Meet Izola
About Izola Shaw
Life-long Democrat. Advocate. Champion for Montgomery County
Izola Shaw knows firsthand how political decisions can turn lives upside down—because she’s lived it. After nearly two decades of dedicated federal service, Izola was one of thousands in Montgomery County whose jobs were abruptly cut by Elon Musk and the Trump administration. These decisions favored billionaires over working families and upended the lives of countless people in our county, especially right here in District 3—Rockville and Gaithersburg.
But Izola’s commitment to her community began long before those layoffs. At NIH, she brought coworkers together to form a union, fighting for fair treatment and stronger protections right up to her last day on the job. That dedication to empowering working people may have even made her a target.
Losing her job didn’t break Izola—it inspired her to fight even harder. She understands, in a way most politicians never will, how political decisions can threaten a family’s future. That’s why she’s determined to be the champion our community needs, standing up for working families when it matters most.
Why I’m Running
“Our basic needs—food, housing, education, and healthcare—are at risk because the Trump Administration is putting the interests of billionaires ahead of our families. ICE raids are spreading fear throughout our community and kidnapping our neighbors. When this Administration threatens our people, resources, and values, we depend on, we can't afford to wait to step up. Our community needs local leaders who will stand up right now to protect our jobs, our neighborhoods, our rights, and our future.
This campaign is rooted in the power of our community and our shared responsibility to protect and uplift one another—a responsibility that calls on all of us to step up in this moment. I’m running because we must fight for a future where every voice is valued and every family has a real chance to thrive.”
—Izola Shaw
Rooted in Service
Izola’s family history is a story of progress and perseverance. Her father made history by desegregating his high school at 16. He had to be escorted by the National Guard just to attend class for protection. He went on to serve in the Navy and worked as a federal employee for 40 years—inspiring Izola’s career in public service. Her mother worked at Planned Parenthood before Roe v. Wade, connecting women with safe resources and trustworthy information. Her Mother went on to become one of the first Black women Deans at M.I.T. Izola’s grandfather, a Pullman Porter, organized the country’s first Black union, opening doors to the middle class for thousands of families.
Izola grew up in Cambridge, MA. At the end of her junior year in high school, bad housing policy enacted by their elected leaders led to extreme rent hikes, and Izola’s family was forced to move out of their home and jurisdiction, which also threatened her education. Izola’s lived experience of being priced out of her community and truly understanding the consequences of housing instability shaped her belief that everyone deserves safe, attainable, stable housing, and it is essential for our community to thrive.
Izola is a proud alumna of Howard University (Go Bisons!), where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a dual degree in Political Science and History. Upon graduation, Izola went on to receive her master’s degree in Economics and Community Development from Johns Hopkins University. Her experiences at these two prestigious universities led her to serve throughout western and southern Africa, where she spearheaded community economic development projects in some of the world’s most impoverished places. She additionally lived in France and Italy.
Izola moved to Rockville more than a decade ago. After initially meeting her husband-to-be at Howard University, she ran into him again years later at a Rockville grocery store, and the couple got married shortly after.
In 2023, Izola was elected by her neighbors to serve on the Rockville City Council, where she has been a champion for working families seeking a local government that will fight to protect them.
A Record You Can Trust
Izola’s has decades of public service experience—she’s been at the front lines for years.
✓Rockville City Councilmember, where she continues to champion safer neighborhoods, affordable housing, and top-notch city services.
✓Made sure Rockville’s $176 million budget truly served people—fighting from day one as a Councilmember to secure more funding for affordable housing and getting it done.
✓FEMA leader for over a decade, advising county and municipal governments across the country to prepare for and recover from disasters.
✓NIH public health leader, sharing life-saving information during COVID-19.
✓Montgomery County Housing Opportunity Commissioner, overseeing a nearly $377 million operating budget for affordable homes.
✓Fight for $15 leader—organized lower-income workers to testify before the County Council, helping win a minimum wage increase in 2017.
✓Appointed to Montgomery County’s Domestic Violence Coordinating Committee and championed comprehensive wrap-around services for survivors and their children in support of their journey to safer and healthier lives.
✓Housing justice advocate, uniting tenants and homeowners for stable rents and engaging hundreds of residents in their local government’s policy-making process.
✓Champion of the Montgomery County Racial Equity Social Justice Act, ensuring every policy is measured by its impact on our most vulnerable neighbors.
✓Appointed to the Montgomery County Racial Equity and Social Justice Advisory Committee (RESJAC) by the County Executive and elected as the first female Chair.
✓ Served as Chair of the voter expansion subcommittee on the Rockville Charter Review Commission to advocate for increased voter turnout in our city elections—many policies which she successfully passed now as a Rockville City Councilmember.
Our Community. Our Fight.
This campaign isn’t just about Izola. It’s about all of us—our struggles, our dreams, and our commitment to a Montgomery County where no one is left behind. Progress isn’t handed out. It’s won by those who stand up and fight.
Join us. Let’s move Montgomery County forward—together.
