Under attack, Montgomery County’s Marc Elrich says he’s misunderstood

Marc Elrich, 72, has had a 35-year political career. Yet, to many of his supporters, the sitting county executive in Maryland’s largest jurisdiction has never been a traditional politician: He doesn’t care for wearing neckties or cleaning up for pictures, he’s nonchalant about fundraising and he’s known for rambling and going off-script, often to the surprise of his own communications team. This authenticity helped Elrich build a devoted army of supporters even as it made him a divisive figure in deep-blue Montgomery County, a D.C. suburb teeming with political ambition. In 2018, it helped him stand out in a crowded Democratic primary and clinch the nomination by 77 votes.