2026 primary election endorsements

The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® (GCAAR)’s Political and Campaign Affairs Committee (PCAC) has made endorsements for the 2026 District of Columbia and Montgomery County primary elections. Below, you’ll find details and the lists of endorsed candidates.

2026 Washington, D.C. primary endorsements

The District of Columbia’s primary election takes place on Tuesday, June 16. At this time, GCAAR has only endorsed democratic and independent candidates. The PCAC will again evaluate candidates from all parties for endorsement in the general election.

Review the endorsements:

District of Columbia Mayor

Kenyan McDuffie has been a leading voice in the District, helping bolster our economic growth during his time as Chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development. He has worked tirelessly to bring businesses to the District, combat D.C.’s housing crisis and make sure government services are fully operational for our residents. McDuffie knows how to govern and is best equipped to lead D.C. into a new era of prosperity.

Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia

Chairman Phil Mendelson has been a steady and guiding hand on the D.C. Council, and his leadership has earned him the trust of residents for decades. Chairman Mendelson has taken decisive action to turn the dream of homeownership a reality for many in the District. Over the last four years, D.C. has faced challenging budget cycles, increased crime, and threats to Home Rule. As we continue to face unprecedented challenges in the District it is imperative that Chairman Mendelson continues to lead the D.C. Council. 

Council of the District of Columbia

The leaders representing Wards 2,4,7 and 8 are not up for election in 2026.

Jackie Reyes Yanes is proud of her deep roots in Ward 1. Her passion for public service has transformed into action as a community activist. Jackie has the unique experience of serving in multiple mayoral administrations, providing her with many years of experience in governing. She has dedicated her time to advocating for immigrants, who help our city thrive, and has been a partner to small business owners.

Councilmember Matthew Frumin has been a reliable legislator during his time on the D.C. Council. His data-driven approach makes him a balanced voice in policy debates. He has brought much-needed improvement to the District’s housing voucher programs and understands the value of collaborating with D.C.’s business community.

GCAAR’s PCAC did not endorse a candidate for Ward 5, as the candidate did not respond to GCAAR’s questionnaire.

Councilmember Charles Allen is a strong community advocate who brings a forward-thinking approach to the District’s challenges. During his time on the Council, some of his key priorities have included housing production, transportation modernization and environmental health. Councilmember Allen is an inclusive leader, helping guide our city through unprecedented obstacles.

Council At-Large

For the first time, the District will use ranked-choice voting in the upcoming 2026 primary elections. This will permit voters to rank up to five of their preferred candidates. GCAAR recommends ranking both Kevin Chavous and Lisa Raymond.

Kevin Chavous has extensive experience with crafting housing policy, and his experience working for the D.C. Council will allow him to serve as a REALTOR® champion from day one of his term. Kevin understands the value that small housing providers bring to the District, and is committed to collaborating with them to make housing that is affordable a reality. The D.C. housing industry will have a collaborative partner with Kevin on the D.C. Council.

Lisa Raymond brings forth a wide range of experience on policy matters that impact D.C. residents every day. Her roles on the Board of Education and in the D.C. Attorney General’s office put her in a good position to take proactive steps toward supporting our students, strengthening our economy and optimizing government services. Lisa is committed to building on the progress being made to bring more housing to our community, while supporting existing housing providers.

Council At-Large: Special election

Since her appointment to the D.C. Council, Doni Crawford has sprung into action, seeking out opportunities for collaboration and out-of-the-box solutions to problems facing our residents. Councilmember Crawford comes to the Council with many years of experience in economic policy that make her well positioned to lead new efforts in strengthening the District’s economic vitality. In her time on the Council so far, she has demonstrated that she has a strong command of the role, and she is prepared to enact meaningful policies for D.C. residents.

Democratic State Committee

The PCAC voted to endorse Democrats United to Free D.C., which is the committee by law that fills the vacancies left open by Democratic legislators who leave their posts. Given two sitting Democratic D.C. Councilmembers are running for higher office, it is possible that there will be an open position, and this committee will appoint a qualified candidate to fill it.

2026 Montgomery County primary endorsements

Montgomery County’s primary election takes place on Tuesday, June 23. The PCAC will again evaluate both Democratic and Republican candidates for endorsement in the general election after the primary. 

The PCAC will again evaluate both Democratic and Republican candidates for endorsement in the general election after the primary.  Read the press release and review the endorsements:

Montgomery County Executive

GCAAR has endorsed Andrew Friedson for Montgomery County Executive in the 2026 Montgomery County Democratic Primary Election.

No one has done more to advance affordability and bring a better housing future to Montgomery County over the last eight years than Councilmember Andrew Friedson.

As the Chair of the Planning, Housing, and Parks Committee, Andrew has shepherded legislation and master plans through the Council process to maximize smart growth and make sure our communities have a brighter future with new housing opportunity.

Andrew understands what it takes to advance Montgomery County and return our local economy to being the envy of the region.

The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® is proud to endorse Andrew Friedson to be the Democratic nominee for Montgomery County Executive.

Montgomery County Council

Throughout his career, Drew Morrison has successfully brought large-scale government projects to fruition to generate significant change in the county. He recognizes the county’s potential and is dedicated to building more housing in the right places.

Drew understands the importance of homeownership and has committed to addressing policies that are standing in the way of building homes in Montgomery County.

The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® is proud to endorse Drew Morrison to be the Democratic nominee for Montgomery County Council District 1.

During her first term, Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe has been steadfast in her commitment to financial stewardship of the county. During a time of economic stagnation in our region, she has worked to cut red tape and better equip the local economy for growth.

Councilmember Balcombe has been in lockstep with GCAAR’s advocacy priorities and shares its vision for a more attainable housing marketplace for more Montgomery County residents.

The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® is proud to endorse Marilyn Balcombe in her re-election campaign to be the Democratic nominee for Montgomery County Council District 2. 

Mayor Jud Ashman’s decades of public service for the City of Gaithersburg speak for themselves. He has balanced budgets, fought for housing development and held the line against policies that would be harmful for his fellow Gaithersburg residents.

His campaign has built a broad coalition of supporters from the City of Gaithersburg and City of Rockville, from civic leaders to fellow elected officials. His values and policy goals acutely represent a vision for a more prosperous Montgomery County.

The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® is proud to endorse Jud Ashman to be the Democratic nominee for Montgomery County Council District 3.

While this candidate may have come down on opposite sides from GCAAR on many issues, Councilmember Kate Stewart has worked toward building a better Montgomery County with housing affordability as a top issue to tackle.

Councilmember Stewart has been communicative and collaborative with GCAAR. She has been forthcoming with her thoughts on Council matters and never shied away from disagreeing without being disagreeable. GCAAR hopes to combine efforts with her more in the future to shape a better housing future for Montgomery County.

The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® is proud to endorse Kate Stewart in her re-election campaign to be the Democratic nominee for Montgomery County Council District 4. 

The incumbent in this race, Councilmember Kristin Mink, chose not to return our questionnaire or participate in GCAAR’s endorsement process.

Charles Kirchman has filed to run against Ms. Mink in this primary, however no information on his campaign had been published when the committee made its endorsement decisions.

Council President Natali Fani-Gonzalez, the incumbent in District 6, did participate in GCAAR’s endorsement process.

Though she has been aligned with GCAAR on many issues in her first term, her aggressive defense of rent control policies that are actively harming multifamily housing development in Montgomery County and recent re-consideration of increasing taxes - after stating her opposition - were two deciding factors that led to GCAAR’s decision in this race.

While Sonya Garcia has filed to run against Council President Fani-Gonzalez, her stances against pro-housing legislation like More Housing N.O.W. are not something that GCAAR can endorse.

Councilmember Dawn Luedtke has been the voice of reason and stability at the Council during her first term. She has taken a collaborative approach to governing, working with community and advocacy groups to make Montgomery County an even better place to call home.

Dawn continues to push her colleagues and the Council to make decisions that will build a thriving economy in Montgomery County.

The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® is proud to endorse Dawn Luedtke in her re-election campaign to be the Democratic nominee for Montgomery County Council District 7. 

Council At-Large

Scott Goldberg has spent decades working on building a better Montgomery County. Whether through entrepreneurial spirit as a business owner, his volunteerism with Maryland Legal Aid, or his advocacy and activism, Scott has shown all the ingredients to be a successful public servant.

A long-time GCAAR member and previous Maryland RPAC Trustee, Scott understands the challenges facing the local housing marketplace and the important role REALTORS® and the real-estate industry play in making it better.

The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® is proud to endorse Scott Goldberg in his campaign to be a Democratic nominee for Montgomery County Council At-Large.

Karla Silvestre is running for the Montgomery County Council to build a more sustainable county. She has a strong vision for a marketplace that leverages all the options available to public and private partners to deliver more housing opportunities.

After eight years on the Montgomery County Board of Education, she has seen the path the county budget is on and wants to help lead the way against the unsustainable decisions being made.

The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® is proud to endorse Karla Silvestre in her campaign to be a Democratic nominee for Montgomery County Council At-Large. 

Jim McNulty wants to bring the success he helped deliver as a local councilmember to all residents countywide. He has served on the Gaithersburg City Council as they have brought in economic investment while Montgomery County’s economic development has gone stagnant.

As a REALTOR®, he sees the importance of homeownership on economic mobility and has a plan to deliver the American dream to more residents. 

The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® is proud to endorse Jim McNulty in his campaign to be a Democratic nominee for Montgomery County Council At-Large.