Maryland candidate deadline day: Who's running for governor, Congress?

Ben Mause, The Baltimore Sun on Feb 24, 2026

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WASHINGTON — Tuesday night marks the deadline for incumbents and aspiring politicians to decide whether or not they’re running in 2026, determining who will be on the ballot for state and federal offices in the upcoming June primary.

Already, Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey, an Upper Eastern Shore Republican, has announced he will not challenge Gov. Wes Moore. Hershey had created a committee last September to explore a possible run. Instead, he filed for reelection to his current seat.

At the congressional level, a couple incumbents face significant primary challenges. And a horde of candidates are racing to replace retiring Rep. Steny Hoyer in Southern Maryland.

Governor

It’s a crowded field — particularly on the Republican side — defined by incumbent Gov. Wes Moore. Two other Democrats filed: Eric Felber and Ralph Jaffe.

Among the Republicans to challenge Moore: Dan Cox; Ed Hale; Carl Brunner, Jr; L.D. Burkindine; Douglas Larcomb; John Myrick; Kurt Wedekind; Nancy Jane Taylor; and Michael Oakes.

Andy Ellis, a frequent critic of Moore, is seeking the nomination of the Green Party to appear on the general election ballot.

First District

Incumbent Rep. Andy Harris has filed. So has Chris Bruneau, who Harris defeated handily in the 2024 primary.

Four Democrats have filed to run for Harris’ seat. Newcomer Dan Schwartz leads the pack in fundraising. But the most prominent name — Maryland Housing Secretary Jake Day — hasn’t jumped in.

Democrats sought to redraw Harris’ district to make it favorable for a Democratic candidate. Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Baltimore City Democrat, has refused to hold a vote on a new congressional map, leaving the effort without a path forward.

Second District

There’s only one primary challenger to incumbent Rep. Johnny Olszewski to represent Baltimore and Carroll counties: Clint Spellman, Jr. Spellman lost to Olszewski in the 2024 Democratic primary. He held 1.7 percent of the vote to Olszewski’s 78.7 percent.

Nnabu Eze filed as a Republican.

Third District

A new map could have set up a contest between Harris and Rep. Sarah Elfreth in a redrawn First District that would have included Annapolis. That is increasingly unlikely.

Instead, Elfreth will face remain in the Third District and face four Democratic colleagues: Austin Dyches, Sean Hammond, Jennifer Cross and Robert Gerald Morrison.

Bernard Flowers, Ray Bly, John White, and Felix Seier filed to run as Republicans. Flowers and Bly lost in the 2024 Republican primary.

Cross initially sought to run in the Fifth District. Seier originally filed as a Democrat.

Fourth District

Democratic incumbent Rep. Glenn Ivey filed. Four Democratic challengers joined him: Shavonne Hedgepeth, Jonathan White, Joseph Gomes, and Jakeya Johnson.

George McDermott filed as a Republican.

White worked at the Department of Health and Human Services until last July, according to his LinkedIn. He has raised the most of the challenging candidates — just under $27,000. Ivey has $426,000 on hand.

Fifth District

A deluge of candidates have filed to fight for Hoyer’s open seat — 28 in total. Businesswoman Quincy Bareebe, who ran unsuccessfully against Hoyer in 2024, has raised the most money so far, followed by volunteer fireman Harry Jarin.

Hoyer has endorsed Del. Adrian Boafo of Prince George’s County, his former campaign manager. Several other prominent names have entered. Among them are: former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, who lost to Elfreth in the 2024 District Three primary; Del. Nicole Williams of Prince George’s County; Prince George’s County Councilmember Wala Blegay; and state Sen. Arthur Ellis of Charles County.

There are three Republican candidates: Chris Chaffee, Bryan DuVal, and Michelle Talkington. Hoyer defeated Talkington in the 2024 general election.

Sixth District

Marked by former Rep. David Trone’s campaign to reclaim his old seat, the race to represent Western Maryland could become expensive and intriguing. Six others also filed to challenge incumbent Rep. April McClain Delaney in the Democratic primary.

McClain Delaney and Trone, both Democrats, have already sparred over the former’s early support of the Laken Riley Act, while McClain Delaney has sought to paint Trone as a wealthy businessman who thinks he can buy back his seat. Multiple McClain Delaney staffers have left for the Trone campaign, rejoining their old boss.

Whoever wins the Democratic primary will face either a political newcomer — Marine Chris Burnett — or a repeat candidate — Robin Ficker or Mariela Roca — from the Republican side.

Seventh District

A trio of Democrats will challenge incumbent Rep. Kweisi Mfume in the party’s primary, seeking to represent Baltimore City. Most prominent among them is Baltimore City Councilman Mark Conway, Jr.

Scott Collier was the only Republican to file.

Eighth District

Aside from incumbent Rep. Jamie Raskin, three Democrats have filed: J.D. Kumar, Stephen Alan Leon, and Boris Kabel Velasquez.

They’re joined by Republicans Anita Mpambara Cox, Donald L. Lech, and Cheryl Riley.

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