2026 Montgomery County primary endorsements

The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® (GCAAR)’s Political and Campaign Affairs Committee (PCAC) has endorsed nine candidates who are running to serve on the Montgomery County Council and as County Executive in the June 23 primary.

The PCAC will again evaluate both Democratic and Republican candidates for endorsement in the general election after the primary. Read GCAAR's press release.

The endorsements are as follows:

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.