Mr. “Defund the Police” Wants the Keys to The County

Well, it’s official: Will “Defund the Police” Jawando has tossed his hat into the ring for Montgomery County Executive. Yes, the man who once proudly hashtagged #DefundThePolice like it was a badge of honor now wants to run the whole county. Strap in, folks, because this campaign is going to be about as smooth as… well, our county roads before he fixes those potholes he keeps talking about.

Let’s start with the obvious: Will Jawando is Mr. Defund the Police. Don’t take my word for it—take his. In a June 2020 interview with the Washington Post, Jawando said, “That’s what ‘defund the police’ means to me. And I support it. I do.” (Washington Post, June 19, 2020). He wasn’t just spitballing; he doubled down, tweeting out the hashtag and pledging to reallocate police resources elsewhere.

Then he told The Hill: “To me, it does mean reallocating funding” (The Hill, 2020). Translation: fewer officers, fewer resources, fewer school resource officers keeping kids safe—because Will decided law enforcement was the problem, not the carjackings, burglaries, or assaults. Brilliant.

Now he’s running to be the top executive in a county of one million people, where crime is already rising. You can practically hear criminals across the county cheering: “Finally, our guy is in!”

But don’t think Jawando is just a one-hit wonder of bad policy. No, no—he’s a man of versatility. Case in point: the infamous “Do you know who I am?” traffic stop. Picture it: our future would-be county executive, caught driving without a license. Instead of, say, admitting fault like the rest of us peasants, Jawando reportedly pulled out the classic VIP line, the “do you know who I am?” routine. Because nothing says “man of the people” like pretending your title makes you above the law.

This is the leadership style he’s promising to bring to Rockville: ignore the rules, pull rank when convenient, and hope the public is too distracted by platitudes about “diversity” and “tapestries” to notice.

Speaking of tapestries, Jawando rolled out his campaign at a Silver Spring restaurant, flanked by Marc Elrich (Mr. Anti-Developer himself), Kristin Mink (of “ban gas stoves” fame), and Laurie-Anne Sayles. For added flair, they even brought in a former cast member of The Real Housewives of Potomac. You can’t make this up. Nothing screams serious leadership like reality TV stardom and a promise to fix potholes.

Let’s be honest: “potholes” may be the most practical thing Jawando has ever promised. Because when it comes to public safety, housing, or fiscal responsibility, the record speaks for itself—and it sounds a lot like “reallocate police” and “raise your taxes.” But sure, maybe if you’re dodging fewer potholes, you won’t notice your catalytic converter getting stolen.

And the endorsements! We had Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy talking about Trump as if the Orange Man still lives rent-free in every Democrat’s head. That’s right: when Will Jawando is elected, you won’t just get a county executive—you’ll get a living, breathing resistance hashtag.

Now, to be fair, Jawando is not without competition. Evan Glass is in the race, with his own history of pet progressive projects. Andrew Friedson is expected to jump in too, probably positioning himself as the adult in the room. But let’s be real: nobody brings the combo platter of reckless ideology and personal arrogance quite like Will.

So here we are: Montgomery County, the largest and wealthiest in Maryland, deciding whether to hand the keys over to a guy who openly backed defunding the police, got caught driving without a license, and pulled the “Do you know who I am” card when stopped.

You know who you are, Will? You’re the wrong guy at the wrong time for the wrong job. But hey, at least the potholes might get fixed.

Endnotes

1. Jawando officially announced his candidacy for Montgomery County Executive on August 21, 2025, at Citizens and Culture in Silver Spring, with County Executive Marc Elrich present and speaking in support. Source: Maryland Matters, “Jawando Launches Campaign for Montgomery County Executive.”
2. During his time on the Council, Jawando was one of the loudest voices pushing to “reimagine policing” and supported measures reducing police funding and expanding civilian oversight, part of the broader “defund the police” movement. Source: Bethesda Beat, June 2020.
3. In 2022, Jawando admitted to driving without a valid license after being pulled over. Reports noted he attempted to leverage his council status during the stop, with a “Do you know who I am?” remark. Source: Washington Post, September 2022.
4. Marc Elrich’s comments at the announcement criticized “developers with millions” while praising Jawando’s “independence.” Elrich has been noted for his long-standing opposition to developer partnerships and slow-growth policies. Source: Maryland Matters, August 2025.
5. Jawando previously announced a run for U.S. Senate to replace retiring Sen. Ben Cardin in May 2023, but withdrew in October 2023 citing fundraising challenges. Source: Baltimore Sun, October 2023.
6. At his campaign launch, Jawando emphasized diversity, equity, and inclusion while pledging to fix potholes as a central campaign promise, drawing some of the loudest applause of the night. Source: Maryland Matters, August 2025.
7. Montgomery County continues to lose businesses to Northern Virginia due to higher taxes, slower permitting, and policies considered unfriendly to entrepreneurs. Reports from the Maryland Public Policy Institute and Greater Washington Board of Trade highlight these long-term trends.

Ian Schartz is a contributor for Direct Line News. He can be reached at Ian.Schwartz@mcgopclub.com

About The Author

Ian Schwartz

See author's posts