Dear Friend,
I hope you have had a chance to read the last couple of Washington County Dems’ newsletters. I want you to know what we are doing to support Democrats in the 2026 election.
The Democratic vote in Washington and Frederick Counties was nearly identical at 38% and 39% in 2000. Today, Frederick County is a majority Democratic county while Washington County is stuck at 38%. This can not stand.
Democrats used to elect candidates to the County Commission, Treasurer, Register of Wills, Sheriff, and Clerk of the Court. Today, ALL of these offices are held by Republicans. You and I know what the GOP’s stranglehold on Washington D.C. looks like. Their grip on Washington County is no improvement.
The Board of Education, technically non-partisan, is now controlled by a cabal of GOP-backed and bankrolled extremists and their Moms for Liberty allies. GOP school board member, Michael Guessford recently expressed his religious tolerance in a typically bigoted response to a Facebook post announcing an open house at a Hagerstown Mosque: “We need to protest.” What exactly he wanted to protest is unclear. Maybe he just wanted to demonstrate his own religious intolerance.
Washington County Commissioner, Derek Harvey, a top aide to election denier former Rep. Devin Nunes and associate of Rudy Giuliani was a primary participant in the clumsy GOP effort to dig up dirt on Hunter Biden, discredit Senator Biden and influence the 2020 election. He later moved to Smithsburg and won a seat on the County Commission.
Guessford and Harvey do not represent our values and they should not represent us in county government. The best way to hold them responsible for their right wing MAGA antics is at the ballot box.
If Frederick County can go from a 39% to 53% Democratic vote there is no reason why we, in Washington County, can’t start a similar shift. Steuart Pittman, the Maryland Democratic Party’s new chair has a background as a community organizer and is committed to supporting local parties and building the Democratic voter base.
The WCDCC is committed to rolling back the Republican red tide here. That is why I am asking for your support in spreading the word to Democrats as well as unaffiliated and disaffected Republican voters. To that end, we have set four goals: 1) recruit candidates who represent the values of the Democratic Party; 2) build the volunteer base; 3) provide office space for all candidates and allied organizations; and 4) raise the funds to support Washington County Democratic candidates.
I need your help in achieving these goals. Your donation of $25, $50 or $100 will help us lease 2026 office space. You can click on the ActBlue link (ActBlue is non-profit and does not charge for their services) or you can mail a check to the address below.
Thank you so much for your support.
Angela Batista
Chair, Washington County Democratic Central Committee
P.S. Please forward this email to anyone you believe supports our goals. They can also sign up for the newsletter at www.wcdccmd.com.
Leave a Reply