By Adam Pagnucco.
Board of Education Member Julie Yang has announced her candidacy for County Council District 1. She is seeking to succeed Andrew Friedson, who is running for county executive.
Yang was first elected to the school board in 2022 with the endorsement of the teachers union and is the current board president. She is a Chinese immigrant, a former teacher and a former PTA leader. As a school board candidate, she was an outstanding fundraiser, far outraising all other board seat winners since 2010.
School board members have a long history of running for council and often winning. Recent council members with board experience include Blair Ewing (at-large), Marilyn Praisner (District 4), Valerie Ervin (District 5) and Nancy Navarro (District 4). Yang won’t be the only candidate in this race as this part of the county (Bethesda, Chevy Chase and Potomac) has a deep bench for both county and state races. But I expect Yang to be a formidable candidate.
Yang’s press release is reprinted below.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2025
Contact: Julie Yang, Candidate for County Council (District 1)
Email: julie@julieyang.org
Julie Yang Running for County Council Race to Put Montgomery County Back on Track
POTOMAC, MD – Julie Yang, longtime Montgomery County resident and community advocate, today announced her candidacy for Montgomery County Council (District 1), emphasizing her proven track record of addressing complex challenges and delivering results for residents.
“I’m running for the County Council to put Montgomery County back on track. Montgomery County needs bold leadership that has already addressed tough issues, engaged in difficult conversations, and made informed policy decisions within our County,” She said.
Outlining her vision for the county’s future, Julie will focus on building a resilient workforce, keeping schools strong, helping businesses grow, and supporting residents who have made our community home.
“My vision is to help shape Montgomery County into a thriving hub of educational excellence and economic opportunity that we can all count on,” Julie Yang said.
She also emphasized the critical need for local leadership during extreme federal policy changes.
“I am also running to defend our values when the federal government is rolling back civil rights protections, terminating federal jobs, and gutting social programs that are a lifeline to many,” explained Julie Yang.
Julie brings extensive experience in community leadership and public service to her campaign. She is a member of the Montgomery County Board of Education, a non-profit founder, and a community advocate. She and her husband, Wen, have called Montgomery County home for over two decades, raising two children here.
“As your next councilmember, my goal is to make Montgomery County a place where everyone has the same opportunity to achieve their full potential like my family did. “This community gave me the opportunity to serve my neighbors and help vulnerable populations get the services they need. I’ve proven I can lead through our county’s toughest challenges, and I’ll deliver results on the County Council.” Julie Yang concluded.
Julie Yang is participating in Montgomery County’s campaign public financing program to prioritize the voices of everyday county residents and families.
For more information, visit the campaign website: julieyang.org
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Authority by: Neighbors for Julie Yang, Bridget Calhoun, Treasurer