By Adam Pagnucco.
Part One explained how this survey was conducted. Parts Two, Three, Four and Five listed elected officials. Let’s continue today.
All comments are from my sources except for those specifically made by me.
2. Council Member Andrew Friedson (48 votes)
His personality can be a lot to take, but he is the only member of the Council who seems to have an understanding of how county government works, what he thinks it should do differently, and the drive to try to make it happen.
Council President and is well liked by colleagues and generally smart and good at policy. Does his homework and likely will be CE someday. A little more conservative than most but also an honest broker.
The next CE if Elrich can’t run again.
Aiming to be the more pro-business Democrat which is hard in Montgomery County.
Given Jawando’s ongoing failure to accomplish much of anything, more and more likely to be among the strongest County Exec possibilities.
Bright strategist, million dollar war chest, has more juice than the County Executive.
Friedson has such good political instincts, one might forget just how young he is. His future is a bright shining star.
The closest thing to a regular counterpoint to the county executive. Smart, with powerful and smart people cheering him on. Not sure he’ll ever have the countywide appeal he needs to go as far as he wants to go.
One of the few steady hands on the County Council. He is the adult in the room in a body that often leads by press release.
Several members of the Council have influence, but Friedson wins the slot. He has made himself into a moderating presence, while maintaining progressive bona fides on social issues, and seems to be a stabilizing force in the Council. Regardless of how term limits shape up, he’s going to make 2026 interesting to watch.
Andrew has done a great job serving. He brings that financial perspective to the Council – he’s the “numbers guy” as well as an understanding of business.
Like any good Capricorn, he’s as stubborn as they come, so best to have him on your side.
Even before he became council president, he had a significant impact as one of the few centrist Dems.
The strongest moderate voice, can agreeably disagree.
Standard bearer of local moderate politics with a sneaky substantive record that he should probably tout more. I imagine we’ll see that soon enough. Will people pay attention? The Housing Production Fund, dedicating a portion of the energy tax to pay for actual emissions reductions, a solid list of economic development incentives and initiatives that at least show someone in the County is still interested in participating in the market economy. Real things.
On April 20, 2006, Andrew Friedson was elected Student Government Association president at the University of Maryland, and little did anyone know they were watching the birth of a political powerhouse. He might be the councilmember from Bethesda and Potomac, but any given weekend you’ll see him all over the county. He will be county executive. It’s just a matter of time.
Still the sharpest and most strategic on the council.
Pagnucco: Amen to everything my sources have said. I have been writing about the county council for a long time and Friedson may be the most talented council member I have seen. And he has not even turned 40 years old yet!
That said, here is my question about him. With Democratic politics trending ever further to the left and a huge part of the county’s center of political gravity located in Silver Spring and Takoma Park, can Friedson break out of his district and win a county executive election? Andrew has off the charts ability, but the competition is both progressive and formidable. This will be a huge question when the next executive race kicks off.
1. Congressman Jamie Raskin (49 votes)
When he chooses to engage (or endorse a candidate) he has tremendous influence. The closest thing we have to a secular saint.
Still the best brand in county politics.
He’s made himself from an insurgent State Senate candidate into a national hero of the left in less than 20 years.
A national icon and our hometown hero.
Could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue, shred the Constitution, and not lose voters.
Raskin could easily be #1 on this list, but his scope is much, much larger than Montgomery County. If there’s anyone close to as universally respected, appreciated, even revered in our County, I can’t imagine who it would be.
He is our Constitutional Rock Star!
National figure based in Montgomery County. ‘Nuff Said.
All eyes were on Jamie last summer — had he jumped into the U.S. Senate race, this would have created a domino effect that would have yielded one of the most democratic competitive congressional races of the century. Eager candidates are still watching his every move. His endorsement is the most coveted in Maryland politics.
Trump impeachments and January 6 made him a national star. There are not many more popular things in Montgomery County politics than taking on Trump. Except having their Rep. be the face of it on TV and Twitter and do so in the way he does. At this stage, it doesn’t matter what he thinks about anything else. He’s a made man in a way few others have been and no one else is right now.
Highly respected locally and nationally, still generates large crowds and is the most asked to headline fundraising events.
Pagnucco: MoCo’s hero. I had to name my politician of the year award after him and retire him from consideration, because if I didn’t, no one else was ever going to beat him.
Next: My sources start picking the most influential non-elected people in the county.