When an 87-year-old political titan finally decides to step down after 45 years in Congress, you don't just get an open seat. You get a political earthquake.
Steny Hoyer's retirement announcement earlier this year blew the lid off Maryland's 5th Congressional District. By the time voters headed to the primary polls on June 23, 2026, the ballot had ballooned to include more than 20 Democratic candidates. Because this southern Maryland district leans heavily Democratic, whoever survives this chaotic primary is essentially guaranteed a ticket straight to Capitol Hill in November.
But what looks like a typical local primary on the surface is actually a fierce proxy war funded by millions in national interest money.
The Chosen Successor vs The National Figures
If you want to understand how deep establishment roots run in Maryland, look at Adrian Boafo. A state delegate and Hoyer's former campaign manager, Boafo is the ultimate insider candidate. He clinched Hoyer's personal endorsement almost immediately. He also locked down the backing of the state's biggest Democratic heavyweights, including Governor Wes Moore and U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks.
For the establishment, Boafo represents continuity. He knows the machinery, understands the district, and has the blessing of the man who held the seat since 1981.
But endorsements don't scare off candidates with massive national profiles or deep pockets. Enter Harry Dunn.
Dunn, the former U.S. Capitol Police officer who became a household name after testifying about his experiences defending the Capitol on January 6, 2021, is making his second run for Congress. After a primary loss in Maryland's 3rd district two years ago, Dunn shifted focus to the 5th. He brought an army of small-dollar donors and a massive national brand with him, translating that into over $4 million in campaign receipts. Dunn isn't running as a local insider; he's running as a battle-tested defender of democracy who has literally sued the Trump administration.
Big Crypto and AIPAC Money Shaking Up the Race
The real tension in this primary isn't just about different personalities or backgrounds. It's about where the money is coming from.
While Boafo raised around $1.1 million directly through his campaign committee, he benefited from a staggering $8.8 million in outside independent expenditures. Powerful super PACs like the AIPAC-linked United Democracy Project and the crypto-backed Protect Progress poured massive cash into the district to boost Boafo.
That outside spending triggered a major backlash. In the final stretch before the vote, Dunn teamed up with other leading contenders—including former Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker III and healthcare executive Quincy Bareebe—to hold a joint press call demanding Boafo reject the outside money.
Bareebe, who is largely self-funding her campaign, poured nearly $6 million of her own wealth into the race. When you have self-funders and national progressive icons fighting a candidate backed by millions in corporate and special-interest PAC dollars, local issues tend to get drowned out.
Beyond the 5th District
While the race to succeed Hoyer dominates the headlines, it isn't the only drama unfolding in Maryland's midterm primary.
Up in the 6th Congressional District, former Congressman David Trone is attempting a massive political comeback. After giving up his seat for an unsuccessful, self-funded Senate bid in 2024, the Total Wine co-owner is trying to win his old job back. He threw a jaw-dropping $25 million of his own money into a primary challenge against his successor, incumbent April McClain-Delaney, who responded by loaning her own campaign over $7 million. It is quickly turning into one of the most absurdly expensive House primaries in United States history.
Meanwhile, at the top of the ticket, Governor Wes Moore easily glides toward his second-term nomination, all while national pundits keep dropping his name as a potential 2028 presidential contender.
If you are a voter in southern Maryland waiting on final returns, the immediate next steps are simple. Keep an eye on the Prince George's and Charles County election boards as mail-in and drop-box ballots are tallied over the coming days. The margin between Boafo's establishment machine and Dunn's grassroots network will reveal exactly what kind of Democrat the new Maryland electorate actually wants.
Harry Dunn on his comeback House bid provides additional context on how the candidates made their final pitches to voters right before the polls closed.
