Shelly Skolnick, the lone Republican in the race, raised $1,000, largely from a transfer tied to a previous committee. As of now, the GOP presence remains largely symbolic.
An earlier Democratic contender, Celeste Iroha, withdrew from the race in October 2025.
Why It Matters
The early fundraising picture underscores a broader debate in Montgomery County politics: whether traditional fundraising advantages reflect experience and broad coalition-building—or whether public financing is necessary to curb the influence of entrenched interests.
Friedson’s financial edge gives him flexibility and early reach, while Jawando and Glass are betting that public matching funds and voter skepticism of big-money politics will level the field. With matching funds not yet fully disbursed and another major reporting deadline looming in April, the numbers will continue to shift.
For now, however, the race is shaping up as a test case for whether Montgomery County’s public financing system can truly compete with old-school political cash—and whether voters see a difference.
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