FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Metro DC DSA Endorses Gabriel Acevero, Brandy Brooks and Max Socol in the 2022 Maryland Primaries
DATE: Monday, December 20, 2021
PRESS CONTACT: For all press inquiries, please contact media@mdcdsa.org.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD: After an extensive democratic endorsement process, the metro D.C. chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has voted overwhelmingly to endorse Gabriel Acevero for reelection to the Maryland House of Delegates, District 39; Brandy Brooks for Montgomery County Council at large; and Max Socol for Maryland State Senate, District 18.
All three candidates are running in the Maryland Democratic primary, which will take place on June 28, 2022. These endorsements will likely be Metro D.C. DSA’s only endorsements in Maryland for the 2022 primary cycle.
Since 2017, the chapter has knocked on an average of 25,000 doors in each election cycle and made several thousand calls in support of its endorsed candidates. In 2018, Metro D.C. DSA established itself as a “power player” on the Montgomery County political scene, contributing to Gabriel Acevero, Vaughn Stewart, and Marc Elrich’s victories, as well as Brandy Brooks and Chris Wilhelm’s strong performances in the crowded County Council at-large race.
Gabriel Acevero
Del. Acevero was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2018. Since taking office, Acevero has been an unapologetic champion for justice and working class power. Each year in the General Assembly, he routinely championed Anton’s Law, which sought to roll back protections for police officers who have been accused of misconduct. Because of Acevero’s efforts and the work of policing reform advocates, that law went into effect October 1, 2021. Acevero has remained an engaged member of Metro D.C. DSA as an elected official, regularly attending meetings, making phone calls against Ballot Question B with chapter members, and speaking at DSA rallies.
Brandy Brooks
Metro D.C. DSA endorsed Brandy Brooks for Montgomery County Council at large in 2018. Brooks ultimately came in seventh out of a crowded field of 31 candidates in an election where the top four vote-getters won seats. Based on her previous run, Brooks has emerged as a top-tier candidate for county council this cycle, and she easily qualified for public financing after announcing her candidacy this past winter. As of November 2021, Brooks has raised more than $70,000 in direct donations and will receive more than $140,000 in matching donations through public financing by the end of 2021.
Metro D.C. DSA views electing Brooks as an opportunity to create a left pole on the Montgomery County Council, with three term-limited incumbents leaving open seats on the council and two new districts being created for the 2022 cycle.
Max Socol
Socol is a long-time Metro D.C. DSA member with an extensive record of organizing for social and economic justice. He is challenging incumbent Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher, who voted with Republicans to water down the repeal of the Law Enforcement Officer Bill of Rights during the 2021 session of the Maryland General Assembly. Waldstreicher has also opposed LGBTQ protections, progressive taxation, and building the Purple Line. Socol is already running an impressive campaign—he has raised over $50,000 in a few months and 100 people attended his campaign launch event in October.