Who you support tells a lot about you. Why you support them tells even more.

WHO YOU SUPPORT MATTERS

If you don't remember David Duke let me refresh your memory. Duke fancied himself a leader of the Ku Klux Klan - a white southern group founded by the Democrats after the Civil War, and more recently funded clandestinely by the SPLC (The Southern Poverty Law Center) as a way to increase donations to the SPLC coffers. He ran in Louisiana as a Republican for Governor and the US Senate - but even though he was a registered Republican, he was an extremist and a racist.

He had also been a Democrat and a Nazi. The Republican Party, headed by George Bush, unequivocally disavowed him and told people not to vote for him. And it worked, he lost. That is what you should do - disavow extremists.

Fast forward to 2026, Graham Platner is running for US Senator from Maine - setting up a race between an extremist left wing Democrat and a very liberal Republican incumbent, Susan Collins. To say she doesn't want President Trump to campaign for her is un understatement! She represents her state passionately, and votes her conscience 100%.  Yet because of the R behind her name, she's vulnerable. Democrats are falling all over themselves to endorse and campaign for Platner, a candidate with a Nazi SS death squad tattoo, numerous allegations of womanizing and abusive relationships, demeaning comments about folks in the military, and too many questionable statements to catalog. He's ahead in the polls.

Yes, I'm comfortable being with the party that disavowed Duke. I'm amazed that Democrats backing Platner is even an option...but it is. Democrat Party leaders say, "We just need someone to oppose the President on everything all the time." Surely the Democrats can do better. The Party of Believe All Women has a real problem putting words into action. 

Yes, who you support matters, and why you support them is even more important.

What are your thoughts? What does "believe all women" mean? Is party affiliation blinding in both parties? Do you support folks just so your party will win? ...and while we're at it - do you think the left coast of California will simply continue counting ballots until all Republicans lose? Let me know at [email protected]

Dennis Melby
2026 Republican Chairman

She was an elderly black woman, in her eighties, from Tobytown down by the Potomac River. It was a community founded by formerly enslaved people after the civil war, and before Travilah was known as Potomac.  I was in my early twenties, in college and  living with my parents, in a large house with a pool and tennis court nestled between the Fox Hunt Club and the Polo fields at Travilah and Glen Roads…about a mile separated us – that and a lifetime of very different experiences.

It was the mid-70s and I was serving as the Chief Republican Judge during the elections. She came in to vote at Travilah Elementary school. She was illiterate, said she could not read or write, so the Democrat judge and I joined her (at the time we used booths with curtains and levers). She was adamant that she wanted to vote only for all the Democrats. I kept asking her how she wanted to vote in different races, but she became angry – so I simply clicked the “All Democrats” lever – with the other judge’s concurrence. That was an option then.

I’m not violating the sanctity of the voting booth – she’s no longer with us but I’m still here – and still remember because of her how important voter’s trusting the system is. Fast forward to today.

Lot’s of folks worry. Lot’s of folks have concerns. The election system many trust often has major issues.

• I just learned last week that the State Board of Elections did not send out only 400,000 bad ballots…it was more than half a million!
• I just learned that they’ve decided not to discount the ballots returned (like they said they would) but will accept the first ballot when we mail it back if they deem it correct.

It gives many pause, including me.

I remember President Ronald Reagan saying to Mikhail Gorbachev, the head of the Soviet Union  “Trust, but verify” (doveryay, no proveryay)  As MoCo Chairman I follow that. Now let me be clear – over the years our local Montgomery County Board of Elections has answered EVERY question and concern I’ve ever raised – and they always err on the side of voter integrity. That comes from both the Democrat and Republican representatives and their staff.

• Do I worry about some of the appointees at the state level?
• Do I worry about the one party dominated State Legislature?
• Do I worry about the Executive Branch including the Governor and Attorney General?

Yes, I do. Partisanship is a great obstacle…especially if you have a higher national office in your headlights. READ MORE HERE

As for the mail-in Maryland fiasco, we’ll keep monitoring. I and our leadership will keep pushing. Our State and Federal leadership will use their resources to challenge any improprieties. We MUST HAVE free and fair elections. I owe it to you, and I owe it to the Democrat woman from Tobytown I met in my twenties who had great trust in our election system.

What are your thoughts? Do you trust mail-in voting? Do you have faith in our appointed election officials? Do you support the SAVE ACT? Let me know at [email protected]

Dennis Melby

Two years ago I worked hard to convince Republicans to vote by mail. I knew the Democrats would go all out in mail-in voting, and we all knew that normal Democrats' and Republicans' only shot was to beat the far left at their own game, the vote by mail game. Biden, Harris and Tim Walz were bad news, and Trump would be much better. It paid off, we greatly increased the Republican vote in MoCo…it even got national attention – I talked about it to the New York Times – it even got noticed at the White House, and we helped to turn the country around.

Two years later, so many Republicans have signed up for mail-in voting that they were just waiting for their ballots…and last week it backfired. The Maryland Board of Elections sent over 400,000 bad ballots, Republican to Democrats – Democrat to Republicans, then invalidated the ballots they had sent and promised to send more. What a mess!

And of course, Montgomery County Republicans got the highest number of bad ballots because we now have the highest number of Republicans requesting mail-in voting. I guess we were too successful!

Yes, we believe in one day voting. We believe in showing ID to vote – to prove who you are and that you’re a US citizen. And we believe if you HAVE TO vote by mail (illness or military service) your ballot has to get there by the close of the polls on election day. ONE DAY elections, quick counting and quick, valid results. Make Elections Great Again. Pass the SAVE Act. WHAT TO DO HERE

What do you think? Will there be a change in MoCo and Maryland? Do we need a change? Do you think the ballot screw up was a mistake, deliberate sabotage, or just ineptitude? Did you get a bad ballot? Let me know at [email protected].

Dennis Melby
2026 Republican Chairman
Montgomery County, Maryland

Check out my schedule HERE and come see me. Join me at the Trump 80th Birthday Bash HERE. Finally, help me pay for our 20,000 Republican Voter Guides HERE. And thanks for being a Great American.

They’re raising taxes…again!

When times are good, employment is strong, wages are comfortable and inflation is low - Democrats raise taxes.

“It’s a good time” they say, “Folks can afford it and we have a need to help others” they say.
When times are bad, if government employees are laid off, inflation is at Biden levels-  Democrats raise taxes.

“There’s a real need!” they say, “So many folks need help, and we’ll only tax the well-off folks (who can afford to move).” We’ll make it progressive.

Tax and spend, tax and spend, and tax some more!

Tax your home

Tax your electricity

Tax your energy

Tax your property

Tax your income

...make plastic bags illegal and then tax paper bags

Yes, they once even tried to tax the rain!

Maybe others have better ideas. If there are fewer kids going to school maybe we don’t need as many teachers, and high paid administrators, and support staff, and lawyers to defend the Board of Education from stupid decisions.  Maybe cut School Resource Officers…no wait…they've already done that on anti-cop grounds, not to help the budget.

Maybe we stop telling Federal workers who’ve been laid off to help balance the budget that we’re the employer of last resort – come on over – we’ll pay you ‘cause we hate Trump and get votes that way too. You know, they don’t really fear the wrath of the voters – they assume they’ll simply vote Democrat always, no matter what.

...and maybe we don't raise taxes to give more public money to pay for all the Democrats campaigns...while making sure the Republican candidates can't use it.
This year we can stop that cycle. Look at the Republicans running for Council. Great business people who want to tackle the beast of one party rule, one party overspending and fear of being the one not re-elected.

We have so much to gain, so little to lose, and experience true diversity of leadership, ideas, answers to public service and diversity in political leadership. And that’s a good thing.

All it takes is one vote, we can do it, let’s get on a better path to prosperity, security and good government.

Do you think we need higher taxes or a tighter belt? Any ideas, comments, solutions? Tell me at [email protected].

Dennis Melby
2026 Republican Chairman
Montgomery County, Maryland
LOTS going on this week. Check my tentative schedule HERE and come talk to me. Our Sample Ballot's being printed!- help me afford it HERE. Say Happy 80th Birthday to Donald Trump HERE

Yep, it’s hard dealing with quality of life in Montgomery County. It’s expensive affording the quality of life in Maryland. Folks are loading up the moving vans and getting out of Dodge while the getting’s good.

I understand, I feel your pain. With 20 years of one party government there’s no conflicting solutions put on the table. It’s MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY – many folks are choosing the highway.

The local Democrats, who hold all the cards, and control all the offices, have the worst woke policies;

• Crime is getting worse while they take cops out of schools.
• Cost of living is higher, yet they raise taxes, and raise taxes, and raise taxes some more.
• When they get pushback on taxes, they promise to only raises taxes on wealthy residents – you know, the ones who can actually afford the moving vans!
• There are less kids, the birthrate’s lower, folks are moving, so the Teacher’s Union wants higher salaries to teach fewer kids.
• Reading, writing, math and STEM are replaced with Critical Race Theory, restorative justice, gender identity and kids can’t read, count or socialize…so the County wants to spend more!
• Kids aren’t safe in school yet the politicians and Teacher’s Unions push for boys in girls bathrooms and boys in girls sports. (Just don’t tell your parents.)
• Keep your house cold in the winter, hot in the summer, dark at night and the cost of energy in MoCo is the highest in the nation. (Oh, and they even tax your high priced electric.)
• You can’t afford the roofer you need 'cause prices are up, but you really need him 'cause (wait for it) the cost of living has gone through the roof!

I could go on and on but you get the picture, Bring back bipartisanship, elect some Republicans to guard the Democrat henhouse. If all the normal hard working, non woke folk take the midnight train to Georgia (or the High Speed U-Haul to Florida) it’ll only be Democrats left to PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE! (By the way, don’t you already pay your fair share?)

Let’s end one party rule, increase quality of life, and return Montgomery County to being a great, safe, affordable place to call home.

Am I right? Am I wrong? Have I forgotten something? Tell me at [email protected].

Dennis Melby

A sense of optimism. A sense of purpose. A sense of working together for victory.

We have great candidates this year with a lot of momentum, who are working hard to end one-party rule in MoCo and Maryland. We need diversity of thought and we bring that. Even the press and public are taking them seriously, they’re invited to candidate events and debates, listened to and noticed – it’s hard for a media still mostly controlled by the left to acknowledge – but they do.

I get the feeling we’re doing a lot better. I get the feeling things are changing – do you?

After all the political violence recently, most of the country still is behind trying to return to normal. Sure, there are absolute radicals out there trying to dismantle any progress and constantly sowing discontent but most folks still support more conservative principles. But No Kings and May Day protests, no matter how big and well funded by the Chinese Communist Party and the SPLC, don't represent the common will - only the ballot box does that.

With the economy continuing to improve, incomes rising, taxes falling and our military strength helping to improve the world we’re going to see some real progress real soon.

What I see here in Montgomery County is folks stepping up, so many new faces at all our meetings, our Party keeps growing, ten thousand more this year alone. Our club meetings are packed, our events often sell out. Meetings in Gaithersburg at the Muster, meetings in Wheaton at the Urban Winery, our Coffees with the Chairman and Women’s Clubs and District Clubs are all growing. Our events this year alone have hosted hundreds.

It’s nice to see progress like that. Lets keep it going, keep engaging with your neighbors, keep attending our events, volunteering, speaking up and helping our candidates increase support. 2026 will be a great year for Maryland, the United States and for the Republican Party.

Let’s keep it going. I can feel our progress, can you?

What do we need to do to keep the momentum going, and do you feel a positive change? Write to me at [email protected]

Stay safe, God bless America and God bless us all.

Dennis Melby

The President's OK, but we're not.

Seeing a third assassination attempt Saturday night, this time at the Washington Hilton, was so saddening. Later he gave comments in the White House Brady Press room, named after the man shot at that same hotel where President Reagan was shot by John Hinkley while leaving the back exit. Most of us who've worked in DC know that place well. 

Years ago, I was working for former President Ford (a President who was shot at twice) and I accompanied him to a dinner at the DC Hilton and introduced him. The room was packed. (I still have the tux I had to buy to accompany him!) I pray not only for the President and his family but all the folks in the country suffering this frightful violence and hatred. Even Erica Kirk was there Saturday night, in tears, remembering her own husband's assassination earlier last year. 

Let's dial back the hatred, dial back the violence, recover our sense of community, and remember we're all neighbors, citizens, and friends. We have more that unites us than divides us. Although we don't think alike, it doesn't mean we must hate each other, and violence is rarely acceptable. God bless America and God bless us all.

We can do this, we'll work with anyone who wants to come together, and unite as a community and a country. Yes, I’ll acknowledge that even some folks on the left have expressed relief that the President, again, survived a third attempt on his life. Although the third potential shooter of Trump had just attended a No Kings protest, not all those attendees want that. After the David Trone ads, the Raskin rhetoric and hate coverage from most of the media, it’s good to hear Hakeem Jeffries suggest they stop using the Hitler/Nazi/racist rhetoric. Perhaps the Congress could come together in good faith and fully fund the government, so the Secret Service agents could finally be paid.

I’m familiar with the Hilton and interactions with the President. I’ve been inside the Secret Service bubble. I've seen threats to politicians of both parties. Read it here.

We were all worried about the President, Melania, the folks in the room and the state of the union. To that end, and since we all need it, I’m planning a Trump Birthday Party for June 6, mark your calendar to attend-more info soon. Tell me what you'd like at a Trump Birthday celebration at [email protected]

After one of the many times our world had erupted into chaos, LA’s Rodney King said “Can't we all just get along?” If you have an idea on how to accomplish that tell me how we can do it. Send me your thoughts and comments. Write to me at [email protected]

Stay safe, God bless America and God bless us all.

Dennis Melby

I’ve known great Democrat and Republican leaders in Montgomery County. I’ve even voted for and supported some great Democrats who helped MoCo thrive. And here, in past years, folks would often vote in good Republicans, and we had some great ones.

Jim Gleason was our first elected County Executive, Connie Morella, Gilbert Gude, Newton Steers were great Congressmembers, Betty Ann Krahnke, Nancy Dacek and Howard Denis were effective County Council Members, and Stephen Abrams was a City Council and School Board Member…all Republicans, here are some pix

It made good sense, they were always the minority, but you always knew there was diversity of viewpoint, someone to watch the majority party carefully, and with a chair at the table, the ability to call into question any bone-headed idea that might come up. We’ve lost that. Most votes in MoCo and Annapolis are now 100% Democrat. Maybe we don’t need a fox watching the hen house, but maybe a few Republican guard dogs would be in order to make sure your money’s spent well, your rights aren’t diluted and your taxes aren't raised through the roof.

Yep, I recognize MoCo and Maryland are not majority Republican, they never have been. I remember that before the Civil War, we were a Democrat run slave state, that only stayed in the Union because the Army was in DC- on old MoCo land! But even as the minority party we have a substantial reason to want to participate in making MoCo great. It would take a Republican to say:

• Don’t buy million dollar electric buses that don’t work in winter.
• Don’t put lots of empty Ride On buses on the roads next to empty bike lanes.
• Don’t raise taxes to funnel money into a glut of public school administrative staff while schools are serving fewer students - and the ones we have poorly, keeping them less safe, and not teaching them STEM and patriotism.
• Keep boys out of girls sports and girls bathrooms.

We need some normal folks with common sense. True diversity means diversity of thought. Look at our great candidates, vote for the best, not the most red or blue, but the best. That’s the way we’ll get back on track, pull our country back together and enjoy the better quality of life that we had in MoCo before single party government was the norm.

Read this editorial I wrote in Bethesda Magazine about Ending One Party Rule and tell me what you think.

Tell me what issues we should address, what diversity really means and how you feel about single party government. Write to me at [email protected]

Dennis Melby