By Michael Phillips | MDBayNews
Delegate Chao Wu told voters that a man running against him frightened his young son into believing his father could be shot. He offered no quote, no witness, and no recording. Two candidates now say it didn’t happen.
On Saturday, Wu posted on Facebook that he took his son to the Damascus Community Center to hand out flyers and that Republican candidate Spencer Rhoda became “enraged, belligerent, and agitated” toward him. He wrote that his son later said he was afraid a man “would pull out a gun and kill you.”
Wu didn’t stop at the incident. He closed by telling voters that candidates “who don’t believe in elections unless they win” should not be elected “at all.” He didn’t say who he meant, and he didn’t offer a single example of either opponent saying such a thing. Read next to the story about his son, the message to voters is plain. Wu wants District 9A to see Rhoda and Mofor as dangerous and as a threat to democracy itself, on the strength of a post.
Fitzgerald Mofor, who was there, called the statement “a dangerous lie.” In a video posted to X and Facebook, Mofor and Rhoda said none of what Wu alleges happened and that violence was never discussed. They said no children were around during the conversation. Rhoda said he asked Wu about his past controversial decisions. Mofor said his campaign has an audio recording and is seeking video from the center, and that the Montgomery County Police Department is involved. As of this writing, no recording has been released, and police haven’t commented.
Asking an incumbent about his record is what challengers do. It’s also a question Wu may not have wanted to answer in front of voters, and voters can weigh that for themselves.
What Wu’s post doesn’t contain
- The words Rhoda is supposed to have said.
- Any claim of a threat, a weapon, or physical contact.
- Anyone who saw it other than Wu.
- Anything that explains how a gun entered the story, apart from a child’s reported fear.
- Any example to support the charge that his opponents don’t accept election results.
I watched the video, and I have followed both campaigns, including their videos and social media. I have seen nothing aggressive or threatening from either man. Their message has been about lowering costs and letting families keep more of their own money.
Why this can’t wait
An accusation like this doesn’t stay in a Facebook feed. It follows a candidate into every conversation for the rest of the campaign. Whether it crosses a legal line is a question for a court, not a columnist. But the harm to Rhoda’s and Mofor’s reputations is real, and it’s happening now, in the final stretch of a close race.
Wu doesn’t need a recording to know what he saw. If his account is accurate, he should say exactly what was said and done, and name the statement behind his claim that his opponents don’t accept elections. If it isn’t, he should take the post down and apologize to Rhoda and Mofor by name, in public, where the accusation was made. Waiting for the audio to be released and then apologizing won’t count for much. If he refuses to do so, and the audio proves him wrong, calls should be made for Wu to drop from the race, since that is what he asks of his opponents.
Wu has been on the other side of this. In April, two Republican delegates posted a video mocking his accent and suggesting he was a spy for China. Lawmakers in both parties condemned it, including House Republican Leader Jason Buckel, and Wu rightly said the spy claim was “not a truth, not a fact.” Republicans called out their own. Wu should now meet the standard he asked others to meet.
If the recordings show what Rhoda and Mofor say, voters in District 9A will have a clear picture of who told the truth about Saturday afternoon. They won’t need a columnist to tell them what to do about it.
Sources: Chao Wu’s Facebook post, October 24, 2026; Fitzgerald Mofor’s posts and video response on X (@FitzMofor9A) and Facebook, October 24, 2026; Maryland Matters, “Lawmakers condemn ‘deeply offensive,’ ‘racist’ video targeting immigrant delegate,” May 12, 2026; The Baltimore Banner, coverage of the Fisher and Chisholm video, spring 2026; WTOP, May 2026 coverage of the same; Maryland House of Delegates District 9A listing via Wikipedia.
Keep MDBayNews Reporting Free
MDBayNews exists to help Marylanders understand decisions made by state and local leaders — especially when those decisions affect daily life, rights, and public services.
If this article helped clarify what’s happening or why it matters, reader support makes it possible to keep publishing clear, independent reporting like this.
Have a tip or documents to share?
We review submissions carefully and confidentially. Anonymous tips are welcome when appropriate.
Discover more from Maryland Bay News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.