Sixteen candidates are running in the Democratic primary in Maryland’s 6th Congressional District on May 14, 2024. Three lead in endorsements, polling, and fundraising: Tekesha Martinez (D), April McClain-Delaney (D), and Joe Vogel (D). Incumbent Rep. David Trone (D) is running for U.S. Senate, leaving the district open.
Martinez is the mayor of Hagerstown, Maryland, and a former city council member. Martinez says she is running “to play a role in mediating our national divides, to bring a fresh perspective and new voice to the table, to ensure that we can control our own bodies and our own futures without question.” Martinez is running on her A Woman’s Agenda policy platform covering “women’s rights…the interlacing stresses of climate change, racial injustice, and public safety.”
McClain-Delaney is a former U.S. Department of Commerce official and nonprofit executive. McClain-Delaney says she understands the district’s urban and rural voters and is “committed to addressing challenges through a ‘common sense, common ground’ approach”. McClain-Delaney says she will focus on “a high cost of living, the impact of AI and technology on work and on families, a need to fix immigration, protect women’s reproductive freedoms, climate change, and yes, hyperpartisanship and a lack of dialogue ripping apart communities.” McClain-Delaney’s husband represented the district from 2013 until 2019.
Vogel is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates. Vogel says he is running because “we’ve made real progress in Maryland but there’s so much more to do to ensure freedom and safety for everyone in our country. We need a new generation of leaders in Washington who understand exactly what’s at stake in this moment.” Vogel says he has a record of advocating for increased firearms regulations, reduced regulations on abortion, and advocacy for LGBT Americans.
Also running in the primary are Peter Choharis (D), George Gluck (D), Geoffrey Grammer (D), Ashwani Jain (D), Lesley Lopez (D), Stephen McDow (D), Mohammad Mozumder (D), Adrian Petrus (D), Joel Rubin (D), Laurie-Anne Sayles (D), Destiny West (D), Kiambo White (D), and Altimont Wilks (D).
As of March 23, 2024, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, and Larry J. Sabato’s Crystal Ball each rated the general election Likely Democratic. In 2022, incumbent David Trone (D) defeated Neil Parrott (R) 55%–45%.
