Members of the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) announced their endorsements Friday for county races in the June 2026 election primary.
Getting on the teacher’s union Apple Ballot is considered a boon and includes a vast volunteer force.
Councilmember Will Jawando is their choice for county executive.
Other endorsements include:
- School Board member Julie Yang for Council District 1;
- Rockville councilmember Izola Shaw for Council District 2;
- Kate Stewart (incumbent) for Council District 4;
- Kristin Mink (incumbent) in District 5; and
- Council President Natali Fani-González (incumbent) in District 6.
Their choices for the four at-large seats include:
- Fatmata Barrie;
- Josie Caballero;
- County Executive Marc Elrich; and
- Laurie-Anne Sayles (incumbent).
“I’m honored to earn the endorsement of our educators who show up every single day for our kids,” Jawando said. “They come in early, stay late, and buy supplies out of their own pockets. They’ve invested in our students and we have to keep investing in them. As County Executive, MCEA will always have a partner in my office.”
For the Montgomery County Board of Education, the MCEA members selected:
- Board President Grace Rivera Oven;
- Sally McCarthy in District 3; and
- Omar Lazo for at-large.
“We were fortunate to have had the opportunity to interview such a dedicated group of candidates who understand that public education is the basis for the success of our entire community,” said MCEA President, David Stein. “When public education is under attack on many fronts as it is now, we know we can count on these candidates to work with us to fully fund the education budget, put educators and students first, and prioritize public education,” he said.
Stein also touted the community’s trust in the Apple Ballot in a recent statement. “Because they know educators have done their homework and have chosen the right candidates. We have total confidence in our endorsed candidates’ commitment to not just hold the line, but work with educators, parents and the community to move our schools and our County forward,” Stein wrote in a news release.
