Open congressional seats in Maryland are hard to come by, in large part because the state’s short commute to Washington keeps most incumbents from growing tired of the job. This cycle, though, it’s a retirement bonanza: Two longtime members — Democratic Reps. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02) and John Sarbanes (MD-03) — are departing Congress to the excitement of the seats’ aspiring Democrats. Also leaving the lower chamber is Rep. David Trone (MD-06), who hopes voters will give him a promotion to the Senate.
The three open seats are all likely to remain in Democratic hands after November, meaning the bulk of the action will take place in the May 14 primary. And after eight years of women being shut out of Maryland’s 10-member congressional delegation, that drought finally seems likely to come to an end.
In the 6th District, which Trone is departing in hopes of a promotion to the Senate, April McClain Delaney — the wife of wealthy former Rep. John Delaney — is the favorite to claim the Democratic nomination. The Democratic primary for the open 3rd District is
Subscribe Today
Our subscribers have first access to individual race pages for each House, Senate and Governors race, which will include race ratings (each race is rated on a seven-point scale) and a narrative analysis pertaining to that race.