By Adam Pagnucco.

Council Member Evan Glass, who is now in his second term, has announced that he is running for county executive.  Bethesda Today broke the story and interviewed Glass.

Glass’s website home page.

I will have a lot of things to say about this race in coming months but here are a few quick notes about Glass.  First, he is an at-large council member who represents the entire county.  His reelection campaign in 2022 was a dominating performance in which he finished first in the vast majority of local areas in the county and finished second in the rest of them.  Only a handful of at-large council members in the last 30 years have run as well as he did.  Second, he is one of the best fundraisers in the county in using the public financing system and will have all the campaign money he needs to be competitive.  Third, his understanding of the media given his journalism background gives him a unique edge over his opponents.  And fourth, while his likely opponents will stake out positions on the edges of the county’s Democratic primary political spectrum – with Andrew Friedson on the center-left and Will Jawando on the progressive left – Glass is pretty much in the blue mainstream, at least in MoCo.  That’s a product of both temperament and strategy.

My sources picked Glass as the second most likely person to be elected executive behind Friedson.  I could debate that ranking but there is no question that he is a top tier candidate for the job.

Enough from me.  Glass’s press release follows.

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For Immediate Release: Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Evan Glass Announces Run for County Executive

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 12, 2025 — Montgomery County Councilmember Evan Glass today announced his campaign for Montgomery County Executive. Councilmember Glass, a Democrat, is an At-Large member of the County Council currently serving in his second term. The Democratic primary is in June 2026.

“Montgomery County is at a crossroads. Donald Trump is determined to dismantle the federal government and our quality of life. He and his aspiring oligarchs are eliminating the civil service, suppressing diversity and inflaming the climate crisis,” Glass said. “Now is the time to stand up and fight for the future we want in Montgomery County – one where everyone feels safe, supported and has the opportunity to succeed. These are the values that have guided me in public service, and it’s why I’m excited to announce that I’m running to be your next County Executive.”

First elected in 2018, Glass became the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve on the County Council and is now the first openly gay candidate for County Executive. During his two terms on the council, Glass has worked to make housing more affordable, expand the local economy, require greater transparency in Montgomery County Public Schools, improve street safety, ensure fair wages, and tackle the climate crisis.

Prior to joining the Council, Glass spent 12 years as a CNN journalist, where he covered the U.S. Congress, presidential campaigns and national politics. He also served as a contractor for the Department of Veterans Affairs and the executive director of Gandhi Brigade Youth Media, an innovative after school youth program dedicated to empowering immigrant and low-income students.

Raised in a New York home by a single mother, he came to the Washington area to attend American University.

Evan lives in Silver Spring with his husband, Jason, and their two rescue beagles Daisy and Poppy.

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