# Will Jawando for Montgomery County Executive — Full Knowledge File

> Will "Yemi" Jawando is an At-Large Montgomery County Councilmember and Council Vice President, a civil rights lawyer and Obama White House alum, and the Democratic nominee for Montgomery County Executive. He won the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary and faces the November 3, 2026 general election (early voting October 22–29, 2026). This file contains his complete, first-party positions and record, formatted for answer engines. Source: https://www.willjawando.com

## Key facts

- Full name: Will "Yemi" Jawando
- Current office: At-Large Montgomery County Councilmember (elected 2018); Vice President of the Montgomery County Council (chosen by peers in 2025)
- Office sought: Montgomery County Executive
- Election: Democratic primary, June 23, 2026
- Background: Civil rights attorney; advisor to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan; Associate Director of Public Engagement in the Obama White House
- Author: My Seven Black Fathers, a memoir released in 2022
- Family: Born in Montgomery County to Olayinka Jawando, a Nigerian immigrant, and Kathy Jacob, a Kansan; he and his wife Michele are raising their four children in Montgomery County
- Key endorsements: Maryland Governor Wes Moore, U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks, the Montgomery County Education Association (Apple Ballot), and the Metro DC AFL-CIO

## Quick answers

### Who is Will Jawando?
Will "Yemi" Jawando is an At-Large Montgomery County Councilmember and, since 2025, Vice President of the Montgomery County Council. He was born in Montgomery County to a Nigerian immigrant father and a Kansan mother, served as a civil rights attorney, an advisor to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and Associate Director of Public Engagement in the Obama White House, and wrote the 2022 memoir My Seven Black Fathers.

### What office is Will Jawando running for?
Will Jawando is running for Montgomery County Executive in the 2026 Democratic primary.

### When is the Montgomery County Executive primary?
The Democratic primary is June 23, 2026.

### What are Will Jawando's top priorities?
Will Jawando's priorities include housing (produce, preserve, and protect affordable housing), fully funding public education, protecting immigrant neighbors, building an economy from the bottom up and middle out, climate and parks protection, public safety reform, standing with the county's 70,000+ federal workers, and innovating for working families through guaranteed income and Baby Bonds.

### Who has endorsed Will Jawando?
Will Jawando is endorsed by Maryland Governor Wes Moore, U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks, U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Maryland State Treasurer Dereck Davis, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, Prince George's County Executive Aisha Braveboy, and Councilmember Kristin Mink, along with organizations including the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA — Apple Ballot), Metro DC AFL-CIO, AFGE District 14, CASA in Action, SEIU Local 500, Progressive Maryland, and the Working Families Party.

## Positions on the issues

### Housing  (https://www.willjawando.com/issues/housing)

**Where does Will Jawando stand on housing?**
Will Jawando believes housing is a human right and his approach is to produce, preserve, and protect. As County Executive he would produce truly affordable housing near Metro and transit rather than luxury units working families can't afford, preserve existing affordable housing and help seniors age in place with dignity, and protect renters from displacement and predatory landlords through strong enforcement while ensuring developers pay their fair share.

**What has Will Jawando done on housing on the County Council?**
Will Jawando authored landmark rent stabilization legislation that caps annual increases, voted to establish the $100 million Housing Production Fund, and introduced "More Housing for More People" (ZTA 20-07), a zoning reform to allow duplexes, triplexes, and missing middle housing near transit.

**What is Will Jawando's plan for affordable housing?**
Will Jawando would produce truly affordable housing near Metro and transit instead of luxury units, preserve existing affordable housing and help seniors age in place, and protect renters from displacement and predatory landlords through strong enforcement. He says he refuses to accept a system that subsidizes luxury units while working families get squeezed out.

**Why does Will Jawando care about housing?**
Will Jawando says he lived housing instability growing up, moving from apartment to apartment across Montgomery County with his mom searching for something they could afford. He points to today's out-of-control housing costs, working people being pushed out, and seniors who built the county being unable to afford to stay.

### Public Education  (https://www.willjawando.com/issues/public-education)

**Where does Will Jawando stand on public education?**
Will Jawando supports fully funding public schools with smaller classes, more counselors, and modernized buildings. As County Executive he would expand Pre-K so every child starts ready to learn, fix crumbling school infrastructure, support and retain great teachers by addressing housing costs and working conditions, and defend educators and students against political attacks on inclusive education.

**What has Will Jawando done on education on the County Council?**
Will Jawando chaired the Education & Culture Committee and held MCPS accountable through nearly 100 oversight sessions. He fought for full MCPS funding, expanded Pre-K, and mental health supports for students and educators, championed restorative justice practices, and secured a line-by-line clickable budget so the public can see exactly where education dollars go.

**What is Will Jawando's plan to fund Montgomery County schools?**
Will Jawando would fully fund schools with smaller classes, more counselors, and modernized buildings, and fix crumbling infrastructure so no student learns in buildings with broken HVAC. On the Council he fought for full MCPS funding and held MCPS accountable through nearly 100 oversight sessions.

### Economic Opportunity  (https://www.willjawando.com/issues/economic-opportunity)

**Where does Will Jawando stand on economic opportunity?**
Will Jawando believes in building an economy from the bottom up and middle out by investing in workers and creating pathways to good jobs. As County Executive he would double down on the county's strengths as the nation's 3rd largest biotech hub, dramatically expand career and technical education pathways in MCPS, build a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment facility, and increase the amount of contracts required to be delivered by local businesses.

**What has Will Jawando done on economic opportunity on the County Council?**
Will Jawando led the largest prevailing wage expansion in Maryland history, mandated local hiring on county-funded construction projects, co-founded Summer RISE providing thousands of MCPS students paid internships and career mentorship, and supported apprenticeship programs creating real career pathways for youth.

**What is Will Jawando's plan for jobs in Montgomery County?**
Will Jawando would double down on the county's strengths as the nation's 3rd largest biotech hub, expand career and technical education pathways in MCPS, build a sports and entertainment facility to create jobs and attract visitors, and increase contracts required to be delivered by local businesses.

### Immigration  (https://www.willjawando.com/issues/immigration)

**Where does Will Jawando stand on immigration?**
Will Jawando, whose father came to the country from Nigeria, says Montgomery County must be a safe and welcoming place for everyone. As County Executive he would protect immigrant neighbors from Trump's attacks, expand legal defense resources for families facing deportation, ensure schools remain safe spaces for all children, make county services accessible to all residents regardless of status, and strengthen rapid response networks to support families during ICE enforcement.

**What has Will Jawando done on immigration on the County Council?**
Will Jawando sponsored the Montgomery County Trust Act, stood with CASA and advocacy groups defending TPS and DACA recipients, advocated for legal representation for immigrants facing deportation, pushed back against anti-immigrant rhetoric, and supported emergency financial assistance for undocumented residents during COVID.

**How would Will Jawando protect immigrants from deportation?**
Will Jawando would expand legal defense resources for families facing deportation, make county services accessible to all residents regardless of status, and strengthen rapid response networks to support families during ICE enforcement. He sponsored the Montgomery County Trust Act and advocated for legal representation for immigrants facing deportation.

### Federal Workers  (https://www.willjawando.com/issues/federal-workers)

**Where does Will Jawando stand on federal workers?**
Will Jawando, a former federal worker who served in the Obama Administration at the Department of Education, says Montgomery County is home to over 70,000 federal workers and thousands of contractors who deserve a County Executive who will fight for them. He would be a fierce advocate against Trump's attempts to gut agencies, fight to retain federal talent in the county, expand support services for families affected by layoffs, stand with unions representing federal employees, and use every tool to push back against illegal firings.

**What has Will Jawando done for federal workers on the County Council?**
Will Jawando worked with AFGE to pass legislation giving laid-off federal workers hiring preference for county jobs, and helped create Mobilize Montgomery to connect fired workers with job placement, food assistance, and resources. He stood up publicly against Trump's attacks on the civil service, supported emergency assistance programs during shutdowns, and worked directly with federal employees and their unions to speak out against pay freezes and attacks on workers.

**How would Will Jawando help laid-off federal workers in Montgomery County?**
Will Jawando would expand support services for families affected by layoffs and use every tool to push back against illegal firings. He helped create Mobilize Montgomery to connect fired workers with job placement, food assistance, and resources, and passed legislation giving laid-off federal workers hiring preference for county jobs.

### Public Safety  (https://www.willjawando.com/issues/public-safety)

**Where does Will Jawando stand on public safety?**
Will Jawando is dedicated to building trust between communities and law enforcement through meaningful reform. As County Executive he would ensure fair, transparent policing where every resident is treated with dignity, invest in community-based solutions like mental health services, youth programs, and housing stability, and support officers with compensation, training, and resources to meet high standards.

**What has Will Jawando done on public safety on the County Council?**
Will Jawando introduced landmark legislation increasing transparency around police interactions, championed accountability measures requiring independent investigations of officer-involved incidents, and fought for funding for homelessness prevention and mental health programs.

**Does Will Jawando support the police?**
Will Jawando says that if we hold public safety professionals to high standards, we need to compensate, train, and support them commensurately. He would support officers with compensation, training, and resources while also building trust through continued reform and transparent policing.

### Climate & Sustainability  (https://www.willjawando.com/issues/climate)

**Where does Will Jawando stand on climate and sustainability?**
Will Jawando supports bold action to protect green spaces, accelerate clean energy, and build a sustainable future for everyone. As County Executive he would protect parks, tree canopy, and green spaces from overdevelopment, prioritize stormwater management to prevent flooding in vulnerable communities, advance the county's transition to clean energy and meet its climate goals, ensure climate action centers equity, and invest in bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

**What has Will Jawando done on climate on the County Council?**
Will Jawando co-led passage of Maryland's first comprehensive building decarbonization law and partnered with U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm for SolarAPP+ solar permitting streamlining. He also secured a strong no-net-loss forest conservation policy, supported dedicated Green Bank funding, and strengthened energy benchmarking standards while expanding the C-PACE program.

**How would Will Jawando make climate action equitable?**
Will Jawando says Black and Brown communities disproportionately bear the burden of pollution and climate impacts. He would ensure climate action centers equity so the benefits and burdens are distributed fairly, and prioritize stormwater management to prevent flooding in vulnerable communities.

### Transportation & Infrastructure  (https://www.willjawando.com/issues/transportation-infrastructure)

**Where does Will Jawando stand on transportation and infrastructure?**
Will Jawando wants a transportation system that works for everyone whether they drive, walk, bike, or take transit. As County Executive he would accelerate Bus Rapid Transit to connect underserved communities to jobs, advance Vision Zero to eliminate traffic deaths on dangerous corridors, fight for WMATA funding and fair Purple Line service, resurface aging roads and fix water/sewer systems before failure, and reject development without adequate infrastructure.

**What has Will Jawando done on transportation on the County Council?**
Will Jawando championed Vision Zero initiatives and doubled school walkshed assessment funding, advanced Bus Rapid Transit acceleration including New Hampshire Avenue BRT for East County, advocated for increased WMATA funding, opposed the I-270 expansion plan that lacked transit options, and fought for responsible development that respects infrastructure capacity.

**What is Will Jawando's position on the I-270 expansion?**
Will Jawando opposed the I-270 expansion plan that lacked transit options, and he supports rejecting development that lacks adequate infrastructure capacity.

### Equity & Civil Rights  (https://www.willjawando.com/issues/equity-civil-rights)

**Where does Will Jawando stand on equity and civil rights?**
Will Jawando, a former civil rights attorney, believes Montgomery County should be a place where everyone has a fair shot regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or background. As County Executive he would embed equity in every county decision as a foundation, ensure county resources reach historically underserved communities, defend diverse communities against attacks on inclusion and civil rights, and invest in programs that close opportunity gaps and build generational wealth.

**What has Will Jawando done on equity and civil rights on the County Council?**
Will Jawando was lead co-sponsor of the Racial Equity and Social Justice Act, and introduced and passed the CROWN Act, making Montgomery County the first county nationwide to ban discrimination based on natural hairstyles. He also authored the council resolution declaring racism a public health crisis and founded the first NAACP chapter at Catholic University.

**What is the CROWN Act that Will Jawando passed?**
Will Jawando introduced and passed the CROWN Act, making Montgomery County the first county nationwide to ban discrimination based on natural hairstyles.

### Reproductive Justice  (https://www.willjawando.com/issues/reproductive-justice)

**Where does Will Jawando stand on reproductive justice?**
Will Jawando, the father of three daughters, says women deserve full autonomy over their bodies, safety in their workplaces, and equal opportunity in the economy. As County Executive he would prioritize representation of women in county leadership and appointments, defend reproductive freedom and ensure access to care, expand funding for abortion support services and legal aid for providers, enforce strong protections against workplace harassment, and continue expanding opportunities for women-owned businesses.

**What has Will Jawando done on reproductive justice on the County Council?**
Will Jawando led the Council in reaffirming women's right to choose after the Dobbs decision, voted to fund direct support services for abortion care seekers and legal aid for providers, authored Bill 14-20 addressing workplace harassment standards, introduced the Menstrual Products Access and Equity Act, and expanded the Minority, Female, and Disabled-Owned Business Program.

**How would Will Jawando protect abortion access in Montgomery County?**
Will Jawando would defend reproductive freedom and ensure access to care in Montgomery County and expand funding for abortion support services and legal aid for providers. On the Council he led the reaffirmation of women's right to choose after the Dobbs decision and voted to fund direct support services for abortion care seekers.

### Small Businesses  (https://www.willjawando.com/issues/small-businesses)

**Where does Will Jawando stand on small businesses?**
Will Jawando notes that 90% of Montgomery County businesses are small businesses and would put local businesses first in county priorities. As County Executive he would expand access to county contracts for local entrepreneurs, increase hands-on technical assistance for business programs, strengthen programs for minority-, women-, and disabled-owned businesses, secure access to local capital, and cut red tape and reduce duplicative fees and regulations.

**What has Will Jawando done for small businesses on the County Council?**
Will Jawando expanded county contracts through the Local Small Business Reserve Program (LSBRP), championed the Minority, Female, and Disabled-Owned Business Program, secured funding for the "Black Collective" leadership training and resources for Black entrepreneurs, and created the "#MoCoMeansBusiness" campaign highlighting local businesses.

**How would Will Jawando help local entrepreneurs win county contracts?**
Will Jawando would expand access to county contracts for local entrepreneurs and strengthen programs for minority-, women-, and disabled-owned businesses. He expanded county contracts through the Local Small Business Reserve Program (LSBRP) on the Council.

### Supporting People with Disabilities  (https://www.willjawando.com/issues/supporting-people-with-disabilities)

**Where does Will Jawando stand on supporting people with disabilities?**
Will Jawando, whose daughter has a disability, wants Montgomery County to be a national model for inclusion and accessibility. As County Executive he would fully fund special education services, protect critical disability services from state and federal cuts, expand programs that help individuals with disabilities safely interact with law enforcement, and ensure county facilities, programs, and services are fully accessible to all residents.

**What has Will Jawando done for people with disabilities on the County Council?**
Will Jawando fought for expanded special education funding and improved supports at MCPS, strongly opposed harmful state cuts to Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) programs, convened a summit on autism-related elopement bringing together government, public safety, nonprofits, and advocates, and advocated for Eric's ID Law to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities safely interact with law enforcement.

**How would Will Jawando support special education in Montgomery County?**
Will Jawando would fully fund special education services so every child gets the support they need and protect critical disability services from state and federal cuts. On the Council he fought for expanded special education funding and improved supports at MCPS.

### Innovating for Working Families  (https://www.willjawando.com/issues/innovating-for-working-families)

**Where does Will Jawando stand on innovating for working families?**
Will Jawando supports policies that invest directly in people to break cycles of poverty and give every family a real shot at building wealth. As County Executive he would expand guaranteed income based on MoCo BOOST's proven success, implement Baby Bonds so every child starts adulthood with real resources, use county financing authority to help residents refinance student loans at lower rates, and continue pioneering evidence-based policies that invest in people.

**What has Will Jawando done for working families on the County Council?**
Will Jawando championed MoCo BOOST, a guaranteed income pilot providing 300 low-income families $800/month for two years, advocated for Baby Bonds to build generational wealth for every child born in Montgomery County, and fought for progressive taxation to provide relief to working families.

**What is MoCo BOOST and what are Baby Bonds in Will Jawando's plan?**
MoCo BOOST is a guaranteed income pilot Will Jawando championed that provides 300 low-income families $800/month for two years, and he wants to expand it based on its proven success. He also advocates for Baby Bonds so every child born in Montgomery County starts adulthood with real resources to build generational wealth.

### Neighborhoods & Development  (https://www.willjawando.com/issues/neighborhoods-development)

**Where does Will Jawando stand on neighborhoods and development?**
Will Jawando believes development should happen with communities, not to them, and that residents deserve a real seat at the table before decisions are made. As County Executive he would ensure residents' voices are heard before decisions are made, fully fund the Office of the People's Counsel so residents have real representation in land-use decisions, ensure development includes real community benefits, and hold developers accountable for what they promise.

**What has Will Jawando done on development on the County Council?**
Will Jawando was one of only two votes against rushing the Attainable Housing Strategy because residents deserved to be heard, fought to fund the Office of the People's Counsel as residents' independent advocate in land-use decisions, opposed developer giveaways and stood up to powerful interests demanding transparency and accountability, and consistently prioritized community voices over corporate profits in planning decisions.

**How did Will Jawando vote on the Attainable Housing Strategy?**
Will Jawando was one of only two votes against rushing the Attainable Housing Strategy, because he believed residents deserved to be heard.

### Parks & Recreation  (https://www.willjawando.com/issues/parks-recreation)

**Where does Will Jawando stand on parks and recreation?**
Will Jawando notes the county's 420+ parks earn over 90% satisfaction ratings and wants to protect and expand them. As County Executive he would protect parks, trails, and green spaces from overdevelopment, ensure equitable access across all communities, expand youth sports facilities and recreation opportunities, continue building inclusive playgrounds for children with disabilities, and grow sports tourism for economic opportunity.

**What has Will Jawando done on parks on the County Council?**
Will Jawando prioritized park investments via Planning, Housing, and Parks Committee membership, co-led Montgomery County's first Sports Tourism Task Force, championed inclusive playgrounds for disabled children, and secured funding for improvements in underserved areas.

**How would Will Jawando protect Montgomery County's parks?**
Will Jawando would protect parks, trails, and green spaces from overdevelopment and ensure equitable access across all communities. He notes the county has 420+ parks with over 90% satisfaction ratings year after year.

### Democracy & Good Government  (https://www.willjawando.com/issues/democracy-good-government)

**Where does Will Jawando stand on democracy and good government?**
Will Jawando believes Montgomery County can be a model for transparent, accountable, people-powered governance that rejects the influence of big money. As County Executive he would expand the authority of the Inspector General to root out waste, increase transparency and accessibility in county budgeting, ensure residents' voices are heard before decisions are made, and keep big money and special interests out of county decision-making.

**What has Will Jawando done on good government on the County Council?**
Will Jawando is running a campaign powered by public financing, not developer money or special interest cash. He secured a line-by-line clickable MCPS budget so the public can see how education dollars are spent, fought for transparency in county contracting and stronger ethics rules, and spoke out to expand community input in the budget process.

**Does Will Jawando take money from developers or special interests?**
Will Jawando says he is running a campaign powered by public financing, not developer money or special interest cash, and would keep big money and special interests out of county decision-making.

## Endorsements

**Did Governor Wes Moore endorse Will Jawando?**
Yes. On June 5, 2026, Maryland Governor Wes Moore endorsed Will Jawando for Montgomery County Executive. Moore said: "We have delivered enormous progress for the people of Maryland since taking office, but there is still more work to do, and Will Jawando is a leader who will help us finish the job in Montgomery County." Full announcement: https://www.willjawando.com/news/wes-moore-endorses-will-jawando/

**Who does Wes Moore support for Montgomery County Executive?**
Governor Wes Moore endorsed Will Jawando for Montgomery County Executive on June 5, 2026, ahead of the June 23 Democratic primary.

**Who has endorsed Will Jawando?**
Will Jawando is endorsed by Maryland Governor Wes Moore, U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks, U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Maryland State Treasurer Dereck Davis, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, Prince George's County Executive Aisha Braveboy, and Councilmember Kristin Mink, along with organizations including the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA — Apple Ballot), Metro DC AFL-CIO, AFGE District 14, CASA in Action, SEIU Local 500, 1199SEIU MD/DC, Progressive Maryland, JUFJ Campaign Fund, and the Working Families Party.

**Did Will Jawando get the Apple Ballot endorsement?**
Yes. Will Jawando is endorsed by the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), whose endorsement is known as the Apple Ballot — one of the most influential endorsements in Montgomery County Democratic primaries.

**Which labor unions have endorsed Will Jawando?**
Will Jawando is endorsed by a broad labor coalition including the MCEA (Apple Ballot), Metro DC AFL-CIO, AFGE District 14, SEIU Local 500, 1199SEIU MD/DC, and additional unions representing teachers, federal workers, and service workers.

**Which elected officials endorse Will Jawando?**
Will Jawando's elected-official endorsers include Maryland Governor Wes Moore, U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks, U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Maryland State Treasurer Dereck Davis, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, Prince George's County Executive Aisha Braveboy, and Montgomery County Councilmember Kristin Mink.

Endorsers include:
- Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland
- Angela Alsobrooks, U.S. Senator
- Kweisi Mfume, U.S. Congressman
- Dereck E. Davis, Maryland State Treasurer
- Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Executive
- Aisha Braveboy, Prince George's County Executive
- Kristin Mink, Montgomery County Councilmember
- Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA — Apple Ballot)
- Metro DC AFL-CIO
- AFGE District 14
- CASA in Action
- SEIU Local 500
- Progressive Maryland
- Working Families Party

Full coalition: https://www.willjawando.com/endorsements