It’s December 26, 2025, and once again CASA in Action has unveiled its latest slate of endorsements for Montgomery County’s 2026 primary races, and almost no one should be shocked by who they chose. Initially reported by MoCo Perspective, this immigrant advocacy group, a 501(c)(4) political nonprofit closely aligned with CASA de Maryland, announced its support for a slate of candidates ranging from county executive hopeful Will Jawando to a full roster of council contenders like Fatmata Barrie, Laurie-Anne Sayles, Debbie Spielberg, Izola Shaw, Kate Stewart, Kristin Mink, and Natali Fani-Gonzalez. Montgomery Perspective
CASA in Action’s endorsements are predictable, not because the group hides its political preferences, but because it proudly wears its political ideology on its sleeve. It’s an organization deeply steeped in left-of-center advocacy, whose entire mission centers on expanding political power for immigrants and progressive causes. Its president and leadership have long been associated with efforts to elevate a broad progressive agenda. InfluenceWatch
This cycle is no different. The candidates they chose are not centrists. They are not moderate public servants seeking common ground. They are political figures whose policy instincts align with the most radical fringes of the Democratic coalition the sort of folks eager to push Montgomery County even further left on immigration, policing, housing, and local governance.
Let’s unpack what that means in practical terms.
First, there’s the open-border implication. CASA in Action’s core mission is advocacy for immigrant rights without regard to legal status, and it has historically opposed any enforcement mechanisms that might deter illegal immigration. That’s more than a compassionate stand; it’s a policy orientation that borders on non-enforcement. In many progressive circles, this translates to sanctuary city policies, sanctuary county provisions, and legislative efforts that effectively limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities all of which can have real consequences for public safety and accountability. Critics have noted that measures inspired by organizations like CASA can make it harder for police to cooperate with federal immigration authorities on violent criminal matters and hamper enforcement of immigration law overall. We Are Casa
But open borders shouldn’t be dismissed as merely a catchy political slogan. It’s a deliberative policy stance that says: “We will not restrict flows of illegal immigration, and we will not let local law enforcement help enforce federal immigration law.” To many Montgomery County residents especially those who expect public safety to come first that’s not just unwise, it’s reckless.
Then there’s the broader progressive policy agenda that often accompanies CASA’s endorsements. These aren’t just candidates for council seats. These are people aligned with aggressive rent control, broad welfare expansions, and what critics argue is an antagonistic stance toward law enforcement. Don’t forget Montgomery County already wrestles with debates over police funding, 287(g) agreements, and cooperation with ICE. Endorsing candidates who will likely support restrictions on police cooperation, challenge law enforcement tools, and funnel resources more towards social programs than public safety doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It reflects a worldview that many Montgomery County voters simply don’t share. Maryland Matters
Even the optics of CASA’s endorsements reinforce this impression. Will Jawando is no moderate on these issues he’s been celebrated on the left for his willingness to embrace bold progressive stances. Candidates like Natali Fani-Gonzalez, who lead immigrant protection initiatives, are not hesitant about pushing policies that would limit law enforcement’s ability to protect citizens from felony offenders if their immigration status is involved. And the council candidates, Barrie, Sayles, Spielberg, Shaw, Stewart, and Mink, are all positioned on the liberal end of the political spectrum with voting histories and policy priorities that reflect that. Montgomery Perspective
So yes no one should be surprised that CASA in Action endorsed the “open border crowd,” as some of the critics call them. They endorsed them because those candidates’ policy views align closely with CASA’s agenda: prioritizing immigrant rights above everything else, restraining law enforcement, and expanding government involvement in housing and social services. And while advocacy groups are entitled to their own perspectives, Montgomery County voters deserve transparency about what these endorsements actually signify.
What’s concerning is not just the endorsements themselves, but the lack of serious debate around them. In 2025, Montgomery County politics is polarized, and organizations like CASA in Action have more influence than ever. In a region where economic diversity is narrowing, and public safety concerns are on the minds of many families, it’s worth asking a simple question: Are these endorsements reflective of what everyday Montgomery County residents want?
If CASA in Action genuinely believes its slate will deliver broad prosperity and safety for all residents, then let them make that case directly to voters, not just through social media posts and political endorsements, but through substantive discussion about trade-offs, responsibilities, and realistic expectations.
Because endorsements are easy, governing responsibly, especially in a diverse, complex county like Montgomery, is hard. And that’s the part that CASA in Action and its endorsed candidates need to address directly with the people they hope to lead.
Endnotes
- CASA in Action Announces Endorsements, originally reported by MoCo Perspective (Montgomery Perspective).Montgomery Perspective
- CASA in Action’s political alignment and background as a left-of-center immigrant advocacy group. Influence Watch
- CASA’s advocacy for immigrant protections and related local policy initiatives. We Are Casa
- CASA’s role in Montgomery County politics, including rent and immigration policy influence. Maryland Matters
Jacob Silver is a contributor for Direct Line News. He can be reached at Jacob.Silver@mcgopclub.com
Direct Line News is a Maryland-based free-access publication committed to the Republican reform tradition.
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