politics
Maryland Primary Voters Choose Democratic Nominee to Succeed Retiring Rep. Hoyer
Voters head to the polls Tuesday in Maryland's midterm primary, including a crowded Democratic contest to replace longtime Rep. Steny Hoyer in the 5th District. Hoyer endorsed state Del. Adrian Boafo, who has drawn support from Gov. Wes Moore and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks.
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Voters in Maryland cast ballots Tuesday in the state's midterm primary, with the most prominent contest centered on replacing Rep. Steny Hoyer in the 5th Congressional District. Hoyer, 87, announced at the beginning of 2026 that he would retire at the end of his current term after more than four decades in Congress, where he served as the number two Democrat in the House under Nancy Pelosi.
The deep-blue district drew more than 20 Democratic primary candidates. Hoyer endorsed his former campaign manager, Maryland state Del. Adrian Boafo, shortly after announcing his retirement. Boafo also received endorsements from Maryland Gov.
Wes Moore and U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks. The district is unlikely to elect a Republican, so the Democratic nominee is expected to win in November. Boafo's campaign received millions of dollars from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's United Democracy Project PAC and from Protect Progress, a crypto-aligned super PAC.
His opponents include former Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker, healthcare CEO Quincy Bareebe, Prince George's County Councilwoman Wala Blegay and former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn. Dunn testified in congressional hearings about defending the U.S. Capitol during the Jan.
6, 2021 insurrection and finished second in the 2024 Democratic primary for Maryland's 3rd District. "Adrian has spent the last year laser-focused on the issues impacting Marylanders. His opponents continue to try and make the race about anything else besides what this race is actually about: the people of this district and the real need to have a fighter who stands up to this President," Boafo's campaign manager, Oren Adams, told ABC News in a statement.
