By Adam Pagnucco.
In response to a complaint filed against Council Member Will Jawando’s county executive campaign alleging that he illegally coordinated with the Working Families Party, the State Board of Elections (SBE) has cleared him of wrongdoing. In a letter to Jawando’s treasurer, SBE “has reviewed and relied on the information provided by the campaign’s legal attorney” that there were no communications, no agreement and no sharing of information between the two entities and that “WFP independently determined and controlled its expenditures.” Accordingly, “This correspondence serves as notice that SBE has concluded its review and has closed its file on this matter and that the available evidence does not warrant further investigation or enforcement proceedings.”
The letter from SBE is reprinted below.
*****
June 15, 2026
Michelle Rush
Treasurer – Jawando Will for Montgomery County
Filing Entity ID: 15015450
14613 Carona Dr,
Silver Spring, MD 20905.
Dear Ms. Rush,
The Maryland State Board of Elections has completed its review of the matters raised in the complaints received on May 28, 2026, concerning expenditures made by the Working Families Party (WFP) PAC in support of Will Jawando for Montgomery County Executive.
As part of its review, SBE issued an inquiry letter dated June 4, 2026, requesting information regarding allegations that a contribution from Will Jawando for Maryland to WFP PAC and subsequent expenditures by WFP PAC constituted coordinated expenditures or otherwise violated Maryland campaign finance law.
SBE has reviewed and relied on the information provided by the campaign’s legal attorney in response to its inquiry, including the representations that:
- No communications occurred between the Committee and WFP regarding expenditures supporting the Montgomery County Executive campaign
- No agreement existed concerning how WFP would utilize funds received from the federal committee
- No non-public campaign information, including polling, targeting, messaging, research, media plans, or strategic information, was shared with WFP; and
- WFP independently determined and controlled its expenditures.
SBE further consulted with the Office of the State Prosecutor regarding the allegations and the information available during the review.
Based upon the information obtained during this inquiry, SBE has not identified sufficient evidence to establish coordination under COMAR 33.13.10.04(B) or any other violation of MD campaign finance law. Accordingly, no further action will be taken regarding this matter.
This correspondence serves as notice that SBE has concluded its review and has closed its file on this matter and that the available evidence does not warrant further investigation or enforcement proceedings.
Thank you for your cooperation and timely response to SBE’s inquiry.
Sincerely,
Niyi Awodele
Internal Audit Supervisor
cc: William Jawando, Candidate/Chairman, Jawando Will for Montgomery County
