Member Statements on EER09: Endorsement of Izola Shaw for Montgomery County Council District 3

Member Statements
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IN FAVOR by John S

Hello Comrades, as a member of the MoCo Branch DSA, I would appreciate if everyone in our chapter would vote to support Izola Shaw for her upcoming campaign for the County Council for 3 main reasons:

  1. Izola has been an invaluable partner to MoCo DSA and our coalition partners on the Rockville City Council in our fight to expand rent stabilization to Rockville. The forces of capital are gathering and organizing all of their efforts to destroy rent stabilization throughout the county following the 2026 elections, so we need to embrace all of our allies so we don’t experience similar legislative defeats in the tenants’ rights space like we did in Washington, DC in 2025.

  2. While Izola’s support for rent stabilization is my main motivation to endorse her, she has also been a critical ally for community defense as it relates to fighting ICE in the county and provide harm reduction and mutual aid to affected families. I look forward to working more closely with Izola on ensuring Montgomery County does not waiver in supporting our agenda on these relevant issues.

  3. In recognizing Izola’s inadequate responses to her position on Palestinian liberation and discontinuing MIDC funding in the county budget, I do ultimately think we can build our relationship with Izola and count her as a supporting and deciding vote if we can get a simple majority of sympathetic candidates elected to the council in 2026. I admire our comrades moral clarity on this issue and would not ask them to endorse if I did not think we could eventually work with Izola to eliminate the MIDC and implement more of agenda at the county level.

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IN FAVOR by Thomas S

I write in strong support of endorsing Izola Shaw for Montgomery County Council District 3. Izola’s candidacy is pivotal to the fight to protect (and ideally strengthen) rent stabilization in Montgomery County, and that is a fight that will have ramifications throughout Maryland. In Prince George’s County, we know that our politicians often engage in copycat behavior, following a couple of steps behind whatever is happening in Montgomery County. The repeal or weakening of rent stabilization in Montgomery County would undoubtedly embolden industry allies in the moderate minority on our County Council.

I’m also really heartened by Izola’s willingness to throw down for our endorsed candidates across jurisdictional boundaries, including Shayla and Frankie. That gives me confidence that she will be committed to meaningful co-governance if she takes the step up to County Council (which she has a strong chance of doing, given the left-labor coalition behind her). With that type of relationship in place, I believe that we can facilitate a deepening understanding of Palestinian solidarity and the ways in which local elected officials have a role to play despite not having the obvious foreign policy powers of members of Congress.

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AGAINST by Ben G

Comrades, I was one of the original co-sponsors on the resolution to endorse Izola Shaw. I grew up in Montgomery County and have closely followed the developments of rent stabilization in Rockville. I signed on to this endorsement originally as I thought Izola would be a champion for the working class and further strengthen the rent stabilization efforts in Rockville and the greater county. While I still believe Izola would fight for these causes, I can no longer support this endorsement and urge you to follow our Political Engagement Committee’s recommendation and vote no.

Many of our comrades spoke out at our local convention against Izola’s flippant responses in regard to the Palestinian struggle and potential endorsement by and collaboration with Zionist and anti-Palestine organizations. I admit that I was not as familiar with Izola’s stance on this basic moral and political issue as I should have been. I appreciate the advocacy from these comrades as it motivated me to take the time to re-read Izola’s candidate questionnaire.

Responding to an opportunity to support BDS and refrain from collaborating with the Israeli government and Zionist organizations, both requirements for national DSA endorsement, Izola states “While I support the right to critique any government or organization, I also believe in engaging with a broad range of voices”. Regarding the Maryland Israel Development Center (MIDC), a public-private partnership utilizing tax dollars to deepen Maryland’s ties with the Zionist entity, Izola has provided only non-answers and a lack of opposition.

While this race is for a local office that arguably has little impact on the Palestinian struggle, Izola’s refusal to speak to the few effective, actionable legislative options is cause for concern. If Izola is unwilling to reject collaboration with the Israeli government in the midst of a genocide for the sake of political expediency, what else is she willing to acquiesce on? Is rent stabilization in Rockville valuable enough to sell out our Palestinian, Lebanese, Syrian, Iranian, Yemeni, Qatari, and maligned and ostracized Jewish comrades? How does passivity toward the MIDC bring MDC DSA power and advance socialism in Montgomery County and Maryland?

While I hope Izola wins this race, I urge you to vote no on this endorsement resolution. Izola’s timidity in rejecting Zionism is an indication of values deeply misaligned with MDC DSA’s guiding principles. Alternatively, this may simply be a lack of the political will required to bring material benefits to Montgomery County’s working class.

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IN FAVOR by Jacob K

I write in support of the endorsement of Izola Shaw for County Council. I work as a housing attorney in Maryland, but write in my personal capacity as a DSA member.

Zola has proven herself a fighter for the rights of working people in Rockville, where she is a City Councilmember, but her advocacy extends far beyond its borders. I first met Zola not in Rockville, but in the halls of Annapolis, where she gave voice to her constituents in favor of the Maryland Tenant Safety Act, which today helps to hold slumlords accountable to their tenants.

Next, when I represented a group of 30 tenants at an apartment complex long neglected by the city and sought to bring them justice, only Zola gave us an ear. She visited many apartment units to witness firsthand collapsing ceilings, moldy vents, and rat infested closets. She didn’t do this as a photo-op. On the contrary, she sat down, listened to renters, and encouraged tenants to fight for their rights both in the courtroom and in City Hall, where they weren’t being heard, using the Tenant Safety Act she helped advocate for.

It is in large part because of Zola that Rockville Renters United is as strong as it is today, and though faced with tremendous pushback, she has successfully gotten Rockville’s code enforcement to actually engage in true inspections and enforcement. She fights tirelessly to expand rent stabilization to Rockville, and will work to protect the provisions that exist in Montgomery County. I fully support Izola Shaw, and urge her endorsement.

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IN FAVOR by Brad C

Zola Shaw: She’s open, honest, and works to bring up those around her. You don’t see enough people like her running for positions of power. I was once eating at Big Papi’s in Rockville Town Square when Zola came in. She didn’t order anything, but took the time out of her day to connect with the workers there. Each of them had their own woes and she already knew them, like a friend who comes in and out of your life when you need someone to talk to.

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IN FAVOR by Ingrid F

Izola Shaw has been a key player in the allied activist community in Montgomery County and has been instrumental in our long-standing effort to implement rent stabilization across the whole county. Zola has a lot of political experience and solid relationships with many organizations that position her well for the County Council race. Because the County Council is an important body, representing nearly a million Maryland residents and being able to influence politics in other jurisdictions as well, helping to elect socialists in the upcoming Council race is of great strategic value to DSA. We urgently need socialists like Zola to steer Council priorities at a time of great challenges, needs, and human suffering brought on by Trump’s fascist regime.

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IN FAVOR by Demitrius H

Hello all, I am writing to strongly support an endorsement for Zola Shaw for Montgomery county council District 3.

Zola has been an ardent ally in our fight for rent stabilization in the municipalities excluded from the 2023 bill. She has been instrumental in building our base of support in Rockville and Gaithersburg. As a branch our membership has developed an amazing working and personal relationship with her. I feel that she know us and we know her well. And that we are also accountable to one another. I know that if we are able to win this race we would have a very strong relationship with her office and I could see it being one our most productive relationships since we have spent all this time doing the hard work of fostering that connection.

I know that some have their concerns with her answers on Palestine. And I did too. However, in the conversations I’ve had with her directly as well as in front of membership I think that she has been able to sufficiently clarify those concerns for me. I do not believe that she is someone who wants to or will be complicit in the genocide of Palestine or any other peoples. What I see is caution (perhaps too much) and a reasonable fear of attacks that can be, and in some cases already have been, made against her. But I think that with our endorsement and full support we can show that our people power is a stronger force than any zionist smear campaign.

And the last thing I would like to point out is what is at stake with this election. Her strongest opponent, Jud Ashman, has successfully blocked rent stabilization in my city of Gaithersburg. If he gets to the council I have no doubts that he will do everything in his power to dismantle, weaken or repeal rent stabilization in the county. We cannot let this happen. The people that could be displaced and the harm this can cause to working class families in the county cannot be put aside in our minds.

Jud feels like it is his time, that he is entitled to this seat and he has the backing of the establishment that ensures it will be his if we do not get in his way. We have developed leadership, skills and a base in district 3 that can make a difference. We would be fools not to use it.

I am proud to have a candidate that I am equally, if not more, excited to be running FOR than just a candidate we are running against. And so I please ask that you vote in favor of endorsing Zola Shaw

Thank you.

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IN FAVOR by Max S

Dear comrades,

As a member of MDC DSA since 2016, a former steering committee member of the Montgomery County branch, a leader in many of our campaigns over the years, including our historic rent stabilization victory, and as a former candidate for office proudly endorsed by both MDC DSA and national DSA, I’m humbly asking for your support of the endorsement resolution of DSA member, community organizer, and dear friend to many of us, Izola Shaw.

These are my reasons for asking for your support:

  • Zola was an indispensable leader in the branch’s rent stabilization victory. She mobilized a tremendous amount of support in Rockville and confronted the entire political establishment there.

  • Zola is serious about building power. After Rockville and Gaithersburg carved themselves out of the stabilization law, Zola ran for office and won a seat on the Rockville City Council, garnering the 3rd highest vote total. 7,612 district residents voted for Zola just two years ago, more than half her win number for this race.

  • Unlike some past candidates we have endorsed who crumbled under pressure and sold out once elected, Zola has proven through two years of extreme political pressure that she will not back down. She has made rent stabilization the decisive issue in Rockville despite enduring constant attacks from her colleagues. She is tested.

  • The plot to undo rent stabilization is very serious, and our credibility is on the line. Zola is running for a district seat that is likely to be the tipping point between the landlord candidates and the progressives and socialists. She is the only one who can keep the landlord side out of the district and out of a council majority.

  • As someone who faced tremendous blowback as a candidate for my support for BDS and general solidarity with Palestine, and as someone who is now a close advisor to Zola, I have complete confidence that she will be with us on the County Council with respect to issues of concern on Palestine.

  • Lastly, many branch leaders, not just myself, support Zola and are asking for your support for this endorsement. I believe it is reasonable to ask for chapter members to follow the lead of branch members when regional endorsements are being considered

When we make endorsements, I believe we are best served by looking at whether a candidate can win, whether their values align, and whether their election serves the power of the chapter. To me it is clear that Zola checks all of these boxes. Thank you for your consideration.

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IN FAVOR by Tyler

I’m writing to support DSA endorsing Zola Shaw for District 3 in the Montgomery County Council race. I have worked with her in Rockville as a tireless advocate for Rent Stabilization being passed. Ensuring stable housing is fundamental to our ability to stay and organize in MoCo. Secondly, she has done a lot of work to support the development of labor and tenants unions, both of which are key DSA values. On the issue of Palestine solidarity, I have had my reservations. However, Zola has shown broadly and to me personally that she’s willing and able to work with and learn from DSA. Which brings me to my final point, the alternative in this race is Judd Ashman who is a real estate lobby backed, Republican. He’s actively fought against our values being implemented in Gaithersburg and openly mocked rent stabilization in MoCo. If elected, he will no doubt bring those values to the Montgomery County Council and we will not be able to work with him. Given that Zola has shown a commitment to our value-set, a willingness to be in community with and learn with us, and that the alternative is someone who will be detrimental to our work in MoCo, it is my strong opinion that DSA should endorse Zola and fight for her election.

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IN FAVOR by Joseph G

As someone who currently works in the Montgomery County Council, has organized alongside Zola, and believes strongly in the power of DSA achieve incredible victories for the working class through determined organizing, I firmly believe we need Zola Shaw on the Council. Here is my case for why DSA must endorse her candidacy:

  1. Zola has been relentlessly attacked by her colleagues for working with the Rockville Renters United coalition which itself has been smeared as just being a DSA front. For DSA not to have her back now after she has had ours and our allies’ would be a huge betrayal that would diminish our power as an organization.

  2. Rent stabilization is not a victory we can look at in the rear view mirror and it continues to fall under attack. Our Planning Board has even recommended “recalibrating” it to respond to developer complaints. The next Council with Jud Ashman on it may very well choose to listen to that recommendation. Hundreds of thousands of residents now depend on this right to ensure their landlord doesn’t jack their rent or subject them to unlivable conditions (the law freezes rents for properties designated “troubled”/“at-risk” and we saw massive improvements within a year of it taking effect). Preserving this victory matters tangibly for your neighbor and for you and it is always up for grabs. Zola’s record on this issue is crystal clear.

  3. In the few months I spent working with Zola to organize the Rockville Rent Stabilization Community Forum in March, I got to see how thoughtful and community-rooted she is. Zola is someone who is moveable by the community because she LISTENS to the community. I believe we could move her to be stronger on Palestine in the future. Do you know who won’t be moveable on this issue because he won’t listen to us? Jud Ashman.
    I get the people who want to fight uncompromisingly for Palestine. As I have seen from the Council, the truth is that one of the major barriers we have faced on this issue is the influence of powerful groups like JCRC. We need Councilmembers who will be unafraid to stand up to powerful, well-connected interest groups because they will draw their strength from people power. Zola’s TIRELESS fight for Rockville renters shows she is going to be that kind of politician.

  4. Finally, I want to note that we are facing horrific attacks on our immigrant neighbors, federal cuts to critical social safety nets, cancelling programs designed to advance equity for Black, brown, disabled, and queer folk, as well as a climate crisis that will worsen as data centers look to set up shop here. We need leaders willing to maximally invest in the services that support the most economically and socially vulnerable. We also need leaders who are willing to use the power of their office not just to grow their own power or pass legislation but to build the power of their community. I truly believe Zola is that kind of leader and to pass her up would be a disservice to our neighbors and to the efforts of DSA members who have worked for years to build up the power of this organization.
    Those are my 2 cents.

In solidarity,

Joseph G

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IN FAVORF by Eric F

Much has been said about the resolution to endorse Zola for County Council. I want to first recognize that those hesitant to endorse Zola have reasonable points. I share the reservations with Zola’s statements on Palestine. That said, I also trust the word of (many, many!) comrades who have had close working relationships with Zola for years and believe she is aligned with DSA values on this issue.

I believe we should endorse Zola for three reasons. First, rent stabilization in MoCo is a keystone policy success of DSA and our allies. Zola is the strongest ally of this policy that we have, not just in the District 3 council race that she is running for, but among the announced 2026 county electeds, period. She has worked tirelessly with us in the effort to bring rent stabilization to Rockville, providing insider knowledge and practical logistical advice. Getting her on the MoCo council will help secure this very new protection (only in effect since 2024!) from the developer lobby that we know is actively working to undo our success. We should also note that Zola’s opponent is an open and proud opposer of rent stabilization; it is fair to say if Zola does not win this race, rent stabilization in MoCo is likely to end in 2027. Endorsing Zola is protecting DSA’s key legislative win.

Second, there is considerable overlap with Zola’s race and the other potential endorsed elections in MoCo. This reduces the level of effort required to support multiple campaigns, as our door knockers can potentially hand out multiple pieces of lit at once. If we were to endorse Josie for at-large, every canvass for Zola could hand out Josie lit, essentially doubling our impact relative to our effort. If we were to endorse Gabe for House of delegates, there is room to hold joint canvasses in the SW portion of Gabe’s district/NW portion of Zola’s district (where their districts overlap). Were Josie and Gabe to be endorsed, there would be (somewhat limited) room to TRIPLE our impact relative to our efforts. Supporting Zola is practical.

Third, Zola is an out and genuine ally. She has defended DSA and our allies from attack. She has shown up to knock doors and offer support to DSA’s endorsed Gaithersburg Councilmember race for Omo Williams. When our allies reveal themselves, we need to recognize them. That is how you build a movement, and we absolutely need to grow to attain our socialist agenda. We have relied on her support before; now she is asking for our support. Showing up for Zola, the same way she has shown up for us, is the right thing to do.

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IN FAVOR by Travis K

Zola Shaw is a truly fearless organic leader and champion coalition builder. She stood alongside myself and other co-workers to put in the risky work organizing a burgeoning union of employees at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) this past year before getting fired by DOGE. While most are too scared to organize, she spoke to colleagues about how we can improve our working conditions and build power in the heart of empire, under the watchful eye of this fascist regime.

I live in Rockville MD, have been a member of DSA since 2017, and am a member of the NIH fellows union UAW 2750. I am proud of the work Zola has done representing me on the Rockville City Council fighting for rent stabilization, where she was only one of two votes in favor of the measure. She facilitated myself and our fellows union getting involved in local politics where we endorsed Rockville Renters United and engaged in direct actions like packing city council and giving testimonies alongside coalition partners DSA, Progressive Maryland, Casa, renters associations, teachers, SEIU municipal workers, and many others. As a black, female, socialist she has been a longtime community organizer, helped pass $15 minimum wage in 2017, spearheaded the racial justice and equity act, and has the support of local working class groups and unions such as the MoCo teachers union. She has the backs of the working class and we need to have her back in this fight. DSA would greatly benefit from being a part of this growing movement

This is a swing election where Zola’s opponent wont allow his municipal workers in Gaithersburg to unionize, is funded by big real estate money, and openly wants to roll back Montgomery County rent stabilization. Zola’s experience on the city council, her name recognition in the community, and the large working class coalition supporting her make this a very winnable race, but we need the people power to defeat the capitalist interests backing her opponent. I strongly support endorsing Zola Shaw for Montgomery County Council.

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IN FAVOR by Karen C

I strongly support a DSA endorsement of Izola Shaw. I say this as a committed Pro-Palestinian activist. I am inclined to trust those who have attested to Zola’s views about Israel/Palestine. But ultimately to me, this comes down to the fundamental importance of preserving rent stabilization in Montgomery County. Here the choice couldn’t be clearer. She is an absolute champion on this issue, and her opponent’s position is just as clear on the other side. We cannot afford Jud Ashman in office. But Zola is not just a less bad choice– she is a positive good who has proven that she will fight. Rent stabilization has been an enormous step forward and it was a very hard fight. I truly believe that her commitment to this is representative of her real understanding of the challenges that many Montgomery County residents face and her willingness to go to bat for them. This is what we want.