September 23, 2026 — For immediate release
Statement from Esther Wells, Republican Nominee for Montgomery County Executive, on the MCGOP Committee’s Retraction of Support and Endorsement of Harold Maldonado
Montgomery County needs principled leadership with moral clarity. I support the MCGOP’s decision to discontinue its support of Harold Maldonado for County Council District 7.
As the Republican nominee for County Executive, I am proud to see my party lead from the front on the issue of hate. This decision reflects courage, discipline, and a strong moral compass at a moment when residents are looking for real change and real leadership.
Because I was named in the original article, closing the loop publicly is important. The article caused real harm to volunteers who crossed party lines, worked tirelessly for this campaign, supported my values and platform, and trusted me with their vote and their future. I could not stand by silently or abandon them in a moment of pain and discrimination.
The reported statements attributed to Mr. Maldonado were deeply troubling and inconsistent with the values Montgomery County deserves from anyone seeking public office. Antisemitism, anti-Black hate, discrimination, and conspiracy-driven rhetoric have no place in our community, our politics, or our party.
This is the kind of leadership Montgomery County residents have been asking for: leadership rooted in facts, accountability, public safety, and equal dignity for every community. Thank you to the MCGOP for your courage, leadership, strength, and coherence in meeting this moment.
This action also shows the rebranding underway within the Montgomery County Republican Party. We are building a home for residents who want competence over chaos, courage over silence, and principled leadership over politics as usual.
To Montgomery County residents looking for real change and real leadership: there is a place for you here. The MCGOP is becoming that home and that space. Join us.
Media contact
Citizens for Esther Wells
VoteForEsther@Gmail.com
240-751-2582