MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Montgomery County Council member Will Jawando declared victory on Friday in the Democratic primary for county executive after opening a lead in one of Maryland's most closely watched local contests, although election officials continued counting outstanding ballots and had not yet certified the results.
Jawando said the trend in the vote count made the outcome effectively certain, while official canvassing of mail-in and provisional ballots remained underway. According to the Maryland State Board of Elections, unofficial results showed Jawando leading fellow Council member Andrew Friedson, with Council member Evan Glass trailing in third. Election officials said vote totals would continue to be updated as additional ballots were processed.
"We are going to be the Democratic nominee," Jawando told supporters on Friday, adding that he was confident the remaining ballots would not alter the outcome. He also thanked voters and campaign volunteers, saying the campaign had attracted support from across the county.
Friedson had not formally conceded as of Friday. According to local media, he acknowledged earlier in the week that closing the gap would be difficult, while his campaign had not immediately responded to additional requests for comment following Jawando's victory declaration.
The race drew significant attention because the winner of the Democratic primary is widely viewed as the favorite in the November general election in Montgomery County, Maryland's largest jurisdiction by population, where Democrats have long dominated countywide elections. Jawando is expected to face Republican nominee Esther Wells in the general election.
The campaign was among several competitive county executive contests held during Maryland's 2026 primary elections. Candidates spent heavily on advertising, and the Montgomery County contest featured multiple well-known elected officials seeking to succeed the term-limited county executive.
Speaking after declaring victory, Jawando said his administration would focus on issues including education funding, economic development and support for small businesses if elected in November. He also criticized the role of outside spending in the campaign, saying, "I had millions of dollars spent attacking me with false ads."
As of Friday, the Maryland State Board of Elections continued to list the results as unofficial while outstanding ballots were counted. Officials have not yet certified the final outcome, and the canvassing process was continuing under state election procedures.
