Candidates for County Executive
There is no incumbent in this race. The current County Executive was term-limited and cannot run again.
Minthun Banerjee
Democrat - Candidate (website)
Has not responded to our questions about funding for the Maryland Israel Development Center.
Andrew Friedson
Democrat - Candidate (website)
Voted to support funding for the Maryland Israel Development Center (MIDC). Watch 90 second video on why he supports funding of the MIDC.
Was the sponsor for the IHRA definition of anti-semitism which is a weaponized version meant to target critics of Israel.
Sent a letter to the Mayor of Takoma Park condemning the City for showing the film “Occupation of the American Mind.”
Made a public statement condemning Montgomery College showing the film Occupation of the American Mind.
Attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Rada Technology (an Israeli weapons manufacturer) and Aerovironment (US manufacturer of Kamikaze Drones). Aerovironment then bought an Israeli weapons manufacturers. (see video).
Evan Glass
Democrat - Candidate (website)
Voted to support funding for the Maryland Israel Development Center .
Voted to support the IHRA definition of anti-semitism which is a weaponized version meant to target critics of Israel.
Sent a letter to the Mayor of Takoma Park condemning the City for showing the film “Occupation of the American Mind.”
Attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Aerovironment (US manufacturer of Kamikaze Drones). Aerovironment then bought an Israeli weapons manufacturers. (see video).
Here is a video response when he was posed the question on February 1, 2026
At a February 23rd meeting at Sandy Spring, also failed to give a definitive response on the MIDC and like the video deflected saying that the vote in County Council was unanimous.
Peter James
Democrat - Candidate (website)
Has not responded to our questions about funding for the Maryland Israel Development Center.
Will Jawando
Democrat - Candidate (website)
Voted to support funding for the Maryland Israel Development Center .
Voted to support the IHRA definition of anti-semitism which is a weaponized version meant to target critics of Israel.
Sent a letter to the Mayor of Takoma Park condemning the City for showing the film “Occupation of the American Mind.”
His staff manhandled several activists who stood in line at a campaign event (before they even said a word) because they knew they were planning to ask him about the MIDC.
Shelly Skolnick
Republican - Candidate
Has not responded to our questions about funding for the Maryland Israel Development Center.
Esther Wells
Republican - Candidate (website)
Has not responded to our questions about funding for the Maryland Israel Development Center.