MoCo Councilmember Jawando Ends Campaign To Replace Cardin In Senate

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Montgomery County councilmember Will Jawando announced Friday he is dropping out of the race to replace U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), who announced in May that he would not be seeking re-election in 2024.

Jawando, a Democrat who was first elected to an at-large seat on the Montgomery County Council in 2018, was the first person to announce his intention to seek the Senate seat. At the time of the announcement in early May, Jawando said he was launching his campaign because the Senate needs "more progressive champions."

But on Friday, after five months in the race, Jawando said, "I frankly no longer see a path for myself to victory."

"I cannot remain in a race I do not believe I can win," he said in a statement. "But I am not going anywhere! I will continue serving the people of Maryland no matter what."

Jawando did not announce his endorsement of any other Democratic candidates seeking to replace Cardin, including Rep. David Trone (D-MD), Prince George’s Executive Angela Alsobrooks and Jerome Segal.

Jawando’s campaign brought in more than $214,000 during the last reporting period, second most behind Alsobrooks, who raised $1.5 million in contributions between July 1 and Sept. 30, Maryland Matters reported Friday.

Democrats outnumber Republican voterss 2-1 in Maryland, which has not elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate since 1980.

RELATED: Will Jawando, Montgomery Co. Councilman, To Seek Cardin's Senate Seat