Gaithersburg City Council Member Jim McNulty has entered the race for an at-large seat on the Montgomery County Council.
McNulty, a two-term City Council member who was convincingly re-elected in November, filed paperwork Monday with the Maryland Board of Elections to form a Public Financing Committee ahead of the June Democratic primary.
In a message sent to supporters, McNulty said the county is at a pivotal moment and needs leaders who can work collaboratively and pragmatically. He cited his long-standing involvement in the community, from schools and youth sports to neighborhood advocacy, as part of what motivated his decision to run.
McNulty said he believes his municipal experience and practical approach would be an asset at the county level, adding that he has consistently stepped up when his community needed him.
The timing of McNulty’s entry comes as significant turnover is expected on the County Council. Three of the four at-large seats will be open in next year’s election, following the retirement of Council Member Gabe Albornoz and two other at-large incumbents who are running for County Executive.
McNulty has already picked up early support, including an endorsement from District 7 County Council Member Dawn Luedtke, who praised his steady and pragmatic leadership style and described him as both a friend and a colleague.
According to his campaign website, McNulty’s path into public service followed a life-altering experience in 2010, when he survived the terror attack at the Discovery Channel headquarters. McNulty and two others were taken hostage for several hours before being rescued by Montgomery County SWAT. In the years that followed, he founded a PTSD support group in 2012 and later ran for office, winning election to the Gaithersburg City Council in 2021.
During his time on the City Council, McNulty has focused on smart growth, pedestrian safety, and transportation improvements. He was also a vocal advocate for strengthening the Lakeforest redevelopment plans through the public hearing process.
Looking ahead, McNulty said his countywide campaign will center on jump-starting the local economy through job creation and transportation investment, expanding access to attainable housing to address affordability, and ensuring county government lives within its means. He also plans to emphasize investments in public schools, closing staffing gaps at the Montgomery County Police Department, protecting immigrant communities, and expanding access to mental health services.
According to Bethesda Today, McNulty is not the only candidate entering the broader County Council field ahead of the 2026 election. In District 3, Democrats Allison Eriksen, a former USAID worker from Gaithersburg, and Rockville City Councilmember Izola Shaw are also running. Former school board candidate Ricky Mui of Rockville has entered the race as a Republican. The deadline for candidates to file for the 2026 election is Feb. 24.
A campaign kickoff event is expected to be announced for late January. More information is available at jimmcnulty.org.
