By Adam Pagnucco.
With our series on Democratic turnout complete, it’s time to turn to this year’s landmark Democratic county executive primary. We begin with lists of the assets and liabilities possessed by the three council members who led the race. First up: the winner, Will Jawando.
Will Jawando
Under attack by the real estate industry, Jawando predicted, “Together, we will win.” He was right.
Assets
Charisma: This one is obvious. Just observe him in a public setting. Jawando has every personal asset that would make other politicians jealous: a great voice, good looks, a sense of humor and easy gravitas. I have been watching MoCo candidates for more than twenty years and Jawando might be the most naturally charismatic of all of them.
Progressive leadership: During his two terms on the council, Jawando’s visibility, policy stances and willingness to go out on a limb made him the county’s leading progressive. That cut both ways (see liabilities below) but it did make him a heavy favorite to get progressive endorsements.
Chair of council’s Education and Culture Committee: At the beginning of his second term, Jawando was not thrilled to get the education committee chair when he was going for council vice-president and the planning and housing committee. But he quickly got over that and used his chair to advocate for MCPS and build his relationship with the teachers union, who eventually became his most important endorser.
Apple Ballot: Jawando owned the most influential endorsement in MoCo politics.
Favorable geography: In his 2022 council at-large primary, Jawando finished first in Takoma Park, Downtown Silver Spring and the Route 29 corridor that is home to many Black MoCo Democrats. That’s a nice starting point for a countywide race.
Lots of campaign experience: Jawando had more campaign experience than any of his opponents. Consider his races in 2014 (District 20 Delegate), 2016 (Congress), 2018 and 2022 (Council at-large) and 2023 (U.S. Senate). Yes, he lost or withdrew from three of these races, but he kept building name recognition, fundraising contacts and experience.
Good fundraiser: Sure, Andrew Friedson led the race in money, but Jawando raised enough resources to win.
Marc Elrich and Wes Moore: These were Jawando’s two key individual endorsements. Elrich (who finished first in the council at-large primary) helped Jawando access his base of development opponents, which was useful for Jawando in Chevy Chase (among other places). Moore’s late endorsement helped seal the deal for Jawando with undecided voters in June.
Dave Kunes: Jawando’s chief of staff and lead strategist, Kunes combines policy and politics like few others in MoCo. Kunes’s affability, acumen and ability to size up opponents makes him Jawando’s most valuable aide. He will be a huge asset for the new administration – unless somebody else steals him first.
Liabilities
The real estate industry: As the county’s foremost champion of rent control, Jawando was never going to be the favorite of the local real estate industry. But Jawando kicked it up a notch by openly telling developers “don’t come here.” Real estate folks responded by spending $1.4 million to oppose him, which is probably a record for negative spending against a MoCo executive candidate. This is going to be an ongoing problem for Jawando’s administration because if his relationship with the real estate industry does not improve, it will be hard to generate the economic growth the county badly needs.
Taxes: Jawando voted against the 2023 property tax hike because he wanted it to be even higher and later supported a broad-based income tax increase. Those positions proved to be a problem among some segments of this year’s electorate, so Jawando shifted to opposing Elrich’s recommended tax increases. Still, Friedson hammered home the issue through mail.
Public safety: Jawando’s past history of wanting to defund the police and favoring the removal of police officers from schools aroused the antipathy of the county’s public safety unions and some voters concerned about crime. It will be interesting to watch police officer staffing during Jawando’s administration.
Housing: Jawando has never been enthusiastic about tax breaks for developers, but he was once aligned with Friedson and Evan Glass on most land use measures that would have encouraged housing. However, he eventually changed his mind, earning the ire of housing supporters and real estate folks. Greater Greater Washington chronicled his history on the issue. However, this issue was also a plus because it encouraged support from Elrich and development opponents.
Ambition: I expect politicians to be ambitious and am generally skeptical of those who are not. However, some activists looked at Jawando’s many runs for all kinds of offices as evidence of hubris. Many in the chattering class expect Jawando to run for higher office, like Congress, Governor or maybe Attorney General (if vacant) as soon as possible.
Next: Andrew Friedson.