Members from SEIU 500, 32BJ SEIU, and 1199SEIU commit to robust canvassing operation to support campaign
Gaithersburg, MD – Today, members and leaders of SEIU 500, 32BJ SEIU and 1199SEIU announced their endorsement of Will Jawando for County Executive. The three unions represent a combined 40,000 workers in Maryland including property services, home care, school support, higher education, nonprofit, and child care workers.
"In Montgomery County, we're fortunate to have amazing leaders, and Will Jawando is one of those upstanding leaders who makes us proud to live and work here. That's why we're proud to announce our endorsement of his campaign for County Executive today. Will is a civil rights attorney, a father, and a friend to working families who believes in using his office to better the lives of the people in our communities. It's been a pleasure working with Will on the County Council, and we're excited to work with him as County Executive."
"We know Will, because we've worked with him on the County Council for years. His tireless work on the issues that matter most to working families, from public schools to the cost of living, make him the natural choice to be the county's next executive. Will knows that we are in an affordability crisis, and that working families -- the same families who are already asked to bear the brunt in every economic downturn -- are suffering right now. With the cost of living rising to unprecedented heights around the country and right here in Montgomery County, we need a leader who will fight for working families, and that leader is Will Jawando."
"Will Jawando is a proven champion for low-wage workers, who stands up to Maryland contractors, like K&S, and building owners, like Meso-Scale Diagnostics, who try to act above the law and mistreat the people who keep our economy running. He understands that the Montgomery County Displaced Service Workers Protection Act was designed to protect hard-working office cleaners who often lose their jobs through no fault of their own."
Jawando recently demanded that Meso-Scale Diagnostics comply with the law after the cleaning company at one of their office buildings refused to hire incumbent janitors, leaving them without jobs through no fault of their own. The law prevents low-wage workers from being immediately dismissed when the contractor changes at their worksite.
"1199 healthcare workers are excited to endorse Will Jawando for Montgomery County executive. Will understands how important it is for our region to have a robust healthcare workforce. As county executive, he will work with local colleges to ensure more people have opportunities to enter the profession, which will also help to fix pervasive short staffing in our state. Healthcare workers are also worried about patient care access after federal Medicaid cuts. We know that Will shares these concerns and will prioritize affordability and access for all."
1199SEIU UHWE also cited landmark rent stabilization legislation Jawando authored, which will allow workers to live closer to the communities they serve in one of the most expensive regions in the country.
The joint endorsement comes with a commitment from the unions’ membership to mount robust canvassing operations to educate voters and drive turnout. With a heavy membership density in Montgomery County, the unions are poised to play a pivotal role towards the primary election on June 23 and the general election on November 3, 2026.
"I'm proud to earn the endorsement of SEIU Local 500, SEIU 32BJ, and SEIU 1199. These unions represent the educators, building workers, and healthcare professionals who keep Montgomery County running. I've fought alongside them on the Council for fair wages, strong contracts, and safe working conditions. I'm grateful for their trust in me, and I won't let them down."
About SEIU 500, 32BJ SEIU, and 1199SEIU
SEIU Local 500 represents over 20,000 workers across the region, from over 10,000 support staff professionals at Montgomery County Public Schools to faculty, staff and graduate student workers in the higher education sector to childcare providers to nonprofit employees and more. For years, the union has been the fastest-growing labor union in the region, organizing new workplaces and signing members across Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. A politically active union with an engaged membership, Local 500 has helped pass legislation to expand collective bargaining rights across Maryland and has led the fight for paid family and medical leave.
With 185,000 members in 12 states, including over 10,000 who work or live in Maryland among 22,000 in the D.C. area, and Richmond, VA, 32BJ SEIU is the nation’s largest property service workers union.
With over 450,000 caregivers, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in the nation. The 1199SEIU Maryland/DC Division represents over 10,000 members who work in major academic medical centers, hospitals, and long-term care facilities in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and throughout Maryland.
