Maryland Democrats pick their U.S. House nominees as Moore wins primary for governor

By — Ali Swenson, Associated Press Ali Swenson, Associated Press By — Kimberlee Kruesi, Associated Press Kimberlee Kruesi, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/maryland-democrats-pick-their-u-s-house-nominees-as-moore-wins-primary-for-governor Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Maryland Democrats pick their U.S. House nominees as Moore wins primary for governor Politics Jun 23, 2026 8:37 PM EDT Maryland Democrats voted for their U.S. House nominees in a handful of consequential and contentious primaries Tuesday, including a battle between a congresswoman and her predecessor and a crowded race to replace retiring Rep. Steny Hoyer. Meanwhile rising party star Gov. Wes Moore won the Democratic primary in his bid for reelection to a second term. Republican voters hope to return the state to GOP leadership by picking a candidate they think can unseat him. WATCH: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore delivers 2026 State of the State address With polls closing at 8 p.m., the primaries in the left-leaning East Coast state are set to have an outsize impact. In many cases they will determine who is likely to win in heavily partisan districts this fall. Seven of Maryland's eight congressional districts are represented by Democrats, and one by a Republican. That dynamic and Hoyer's departure attracted big spending and some familiar names to the most-watched Democratic primaries. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Among them was Harry Dunn, a former police officer who defended the U.S. Capitol from the riot on Jan. 6, 2021. He is running for Hoyer's seat on a platform that includes protecting democracy. Some races became proxy fights about how Democrats should behave in the current political climate. Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson faced a tough primary challenge for the first time in years from a progressive who criticized his decision to block a midcycle redistricting attempt. The lead-up to Election Day has had some hiccups. Last month the State Board of Elections had to resend mail-in ballots to some voters in the closed primary after a vendor error caused some to receive a ballot for the wrong party. President Donald Trump seized on the issue, falsely claiming that Moore illegally sent the ballots to ensure victory for Democrats. The state administrator of elections derided him for spreading misinformation. Two dozen candidates compete to replace a Democratic fixture As the longest-serving House Democrat and the longtime party No. 2 in the chamber, Hoyer is nothing short of an institution. His retirement gives Maryland voters a chance to reflect on that leadership — and decide whether they want more of the same or a change of pace. Offering a degree of continuity is Adrian Boafo, a former Hoyer field director and campaign manager who was endorsed by the congressman, Moore and othe