By: Ryan Knappenberger| June 24, 2026 | Courthouse News Link
(CN) — Democrats in deep blue Maryland chose State Delegate Adrian Boafo as the likely replacement for retiring U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer, after a November face-off against Republican Chris Chaffee.
Voters in Baltimore and in Northwest Maryland voted for their incumbents, U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume and U.S. Representative April McClain Delaney, in a slate of races Tuesday that experts said reinforced the idea that “incumbency is powerful.”
The Associated Press called the race for Boafo — who has endorsements from Hoyer, Senator Angela Alsobrooks and Governor Wes Moore — late Tuesday night. Boafo defeated the next closest candidate, self-funded businesswoman Quincy Bareebe.
“Tonight, the Democratic voters of the 5th Congressional District decided that it’s time to pass the torch to a new generation,” Boafo told supporters at his watch party. “It takes a partial dose of courage and a little bit of insanity, to run for Congress of the United States, so thank you.”
The Maryland State Board of Elections reported 225 of 228 precincts counted as of Wednesday morning. Boafo took 32% of the vote with 21,605 votes, compared to Bareebe’s 18.1% with 12,193 and former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn’s 13.5% with 9,115.
Hoyer congratulated Boafo, who was largely hand-picked to replace the representative after his 44 years representing Maryland in the House.
“Congratulations to my dear friend Adrian Boafo on being elected as the Democratic nominee for Maryland’s Fifth Congressional District,” Hoyer wrote on X. “Today, voters affirmed what we all know: Adrian has what it takes to effectively lead and fight for Prince George’s County and Southern Maryland. I’m proud to have supported him along the way.”
Voters selected Boafo from a crowded ballot of 24 candidates.
Sam Novey, chief strategist at the University of Maryland’s Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement, told Courthouse News name recognition and endorsements can play a major role in such a crowded race.
“Voters tend to go with politicians they recognize and may have voted for in another race before,” Novey said. “With Boafo being more visible, having the endorsements of Hoyer, Alsobrooks and Moore mattered.”
