Update: We received the following response from the Montgomery County Office of Communications:

The Montgomery County Republican Committee statement is categorically false. The County’s elections town halls are not political events. Their purpose is to educate voters about essential information and deadlines for voting — by mail, by drop box, or at the polls. Voters of every background — Democrat, Republican, and Independent — should have the information they need to exercise their fundamental right to vote. The County takes seriously our commitment to election administration and does not engage in partisan falsehoods. 

The Montgomery County Republican Committee announced today that they have called on Pennsylvaia’s Ethics Commission to investigate county commissioner Neil Makhija’s alleged use of taxpayer dollars to pay for and promote an event with Senator Art Haywood.

According to the announcement, commissioner Makhija “sent a voice text to taxpayers to host a town hall with Sen Haywood, paid for by Montgomery County, PA taxpayers on Sunday, May 10, 2026”.

Haywood is running for reelection against Mike Cogbill of Germantown for the Eastern Montgomery County portion of Pennsylvania’s 4th Senatorial District which serves Abington, Jenkintown, Glenside, and Cheltenham.

“It is unacceptable for Montgomery County to be paying for events to promote Democratic candidates with taxpayer dollars,” said Liz Ferry, Chair of the Montgomery County Republican Committee. “Commissioner Makhija’s thinly disguised campaign event is completely unethical. He should personally reimburse taxpayers for this partisan maneuver.”

“I strongly oppose the use of County taxpayer dollars to advertise, promote, or host politically driven themed events camouflaged as an election town hall,” Montgomery County Commissioner Thomas DiBello said. “At a time when residents are facing rising costs and expect government to focus on core services, taxpayer funds should be used responsibly and transparently — not for events that many residents may not support. County resources must remain focused on public safety, infrastructure, human services, and delivering value to the taxpayers who fund our government.”