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County Council Member · District 7 · Montgomery County · 2026 Primary
County Council Members serve as the legislative branch of county government, passing local laws and approving the annual budget that funds public schools, roads, and emergency services. They set local tax rates and make final decisions on land use and zoning, which determines where new homes and businesses can be built. This office is responsible for prioritizing how your tax dollars are spent and managing the long-term growth and infrastructure of your community.
View all candidates in this raceDawn Luedtke is a Democrat serving District 7 on the Montgomery County Council since her election in 2022 following the council's expansion from nine to eleven members. She represents northeastern Montgomery County including Ashton, Brookeville, Damascus, Derwood, Laytonsville, Montgomery Village, Olney, Redland and Sandy Spring. Luedtke describes herself as bringing pragmatic, results-oriented leadership focused on public safety, education, mental health, housing affordability, and sustainable economic development. She has built coalitions with residents, business owners, and nonprofit leaders in communities whose voices were too often ignored. In 2025 she officially filed to run for re-election in 2026 as the first District 7 Councilmember on the expanded council.
Sources: Campaign website
With grace, strength, and resilience, we will forge a positive path for the future of Montgomery County.
Since first being elected in 2022, Dawn's pragmatic approach, attention to detail, and results-oriented leadership have delivered for the newly created District 7.
It has been an honor to serve as the first District 7 Councilmember on the expanded Montgomery County Council.
Source: dawnluedtke.com
Public Safety
Secured funding and expansion for Drone as First Responder, authored legislation to protect sensitive healthcare information including reproductive health, requested independent investigation into school system mishandling of principal facing harassment complaints
“Secured funding and expansion for Drone as First Responder, a national model and force multiplier that is addressing crime and supporting law enforcement to de-escalate and more efficiently serve our communities”
Education
Requested independent investigation into school system mishandling of principal facing harassment complaints, committed to safe supportive inclusive learning environments for students
“Request an independent investigation into the school system's mishandling of a principal facing serious harassment and misconduct complaints, leading to needed reforms to protect educators, students, and families”
Housing
Supported increased investment in direct support for those facing eviction while creating additional incentives and innovative solutions to boost housing supply
“Supported increased investment in direct support for those facing eviction, while creating additional incentives and innovative solutions to boost housing supply”
Economic Development
Created way for visitors to local farms, breweries, wineries to stay overnight while protecting agricultural purpose of Agricultural Reserve
“Created a way for those visiting local farms, breweries, wineries, and other Upcounty businesses to stay overnight, while protecting the agricultural purpose of the Agricultural Reserve”
Healthcare
Worked to improve crisis stabilization service within Montgomery County as diversion from emergency medical services, expand school-based health centers
“I have worked to improve crisis stabilization service within Montgomery County as a diversion from emergency medical services”
Environment
Bill would allow Green Bank to use existing fuel-energy tax revenue to finance climate resilience and adaptation projects including flood mitigation, infrastructure protection, heat resilience
“The bill would allow the Green Bank to use existing fuel-energy tax revenue to finance climate resilience and adaptation projects, such as flood mitigation, infrastructure protection, and heat resilience”
Transportation
Prioritizes BRT projects in highest density areas with Metro, Purple Line, interactive public transit mapping, reliable service schedules, safe accessible areas to wait for transit
“BRT projects need to be prioritized in highest density areas in conjunction with Metro, the Purple Line, and existing and future sites for commuter parking”
Immigration
Co-led legislation to better serve immigrant victims of crime, bill to safeguard immigrants unanimously approved by County Council
“Authored legislation to protect sensitive healthcare information, including reproductive health, for those seeking to work in Montgomery County and co-led legislation to better serve immigrant victims of crime”
Agriculture
Protecting the agricultural purpose of the Agricultural Reserve while supporting local food ecosystem sustainability
“Montgomery County's Agricultural Reserve, our farming traditions, and our contributions to the local food ecosystem are critical to ensuring sustainability”
Bethesda Magazine reported that Luedtke officially filed in October 2025 to run for re-election in 2026. She is a Democrat who has represented District 7 since her election to a four-year term in 2022 after voters approved a county charter amendment to increase the number of council seats from nine to eleven members.
“Request an independent investigation into the school system's mishandling of a principal facing serious harassment and misconduct complaints, leading to needed reforms to protect educators, students, and families”
Source“Supported increased investment in direct support for those facing eviction, while creating additional incentives and innovative solutions to boost housing supply”
Source“Secured funding and expansion for Drone as First Responder, a national model and force multiplier that is addressing crime and supporting law enforcement to de-escalate and more efficiently serve our communities”
Source“BRT projects need to be prioritized in highest density areas in conjunction with Metro, the Purple Line, and existing and future sites for commuter parking”
Source“The bill would allow the Green Bank to use existing fuel-energy tax revenue to finance climate resilience and adaptation projects, such as flood mitigation, infrastructure protection, and heat resilience”
Source“Created a way for those visiting local farms, breweries, wineries, and other Upcounty businesses to stay overnight, while protecting the agricultural purpose of the Agricultural Reserve”
Source“I have worked to improve crisis stabilization service within Montgomery County as a diversion from emergency medical services”
Source“Authored legislation to protect sensitive healthcare information, including reproductive health, for those seeking to work in Montgomery County and co-led legislation to better serve immigrant victims of crime”
Source“Montgomery County's Agricultural Reserve, our farming traditions, and our contributions to the local food ecosystem are critical to ensuring sustainability”
Source