By Adam Pagnucco.
The Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors (GCAAR) has announced its endorsements for county executive and county council. I don’t print every endorsement (there are a ton of them!), but I always print GCAAR’s endorsements because the group backs them up with real money. In both the last cycle (2022) and this cycle (last year’s Prince George’s County Executive special election), the organization’s PAC and Super PAC spent tens of thousands of dollars supporting its candidates through direct contributions, mail and online ads.
In their January campaign finance reports, GCAAR’s PAC reported a cash balance of $250,966 and its Super PAC reported a cash balance of $524,920. That’s more than enough money to have an outsize impact on MoCo elections.
GCAAR’s press release, which lists its endorsees, appears below.
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For immediate release
Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® announces endorsements in Democratic Primary Election
Local REALTOR® association endorses candidates in Montgomery County, Md. races
ROCKVILLE, Md. – 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.
During the past three months, the PCAC reviewed candidate questionnaires and interviewed almost 25 candidates to get a better sense of their policy objectives and vision for the county.
With five of the 11 County Council seats open and the County Executive’s term limited, the 2026 election will see massive turnover in county leadership.
“Elections shape our communities, and this year is a tremendous opportunity for residents to create the future they want to see in Montgomery County,” said GCAAR President Russell Brazil. “We are proud of the PCAC’s thorough vetting among the primary election candidates to ensure their commitment to the local real-estate industry.”
At this time, GCAAR has only made endorsements in the Democratic primary races. The PCAC will again evaluate both Democratic and Republican candidates for endorsement in the general election after the primary.
The endorsements are as follows:
GCAAR has endorsed Andrew Friedson for Montgomery County Executive in the 2026 Montgomery County Democratic Primary Election.
Additionally, GCAAR has endorsed the following candidates for Montgomery County Council:
- District 1: Drew Morrison
- District 2: Marilyn Balcombe
- District 3: Jud Ashman
- District 4: Kate Stewart
- District 5: No endorsement
- District 6: No endorsement
- District 7: Dawn Luedtke
- Council At-Large: Scott Goldberg
- Council At-Large: Karla Silvestre
- Council At-Large: Jim McNulty
Additional details about each candidate can be found on GCAAR’s website at gcaar.com/endorsements.
About GCAAR
The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS®, one of the largest local REALTOR® associations in the U.S., is the voice for REALTORS® in Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland. Representing more than 11,000 real estate professionals in the greater capital area, GCAAR provides services vital to its members’ daily business needs and works with lawmakers to ensure public policy that encourages homeownership and supports the real estate industry. For more information, visit www.GCAAR.com.