Germantown, MD — Democratic State Senate candidate Destiny Drake West is calling on faith leaders, civic organizations, fraternities, sororities, and community members across Montgomery County to mobilize in response to what she describes as a coordinated pattern of voter misinformation, candidate erasure, harassment, and intimidation during the District 39 State Senate race.

On Monday, concerns were raised with Black Greek-letter organizations throughout Montgomery County regarding incidents affecting the campaign. In response, fraternity and sorority leaders quickly organized discussions and outreach efforts aimed at protecting voter access and ensuring community awareness ahead of Election Day.

“At a moment when public trust in our elections is already under strain, voters deserve accurate information and fair representation,” said West. “What we are witnessing is not simply a campaign dispute. It raises serious concerns about whether every voter is being given a fair opportunity to make informed decisions.”

The concerns intensified after a political mailer authorized by incumbent Senator Nancy King was distributed throughout the community. The mailer was designed to resemble an official Montgomery County Democratic Party sample ballot and omitted West, the only Black woman running for State Senate in Montgomery County.

According to the campaign, many voters mistakenly believed the mailer was an official voter guide rather than campaign literature. The confusion became so widespread that the Montgomery County Democratic Party issued corrective communications and posted notices at polling locations to clarify the mailer’s origin.

“Thousands of voters received the mailer,” Drake West said. “While corrective actions were appreciated, many voters may never see those corrections. Voter misinformation has consequences.”

The campaign also reports multiple incidents involving volunteers who were allegedly followed, confronted, harassed, or intimidated while engaging voters throughout the district. Campaign officials state that one incident resulted in police involvement.

“These incidents send a troubling message,” West said. “When candidates can be excluded from communications that appear official and supporters face intimidation for participating in the democratic process, it discourages civic engagement and undermines public confidence.”

District 39 has never elected a Black State Senator. If elected, West would become the first Black State Senator in the district’s history and the only Black woman currently serving in Montgomery County’s state legislative delegation.

“This campaign has never been about making history for history’s sake,” West said. “It is about ensuring that every community has a voice, every voter is respected, and every candidate has a fair opportunity to be heard.”

Community Call to Action

The campaign is requesting immediate support in three areas:

• Voter Education — Help ensure voters receive accurate information about their choices before casting ballots.

• Volunteer Mobilization — Assist with outreach efforts throughout the district.

• Poll Coverage and Community Presence — Provide a visible, peaceful presence at polling locations through Election Day.

“The strongest response to misinformation is truth,” West said. “The strongest response to intimidation is unity. And the strongest response to being counted out is for our community to stand together and say: Count Us In.”

For volunteer opportunities and additional information, community members are encouraged to contact the campaign directly.

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Media Contact:
Destiny for the People Campaign
vanessa@destinyforthepeople.com

About Destiny Drake West

Destiny Drake West is a Democratic candidate for Maryland State Senate in District 39, representing Germantown, Montgomery Village, Clarksburg, Washington Grove, and portions of Gaithersburg. A working mother of five, military spouse, former federal employee (GS14), and experienced public policy leader, West is running on a vision to make Upcounty the easiest place in Maryland for families to build a great life.