The latest from the Barrie for Montgomery County campaign.
Immigration attorney Fatmata Barrie testified before the Montgomery County Council in support of immigration protection legislation, speaking in favor of the ICE Out Act, the Unmask ICE Act, and the County Values Act. Barrie advocated for an amendment requiring law enforcement to show official ID when detaining or removing a person.
Read Full StoryThe Baltimore Banner reported on the final candidate field after Maryland's filing deadline. Seventeen Democrats are competing for four at-large Council seats, making it one of the most competitive races in Montgomery County history.
ReadFatmata Barrie qualified for matching funds through Montgomery County's public financing program, demonstrating broad grassroots support. Her campaign is entirely people-funded — no PACs, corporations, or political parties.
ReadCASA in Action, the political arm of Maryland's largest Latino and immigrant advocacy organization, endorsed Fatmata Barrie for County Council At-Large. As an immigrant and immigration attorney herself, the endorsement from the state's leading immigrant rights organization is particularly significant.
ReadSEIU Local 500 endorsed Fatmata Barrie for a County Council At-Large seat in the June 2026 Democratic primary. The service workers union also endorsed incumbent Laurie-Anne Sayles and former County Executive Marc Elrich.
ReadThe Montgomery County Education Association endorsed Fatmata Barrie as one of their four picks for County Council At-Large. The MCEA Apple Ballot is considered one of the most influential endorsements in Montgomery County politics.
ReadFatmata Barrie's tweet responding to Trump's remarks was cited in The Root's national coverage. Barrie posted: "Trump just said men arrested in DC are 'born to be criminals.' Most were Black. He just called Black men inherently criminal. That is racist. That is dangerous."
ReadFatmata Barrie joined a panel at the Chloe Center at Johns Hopkins University examining the challenges migrants face from the U.S.-Mexico border to resettlement in Baltimore, sharing her expertise on immigration policy and community integration.
ReadMontgomery Community Media profiled the growing field of candidates for Montgomery County Council At-Large seats. With Jawando and Glass leaving their seats, three of four at-large seats are guaranteed to change hands.
ReadWYPR profiled Fatmata Barrie as the co-founder of Africans in the Diaspora for Harris-Walz, which reached 25,000+ voters through weekly Zoom calls, fundraising over $25,000, and canvassing in battleground states.
ReadNational outlet NOTUS profiled Fatmata Barrie and Africans in the Diaspora for Harris-Walz. Barrie told NOTUS: "People really wanted something like this... you're seen and you're heard."
ReadGovernor Wes Moore appointed Fatmata Barrie to the Governor's Commission on African Affairs, a 21-member advisory board guiding the governor on matters affecting Maryland's African diaspora communities.
ReadFatmata Barrie was unanimously selected as the first executive director of Montgomery County's Police Accountability Board and Administrative Charging Committee, strengthening transparency and accountability in local government.
ReadThank you for joining Team Barrie. We'll be in touch soon.
