By Adam Pagnucco.
In the wake of Democratic county executive nominee Will Jawando’s refusal to debate his Republican opponent, Esther Wells, the Montgomery County Republican Party has written the president of the county council requesting legislation to compel debates from publicly financed candidates. That would include Jawando, who collected $844,557 from taxpayers for his primary election campaign. The GOP cites debate requirements for publicly financed candidates in New York City and Los Angeles.
As I have previously noted, current County Executive Marc Elrich appeared at a forum with his GOP general election opponent, Reardon “Sully” Sullivan, in October 2022. Elrich also engaged in a 2018 general election debate against then-unaffiliated Council Member Nancy Floreen and Republican nominee Robin Ficker. And Governor Wes Moore just debated his Republican opponent, former Delegate Dan Cox. So Jawando is an outlier compared to them.
The county Republicans want the all-Democratic county council to amend its public financing law to require debates, preferably to cover the Jawando-Wells race. That’s not going to happen. But if the GOP really wanted to milk this issue, they could gather signatures for a charter amendment mandating debates for publicly financed candidates. That wouldn’t help their beleaguered candidates, but it would shame the Democrats for dodging them.
The county’s GOP’s press release, which contains the party’s letter to Council President Natali Fani-González, is reprinted below.
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PRESS RELEASE
MCGOP DEMANDS DEBATE
October 9, 2026
The Honorable Natali Fani-González
President, Montgomery County Council
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850
RE: Will Jawando’s refusal to debate, and an expedited amendment to the Public Election Fund law (County Code Chapter 16, Article IV) requiring debates or public town halls, effective for the 2026 general election
Dear Council President Fani-González:
The Montgomery County Republican Party requests expedited consideration of an amendment to Montgomery County Code, Chapter 16, Article IV (“Public Election Fund”), requiring candidates who receive public campaign funds to participate in at least one moderated public debate for each contested primary and general election. Participation in a primary-election debate would not satisfy the requirement for the general election. This request follows Democratic County Executive nominee Will Jawando’s refusal to debate Republican nominee Esther Wells. Taxpayers who help finance a campaign deserve an opportunity to hear candidates answer questions together and defend their positions.
EVEN NEW YORK AND LOS ANGELES REQUIRE IT
There is established precedent in Democratic strongholds, including New York City and Los Angeles. New York City Administrative Code § 3-709.5 requires qualifying candidates participating in its public financing program to attend official debates. In 2025, publicly financed Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani debated Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa and independent candidate Andrew Cuomo in the general election.
Los Angeles Municipal Code § 49.7.23(C)(6) requires candidates seeking public matching funds to debate an opponent or, if no opponent agrees, conduct a public town hall. In 2022, Karen Bass received public matching funds and debated Rick Caruso before the general election. Montgomery County taxpayers deserve the same opportunity to assess the candidates whose campaigns they help finance.
Therefore, we ask the Council to act with urgency in amending Chapter 16, Article IV, to:
- Require publicly financed candidates to participate in at least one moderated public debate with their ballot opponents for each contested primary and general election, with a separate debate obligation for each.
- Provide a moderated public town hall alternative when no opponent agrees to debate, with advance notice, press access, livestreaming, and a recording.
- Establish enforceable consequences for noncompliance, including withholding further public funds and requiring repayment where legally permissible, with a hearing and limited exceptions for circumstances beyond a candidate’s control.
We also request an immediate County Attorney opinion on whether these requirements can lawfully apply to remaining 2026 general-election disbursements, and prompt publication of current funding totals by the Department of Finance.
With voting underway, this issue warrants immediate attention. Regardless of the legislative timetable, we urge Councilmember Jawando to agree to debate Esther Wells before Election Day. Public financing should carry a clear obligation to public accountability. This requirement should apply equally to every participating candidate, regardless of party and should apply to both the primary and general elections.
Respectfully,
Dennis Melby
Chairman
Montgomery County Republican Central Committee