Biden-Era Press Secretary Named To Jawando's MoCo Transition Team

ROCKVILLE, MD — With Councilmember Will Jawando widely considered the projected winner of the Montgomery County executive race, his camp on Wednesday announced the list of officials who will make up his transition team.

Jawando's Transition Steering Committee includes eight people who will oversee policy committees and help the councilmember transition to the executive post.

One of the big names on the team is Karine Jean-Pierre, who served as a White House press secretary during the Biden administration.

Jean-Pierre took over the posting in 2021, marking the first time the Oval Office appointed a Black press secretary. She also served as a senior administration advisor.

Shalanda Young, former director of the White House Office of Management and Budget under the Biden administration, is also joining the Jawando team.

Related:

• Jawando Leads County Executive Race: Montgomery Co. Election Results 2026
• 'Blue Tsunami' Hits MD: 5 Key Takeaways From Election Night

District 5 Councilmember Kristin Mink, as well as former school board member and Councilmember Nancy Navarro,

See the selection of advisors rounding out the team below:

• Yaminah Leggett-Wells
  Advisor, Community Partnerships and Civic Engagement
• Kathleen Matthews
  Former Executive Vice President, Marriott International
• Jeffrey Slavin
  Mayor Emeritus, Town of Somerset
• Rev. Tim Warner
  Pastor, Emory Grove United Methodist Church

The latest results released by the Maryland Election Board show Democrat Councilmember Will Jawando leading the county executive race with 242,676 votes. His Republican opponent, Esther Wells, has 67,640 votes.

AP called the county executive race for Jawando around 1 a.m. Wednesday.