Esther Wells

The Montgomery County, Maryland, Board of Elections certified June 23 primary results after verifying mail-in ballots. Will Jawando secured the Democratic nomination for county executive with 40% of the vote, defeating Andrew Friedson, who conceded after receiving 34%. Jawando will face Republican Esther Wells in November. Four Democrats and one Republican advanced in the at-large council race, with a narrow margin between fourth-place Karla Silvestre and fifth-place Fatmata Barrie.

Will Jawando and Esther Wells are set to compete in the November Montgomery County executive race after securing their respective party nominations. Jawando won the Democratic primary following Andrew Friedson's concession, while Wells is the Republican nominee. Both candidates are focusing on building coalitions and addressing voter concerns ahead of the general election.

Will Jawando leads with 40% of the vote in Montgomery County's Democratic primary for county executive, declaring himself the winner. Andrew Friedson, with 34%, acknowledges a challenging path to closing the gap. Unofficial results remain pending further ballot counting.

County executive candidates for Montgomery County participated in a forum discussing issues like small business support, data centers, and public safety. Candidates from both Democratic and Republican parties outlined their plans, including reducing regulatory barriers, addressing mental health, and proposing environmental initiatives.