Primary Election Day live blog: Voters head to the polls

MoCo's top leadership posts, school board seats among local, state and federal offices on ballot

By Staff

June 23, 2026 9:25 a.m.

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9:25 a.m.: For the first time since 2018, Montgomery County voters on Tuesday will choose a new county executive — plus several other county, state and federal officials up and down the gubernatorial primary election ballot.

Three County Council members — Andrew Friedson (D-Dist. 1), Evan Glass and Will Jawando (both D-At-large) — are considered favorites for the top job. There are also two other Democrats and two Republicans, none of whom have held public office, in the race.

In a county where Democrats outnumber Republicans 4-1, the Democratic nominee almost always wins the November general election.

Other county offices on the ballot Tuesday include all 11 seats on the County Council, four of eight seats on the Board of Education, sheriff, judge of the circuit court, state’s attorney, clerk of the circuit court and register of wills. 

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Statewide offices on the ballot include the governor and lieutenant governor, comptroller, attorney general, state delegate and state senate. Elections for the U.S. House of Representatives are also part of this primary election cycle. 

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Mail-in ballot drop boxes will also be available until 8 p.m.

For information about candidates, comprehensive endorsement lists and answers to frequently asked questions about voting, check out Bethesda Today’s 2026 Primary Election Voters Guide.

Check back here for up-to-the-minute coverage of the day.

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Quiet start in Bethesda

At the polls at Bethesda Chevy-Chase High School in Bethesda, it was relatively quiet Tuesday morning, but people were out to support the candidates. Some of those advocating for candidates said they anticipate a lighter crowd because of the number of people who voted early.

Having recently moved from Washington, D.C., voters Sudeepti Kuppa and Cretan Hebbale said they were excited to cast ballots for the first time in the county — though they both wished they had more knowledge about the candidates. 

“I wish we had done more research because there was a lot of seats and things that I didn’t know about other than like the main ads that I saw,” Hebbale said.”

Two of the candidates for county executive, Democrats Evan Glass and Andrew Friedson, had family support on hand:

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Glass’ husband, Jason Gedik, told Bethesda Today that what sets Glass apart from his competitors is how he is funding his campaign. “He’s the only one in the race who has not taken developer money, corporate PAC money, or special interests,” Gedik said. “He’s running 100% on public financing and reports to you folks, the voters.”

Andrew Friedson’s mother, Leslie Friedson, said the election is more important than ever.

“The last county executive race was lost or won, however you want to look at it, by 32 votes,” she told Bethesda Today. “That means your vote is very important, and I hope it will be for Andrew Friedson, our next county executive.”

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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine