By Adam Pagnucco.
Last week, we reported that Republican Council District 7 nominee Harold Maldonado has stated that the Mossad (Israel’s national intelligence agency) controls MoCo’s elected officials; Democrats want a civil war and tried to assassinate President Donald Trump; Pearl Harbor, 9/11, school shootings and October 7 were “false flags” and has repeated an allegation that “The U.S. and Israeli Mossad work hand-in-glove with terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS.”
Today, the Montgomery County Republican Party has announced that it has “decided to discontinue its support of Harold Maldonado as a candidate for Montgomery County Council, and will not include him on its 2026 general-election voter guide.” That decision occurred as a result of a motion made by Republican Council District 1 nominee Reardon “Sully” Sullivan at last night’s meeting of the party’s central committee, which the committee approved unanimously.
Following are statements from the party’s chairman, Sully and Esther Wells, the Republican nominee for county executive. Let’s start with Chairman Dennis Melby.
*****
PRESS RELEASE
WITHDRAWN SUPPORT
September 23, 2026
At a meeting last night, the Montgomery County Republican Party decided to discontinue its support of Harold Maldonado as a candidate for Montgomery County Council, and will not include him on its 2026 general-election voter guide.
Statements recently unearthed cannot be tolerated. We reject as baseless and unacceptable his allegations that Mossad controls Montgomery County elected officials. We oppose antisemitism, bigotry, and all forms of baseless conspiracy theories—regardless of who they target, or the political cause used to advance them.
Political debate must be grounded in facts, verifiable evidence, and respect for every Montgomery County resident. Criticism of any government, public official, or public policy is legitimate; but unsupported claims that a foreign intelligence agency secretly controls local elected officials are not.
As a Party, we’ve asked that Democrats denounce outrageous statements from many of their candidates and spokesmen, Hasan Piker, Graham Platner, Abdul El-Sayed to name just a few.
Our focus remains on electing serious, responsible leaders prepared to address Montgomery County’s real challenges: affordability, taxes, public safety, schools, transportation, and accountable government.
We have great candidates and excellent choices for Montgomery County voters; we take elections seriously – and wish other parties would also police their own.
Dennis Melby
Chairman
Montgomery County Republican Central Committee
*****
This is Sully’s statement.
*****
September 23, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sullivan Condemns Maldonado’s Antisemitic Conspiracy Claims, Calls For The Montgomery County Republican Central Committee to Discontinue Support of Maldonado’s Campaign
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Reardon “Sully” Sullivan, candidate for Montgomery County Council District 1 and First Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Republican Party, condemned statements made by Republican District 7 Council candidate Harold Maldonado and called on the Montgomery County Republican Party to discontinue its support of Mr. Maldonado’s campaign. The Montgomery County GOP passed this motion unanimously.
“Harold Maldonado’s statements are his alone. They do not represent my views, and they should not be portrayed as representing the views of other Republican candidates in Montgomery County,” Sullivan said.
Maldonado has publicly circulated claims involving Mossad and Montgomery County political officials, along with other conspiracy allegations reported in local media. Sullivan said those statements cross a line.
“Claims that Mossad controls political officials, offered without credible evidence, are irresponsible and unacceptable,” Sullivan said. “Antisemitism and rhetoric that invokes antisemitic conspiracy theories must be rejected unequivocally.
Sullivan’s motion calling on the Montgomery County Republican Party to discontinues its support for Harold Maldonado, removes Harold Maldonado from the MCGOP voter’s guide, and removes Harold Maldonado from our social media passed unanimously at the party’s full central committee meeting yesterday. The MCGOP rejects irrational conspiracy theories, and is unequivocally opposed to antisemitism.
“Montgomery County Republicans should make clear that these statements do not speak for our party or our candidates,” Sullivan said. “I believe that discontinue its support of Maldonado’s campaign is the appropriate way to make that distinction unmistakable.”
Sullivan emphasizes that Montgomery County residents deserve practical, common-sense solutions to the kitchen table issues facing County government, including affordability, taxes and spending, education, public safety, economic growth, and government accountability.
“We can disagree about taxes, schools, transportation, housing and the direction of Montgomery County,” Sullivan said. “Those are legitimate political debates, but unfounded antisemitic conspiracy theories are not.”
Sullivan concluded: “I reject Maldonado statements unequivocally. They do not speak for me, and Harold Maldonado does not speak for my campaign.
*****
This is the statement by Esther Wells.
*****
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2026
Statement from Esther Wells, Republican Nominee for Montgomery County Executive, on the
MCGOP Committee’s Retraction of Support and Endorsement of Harold Maldonado
Montgomery County needs principled leadership with moral clarity. I support the MCGOP’s decision to discontinue its support of Harold Maldonado for County Council District 7.
As the Republican nominee for County Executive, I am proud to see my party lead from the front on the issue of hate. This decision reflects courage, discipline, and a strong moral compass at a moment when residents are looking for real change and real leadership.
Because I was named in the original article, closing the loop publicly is important. The article caused real harm to volunteers who crossed party lines, worked tirelessly for this campaign, supported my values and platform, and trusted me with their vote and their future. I could not stand by silently or abandon them in a moment of pain and discrimination.
The reported statements attributed to Mr. Maldonado were deeply troubling and inconsistent with the values Montgomery County deserves from anyone seeking public office. Antisemitism, antiBlack hate, discrimination, and conspiracy-driven rhetoric have no place in our community, our politics, or our party.
This is the kind of leadership Montgomery County residents have been asking for: leadership rooted in facts, accountability, public safety, and equal dignity for every community. Thank you to the MCGOP for your courage, leadership, strength, and coherence in meeting this moment.
This action also shows the rebranding underway within the Montgomery County Republican Party. We are building a home for residents who want competence over chaos, courage over silence, and principled leadership over politics as usual.
To Montgomery County residents looking for real change and real leadership: there is a place for you here. The MCGOP is becoming that home and that space. Join us.
Media Contact:
Citizens for Esther Wells
VoteForEsther@gmail.com