Montgomery County, Maryland

The JUFJ Campaign Fund is thrilled to join a powerful group of unions, educators, immigrant advocates, and civic leaders in endorsing Will Jawando for County Executive. We have worked side by side with Councilmember Jawando over the last 8 years to keep people in their homes, create safer schools, provide more accountability in police interactions, protect our immigrant neighbors, and make critical budget decisions that prioritize the most vulnerable community members. As County Executive, he is committed to growing the economy from the bottom up, investing in education, and expanding access to affordable housing.

The JUFJ Campaign Fund was proud to endorse Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles four years ago when she won her historic race for County Council At-Large. Councilmember Sayles has been a critical vote for our coalitions’ victories over the past four years, and we are proud to endorse her again in 2026. As the new chair of the Council’s Health and Human Services Committee, we have seen Councilmember Sayles listen closely to community concerns on each issue that comes before her and show her commitment to building a sustainable future for all residents, regardless of background or wealth.

Fatmata Barrie is an immigration and special education attorney, a former staffer in Councilmember Jawando’s office, and a past Executive Director of Montgomery County’s Police Accountability Board. She is longtime ally of JUFJ and our coalition partners on a range of issues, including raising the minimum wage, fighting for fairer taxation, creating earned sick leave and paid family leave programs, prioritizing holistic safety that doesn’t criminalize students in MCPS, and welcoming new immigrants. We endorsed Fatmata Barrie four years ago because we believe in her vision for Montgomery County. The At-Large race will be critical in deciding the direction of Montgomery County, and Fatamata Barrie will be a champion for the people when tough decisions are made.

Debbie Spielberg’s extensive background in Montgomery County government, both at the County Council and the County Executive’s office, means she is ready to be an effective Councilmember on day one. Over the past 10 years, we have worked with her to raise the minimum wage, create protections for our immigrant neighbors, fund eviction prevention, and pass permanent rent stabilization. She has a vision for District 1 that prioritizes healthy schools and healthy neighborhoods, while working to make the wealthiest district in Montgomery County welcoming and affordable for all residents. When there are tough decisions to make, she will rely on the Jewish values that she learned from her mother, who was rescued from Germany as a child by the Kindertransport.

Rockville City Councilmember Izola Shaw has deep roots in the community as a long-time organizer and activist. As Councilmember for District 3, she will be a champion of housing justice, workers’ rights, and real public safety. When Councilmember Shaw is faced with a challenge – whether attacks from the Trump administration on her federal workplace or bad actor landlords who leave tenants in unsafe apartments – she organizes people to take collective action and fight for each other. This is also true of her commitment to dismantling antisemitism, anti-Black racism, xenophobia, and other forms of oppression.