April McClain Delaney Defeats David Trone in Maryland Democratic Primary

Rep. April McClain Delaney defeated former Rep. David Trone in the Democratic primary for a House seat in western Maryland on Tuesday. The race between the two Democrats featured more than $32 million in total spending.

Trone, the billionaire founder of Total Wine & More who represented the district for three terms, contributed more than $25 million of his personal wealth. Delaney spent at least $7 million of her own funds. Trone previously spent more than $60 million of his fortune in a failed 2024 Senate bid against Sen.

Angela Alsobrooks. He had endorsed Delaney to succeed him in Congress before entering the race himself. Maryland's Democratic establishment backed Delaney. Endorsements came from Gov. Wes Moore, Sens.

Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, Rep. Jamie Raskin, former House Minority Leader Steny Hoyer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Trone received support from the state's largest teachers union.

The candidates differed little on policy. Trone criticized Delaney for voting for the Laken Riley Act in early 2025. Delaney later said she regretted the vote. She also denounced Trone for an advertisement that cited support from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on abortion rights, though Clinton issued no formal endorsement.

Neither candidate lives in the district, which runs from the rural northwestern corner of the state through Montgomery and Frederick counties. Both reside in Potomac. President Donald Trump came within six points of carrying the seat in 2024.

Delaney's husband, John Delaney, held the seat from 2013 to 2019 before a failed 2020 presidential campaign. The Kentucky U.S. House primary had previously been the most expensive congressional race in history at $32 million.