McDonough has been a radio talk show host and producer. He is the president of the Maryland Leadership Council and the Future Leaders of America. He is a founding member of the Maryland Coalition Against Crime. He is a member of the Route 40 Business Civic Association and the Essex-Middle River-White Marsh Chamber of Commerce. He is also active with the Hawthorn Civic Association, the Joppa Residents Council, and the Harford County Pro Life group. McDonough is also a part of the President's Rally for America and the Classroom Coalition since 2004. He serves as the host for "Inside Annapolis", which is produced by Harford Community College Television. He is co-Chair of the Annual Flag-waving Tribute to Victims and Families of 9-11. McDonough is known for his continual push to make English the official language for the State of Maryland. In March 2007, a resolution was sponsored by State Senator Nathaniel Exum calling for the state of Maryland to officially apologize for its role in slavery. McDonough criticized the bill as being a "superficial gesture designed to make people feel guilty". Additionally, he mentioned that, "I don't think apologies solve anything." McDonough was one of six dissenting votes in the House. Slavery existed in Maryland since 1642, was legally formalized in 1664, and was abolished under Maryland law by a new state constitution in 1864. In July 2007, McDonough called for the impeachment of Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Katherine Savage who released a non-English-speaking rape suspect when he demanded a court-appointed interpreter and none were available. The suspect speaks Vai, a West African language. Judge Savage claimed that not having an interpreter denied the suspect his Constitutional right to a speedy trial, as provided by the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Delegate McDonough maintained that the defendant did not need an interpreter, as he had attended both high school and college in the U.S., and had been successfully interviewed four times during the course of the investigation. McDonough's circulated widely in early 2012 as he mounted a legislative challenge to the neighboring District of Columbia's Wildlife Protection Act of 2010. McDonough's current radio program can be heard on WCBM AM680 radio in Baltimore on Saturday evenings from 8pm to 10pm. He ran in the 2018 Primary Election as a Republican candidate for County Executive of Baltimore County. He lost the primary to Al Redmer, 55%-44%. During the campaign, he pledged "dramatic and powerful change" if elected, calling for more police and greater efforts to combat gangs and drugs.
Legislative notes
Supports continued criminal prohibition of marijuana, stating in March, 2015, regarding legalization, "Who's the winner? The drug dealer. Who's the loser? The community."
Opponent of criminal law reform in regard to non-violent crime, stating in March, 2015, regarding a number of Maryland state bills aimed at reducing incarceration, "Power to the criminal. This is the year of the criminal, apparently."
