ORGANIZATIONAL ENDORSEMENTS
NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland PAC endorses candidates "who are willing to proudly stand and fight to protect and advance reproductive health, rights, and justice in our state." While other candidates have also received strong pro-choice ratings from NARAL, Marc has been a longstanding leader on women's issues and is the only County Executive candidate NARAL has officially endorsed.
Progressive Maryland is a statewide advocacy organization focused on grassroots action and legislative change. They cited Marc's leadership on environmental sustainability, high-quality jobs, school improvement, and responsible development as reasons for their endorsement.
The Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), of which Marc is a former representative, is one of the largest affiliates of the National Education Association and represents over 14,000 teachers, counselors, and other educators in Montgomery County Public Schools. They are one of the most powerful political forces in Montgomery County.
The Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association represents over 2,500 professional volunteer members in Montgomery County. Eric N. Bernard, the association’s executive director and 37-year veteran of the volunteer fire service, said the organization endorses candidates who "support public safety, support volunteers, and support the ideals that volunteers represent; commitment, honor, service and sacrifice."
CASA in Action is an immigrant advocacy organization with over 96,000 members. In Montgomery County, they've fought for legislation protecting domestic workers, legal protections for tenants, the preservation of existing affordable housing, and higher minimum wages, among other causes.
Local 1994 of the United Food and Commercial Workers, also known as the Municipal and County Government Employees Organization, or MCGEO, represents Montgomery County employees who work in libraries, parks, housing, liquor sales, and corrections, among other departments. MCGEO is one of the county's more powerful unions, and they intend to partner with Marc to restructure the way the county government operates.
Working Families is a grassroots organization engaged in issue-based campaigns to raise standards for working families, organizing work, and electoral campaigns to elect progressive champions. Maryland Working Families counts paid sick leave and “ban the box” legislation (which reduces obstacles to job opportunities for people with criminal records) - two initiatives Marc was a leader on at the county level - as two of their proudest accomplishments
The Montgomery County Green Democrats, a political club chartered by the Montgomery County Democratic Party, endorsed Marc after a membership-wide vote. National League of Conservation Voters Founder and Green Democrats member Marion Edey said "Marc is a pioneer who will take political risks and do the hard work to lead on issues which are critically important when they are not yet popular or well understood."
“We care about the quality of life. Marc was a leader in bus rapid transit, but he’s also looking at infrastructure throughout the county and how to get people from point A to point B.”
32BJ represents 18,000 members in the D.C. Metropolitan Area, including office cleaners who work throughout Montgomery County. They have been a major force in area politics on issues such as paid sick leave, protections for part-time workers, and raising the minimum wage.
The National Nurses Organizing Committee, an affiliate of National Nurses United, represents nurses who believe that political action is an important complement to their direct work with patients. Their members have been on the leading edges of progressive fights and they endorsed Marc because he is a "consistent ally of our students, workers, advocates for economic justice and human rights, the environment, and immigrants."
The 1500-member-strong Montgomery County Career Fire Fighters said Elrich's leadership as Chair of the county's Public Safety Committee has helped them reduce response times and better serve the public on issues ranging from emergency medical response to complex multi-family structure fires, swift water rescue, fire code enforcement, community outreach, and more.
The Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO coordinates campaigns and activities among 180 affiliated unions representing 150,000 members in the Metro DC area. Metro Council President Jackie Jeter said labor's "early endorsement makes clear that...the labor movement agree[s] with Marc and his vision."
The Jews United for Justice Campaign Fund is a grassroots advocacy organization that believes Jews "are called by [their] history and the teachings of [their] tradition to not stand idly by as...injustice persists." They have partnered with Marc on a variety of economic and social justice initiatives in the county and Marc is one of their first ever endorsements for elected office in Maryland.
Our Revolution, formed after Senator Bernie Sanders' run for President in 2016, lists three “intertwined goals” on their website: they seek to “revitalize American democracy...by activating supporters and engaging millions more Americans in the political process,” “empower progressive leaders” like Marc Elrich, and “elevate political consciousness” by “educat[ing] the public.”
The Baltimore Washington Laborers' District Council represents over 7,000 public service and construction workers in the Baltimore-Washington area, including sanitation workers in Montgomery County. They have worked to ensure through Project Labor Agreements that construction projects bring good jobs and benefit the county.
The Metro DC DSA has over a thousand members who work "toward progressive change that empowers workers, people of color, women, the LGBTQ community and other marginalized Americans[ in order to] create a free, democratic, humane society."
Local 400 of the United Food and Commercial Workers represents employees in a variety of industries, including food and health care. Their president, Mark Federici, observed that Marc's "tireless efforts have helped to provide countless working men and women with the opportunity to earn a better life."
While most members of the Maryland State Community Action Program of the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America are concentrated in Baltimore and Western Maryland, there is a small contingent in Montgomery County and the union recognized Marc's clear "commitment to working families."
D1 Neighbors is a coalition of residents who live in the westernmost area of Montgomery County, including Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Potomac, and Poolesville. They support local officials who believe in “balancing growth and infrastructure in ways that make Montgomery County a great place for both residents and employers.”
The Climate Mobilization seeks to raise awareness about the emergency presented by a changing climate and to reduce emissions to zero at a fast pace. They believe "the climate crisis is a humanitarian crisis" and endorsed Marc because of his longstanding leadership on climate and other environmental issues.
The Montgomery County Federation of Teachers is a small local affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers that represents tutors seeking health insurance. MCFT President Joseph Monte said Marc "is the candidate whose solutions reflect consideration of the common good of citizens.”
SEIU Local 500 is the largest and fastest-growing union in Montgomery County. They represent Montgomery County Public School employees who work in building services, food services, maintenance, media and technology, administrative offices, security, transportation, and the classroom (as instructional assistants), as well as child care providers, part-time faculty at Montgomery College, and part-time faculty at other area higher education institutions.
Progressive Neighbors is a volunteer-driven organization that advocates for "progressive causes both locally and nationally (on issues of peace, education, housing, labor, gender, health care, civil rights, democracy, environment, and transportation)." Since helping elect Jamie Raskin to the state senate in 2006, they have organized to help progressive candidates win elections.
Lodge 35 of the Fraternal Order of Police is Montgomery County's police officers union. They are one of the leading police unions in the country in being effective while also respecting the rights of all the county’s residents.
The District of Columbia Nurses Association represents over 2,000 members who live or work in Washington, DC. They said their endorsement in a Montgomery County Executive race was unprecedented, but that they decided to support Marc because "he demonstrated a deep understanding of issues that affect nurses and health care professionals
working in the DMV."
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The Sierra Club Montgomery County Maryland Group focuses on local issues, including improving public transit, maintaining clean water sources, supporting and monitoring the county's Climate Protection Plan, and endorsing and supporting green candidates.
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The MCPS Retirees Association (MCPSRA) is a non-profit organization created by and comprised of retirees from the Montgomery County Public Schools. It advocates for and provides services to its members, empowering them to enrich the quality of their lives.
DoTheMostGood MoCo, a 1500-member organization supporting progressive policies at the Federal, State, and Local levels, proudly endorses Democrat Marc Elrich to be Montgomery County’s next Chief Executive... “Marc Elrich’s proven ability to lead and seek creative solutions to advance the County’s best interests are important attributes that are needed in the next Montgomery County Executive.”
WDC members work together to elect Democrats; keep voters informed; advocate on state and local issues of importance to women and families; and educate our community on critical issues.
The African American Democrats of Montgomery County work towards "equality in education," "equity in economic opportunity," and "equal justice." They endorsed Marc because he "has the courage to champion a multitude of issues that work for the greater good of the Montgomery County community."
The Association of Black Democrats of Montgomery County seeks to promote and champion social and economic opportunities for Black Americans in Montgomery County, Maryland, through civic participation, social action, business mobilization and political involvement.
“Marc’s history serving the community and clear commitment to the people who live and work in Montgomery County make him the best choice for County Executive,” said Chris Pickett, executive director of Indivisible Montgomery. “We proudly support Marc’s candidacy and encourage all voters to support Marc come November.”
Food & Water Watch champions healthy food and clean water for all. We stand up to corporations that put profits before people, and advocate for a democracy that improves people’s lives and protects our environment.
During voting, TPM members commented:
“Marc is a true progressive who will fight for a more inclusive Montgomery County and expand opportunities for all residents.”
“Strong background in people-centered leadership. Fights for working people and marginalized communities.”
"I want balanced, ethical government representing our communities that is not controlled by powerful development interests.”
The Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee (MCDCC) voted unanimously on August 14 to emphasize its strong and unwavering support of Democratic nominee for County Executive, Marc Elrich. The MCDCC’s unprecedented endorsement is in response to Democratic voters’ demand that the local Party affirm its nominee, Marc Elrich, and leave no doubt that the Party rejects the unaffiliated candidate running an independent campaign who abandoned the Democratic Party and its ideals.
We appreciate [Marc's] past assistance and availability to discuss issues of concern to our community. We look forward to working with [him] over the next four years.
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“Marc Elrich will improve the quality of life in Montgomery County,” NDCO Chair Commissioner Unzell Kelley (Coosa County, AL) said. “As Councilmember he led the fight to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and will work to address overcrowded schools and congested roads.”
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