For Immediate Release May 18, 2026 SILVER SPRING, MD
Education Leaders Condemn Super PAC Attack Ad Against Councilmember Will Jawando
$1.2 Million Real Estate Super PAC Launches Misleading TV Campaign as Jawando Fights to Fund Schools
SILVER SPRING, MD — Education Chair Will Jawando responded to a misleading attack ad funded by a $1.2 million Super PAC backed by developers, builders, and out-of-state real estate interests, including contributors from Boston, Chicago, and Baltimore. The ad, paid for by the so-called “Affordable Maryland PAC,” distorts Jawando’s record on education and taxes in an effort to mislead voters and derail his campaign for County Executive ahead of the June 23 Democratic primary.
The leaders of Montgomery County’s most prominent education organizations issued swift and forceful rebukes of the ad’s false claims.
“As an organization representing school administrators across this county, we know firsthand who consistently shows up for public education and who does not,” said MCAAP President Christine Handy. “Will Jawando has always shown up for students, educators, and school communities. These attacks are outrageous and completely inconsistent with his long record of advocacy for public education. It is deeply disappointing to see anyone attempt to portray otherwise.”
“These ugly attacks come from outside developers who care more about prioritizing profit over people and care little about our students,” said MCEA President David Stein. “They’re willing to spend $200,000 on ads that lie about our schools, rather than investing in our county’s students. Educators have endorsed Councilmember Jawando because he stands up to bullies and does what’s right for schools.”
“This ad is a transparent attempt by wealthy developers to buy an election because Will Jawando always stands up for working families,” said SEIU Local 500 President Pia Morrison. “This morning, the Council voted to restore additional funding for our schools, and Will was leading the fight to make that happen. He always fights for the support staff who keep our schools running every single day. That is why they are doing everything they can to stop him, and that is exactly why Montgomery County needs him as County Executive.”
“While I was on the dais fighting to protect funding for our schools, developers launched a dark-money campaign to lie about my education record,” said Councilmember Will Jawando. “I am not for sale and Montgomery County is not for sale. I will never back down from fighting for our kids, for renters, or for working people. They can spend whatever they want. I have something they can never buy: the trust of Montgomery County’s educators, school staff, parents, and students.”
The ad began airing on Friday while Councilmember Jawando was in a Council work session dedicated to FY27 budget discussions, fighting to protect education funding during one of the most difficult budget cycles in Montgomery County history. As Chair of the Education and Culture Committee, Jawando put forward a detailed budget alternative that would have funded 99.15 percent of the Board of Education’s request while rejecting the County Executive’s proposed property tax increase. While developers were spending their money to attack his education record, Jawando was fighting to save educators’ jobs.
The ad is funded by the Affordable Maryland PAC, the same Super PAC that ran negative TV ads against County Executive Marc Elrich in 2022. Its contributors include entities linked to Boston Properties, one of the nation’s largest real estate investment trusts, and Equity Residential, one of the nation’s largest apartment building owners, whose CEO last year publicly attacked Montgomery County’s landmark law that protects renters from rent gouging.
Councilmember Jawando has been a leading champion of rent stabilization, education funding, and tax fairness throughout his tenure on the Council. He chairs the Education and Culture Committee and has consistently fought to expand resources for students, teachers, and school staff across Montgomery County.
Councilmember Jawando has been endorsed by organizations including the Montgomery County Education Association (Apple Ballot), CASA in Action, Metro Washington Labor Council AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, SEIU Local 500, SEIU 32BJ, 1199 SEIU, LiUNA, IUPAT DC 51, SMART, ATU Local 689, Working Families Party, Collective PAC, Progressive Maryland, Jews United For Justice Campaign Fund, NAPAC-DMV, and the Philadelphia/Baltimore/Washington Laborers’ District Council. He has also been endorsed by leaders including 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, District 5 Councilmember Kristin Mink, former Councilmember Nancy Navarro, State Delegate Pam Queen, Rockville City Councilmember Izola Shaw, Somerset Mayor Jeffrey Slavin, Somerset Councilmember Rohit Khanna, and Somerset Councilmember Debbie Heller.