McNulty's 'Door Knocking' Bankrupts His Campaign
GAITHERSBURG, Md. — When Gaithersburg City Council Member Jim McNulty announced he would “honor his Irish roots” with a new kind of door-knocking campaign, few expected him to mean it so literally. Or that it would bankrupt his campaign.
McNulty promised to “bring back an honorable Irish tradition — meeting voters, one sip at a time.” The pledge was a modern twist on a medieval custom, rooted in his descent from the ancient Cenél Conaill clan of Donegal. Aspiring leaders once traveled from pub to pub, standing a pint for the locals in exchange for goodwill, stories, and (ideally) votes.
The candidate began his “Democracy on Tap” tour at Mayan Monkey Brewing Co., where volunteers were issued clipboards, maps, and strict instructions to pace themselves. By the time the group reached Saints Row Brewing, the clipboards had become beer pong paddles and volunteers were using ranked-choice voting to decide the best artisanal craft brew.
McNulty pressed on, visiting Black Viking Brewing where he gave a short speech in Gaelic iambic pentameter on the multicultural spirit of Gaithersburg democracy, then to Clear Skies Meadery, where the group voted unanimously to annex King Farm and rename it New Donegalburg.
The tour eventually spilled beyond city limits, with unplanned stops at Elder Pine, Waredaca, and Lone Oak, where in the early evening McNulty attempted to canvass a fermentation tank "with strong opinions on zoning."
Campaign filings later confirmed that McNulty spent 100 percent of his campaign funds on beer, tips, and commemorative pint glasses. “Every dollar went to supporting local businesses and democracy," he said proudly.
Two of McNulty's challengers, candidates Chris Thoms and Omodamola Williams, issued statements questioning if campaign financing rules had been violated. Candidate Lisa Henderson declined to comment, saying she "had my eyes closed the whole time and missed everything."
Editor's Note: Shortly after this report went to press, a Montgonion source at Silver Branch Lagerhaus confirmed the campaign for 2026 County Council candidate Scott Goldberg will retain McNulty's campaign consultants immediately after the November 4th city election.
