WASHINGTON 鈥� Alongside a closely watched race to determine Larry Hogan鈥檚 Democratic challenger, Maryland voters will also weigh in on some key U.S. House and Senate primary contests June 26.
Veteran Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin faces a slew of challengers in his bid for reelection.
His opponents in the primary run the gamut from whistleblower Chelsea Manning 鈥� the former U.S. Army private convicted of leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks 鈥� to perennial candidate Lih Young, who has been in every primary since 2012 but has yet to secure a nomination.
In Maryland鈥檚 6th District, eight Democrats and four Republicans are vying to win their party鈥檚 nomination for an open House seat.
On the Eastern Shore, Maryland鈥檚 lone Republican congressman faces two challengers from his own party, while a slew of Democrats are vying for a spot in the general election.
Overall, there are competitive primaries in all but one of Maryland鈥檚 eight congressional districts.
Here’s what you need to know about the U.S. Senate and House primary races:
U.S. Senate
Democrats
- , incumbent
According to a February , 61 percent of Democratic voters said they would vote for Cardin. Heavily favored, Cardin is a third-generation Marylander who has served in office for decades (he was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1966).
Jetmir is a New York native and currently a Navy Chief Petty Officer in the Reserves.
According to the aforementioned , 17 percent of Democratic voters said they would vote for Manning. Arguably the second best-known name on the ballot, she is a former U.S. Army private and was convicted of leaking classified information to WikiLeaks.
Morgan’s website states: “Maryland needs a woman in the US Senate, and I鈥檓 THAT woman!”- , political activist and philosopher
Segal is running against Cardin on a foreign affairs platform. He contends that Cardin is “a vehicle” of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Vaughn was born and raised in Baltimore City and County. He parlayed an early career at McDonald’s into a business venture and brand.
Wilson is a former public school teacher and college professor. One of her stated goals is education reform.- Lih Young
Republicans
- , political science professor
Campbell teaches politics at Towson University. He is also a former U.S. Army chaplain. His focus is on education reform, smaller government and national security.
Chaffee’s platform centers around Second Amendment rights, veterans rights, federal spending, small business, jobs and term limits. He also wants to defund Planned Parenthood.
Cronhardt is focused on American health care, tax equality, immigration reform, jobs, care for older Americans and welfare reform.- , Green Party nominee for MD-03 in 2016
Eze came to the United States from Nigeria at the age of 7. He is focused largely on term limits, veterans’ rights, immigration reform, taxes, social justice and health care. - , candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2016 and candidate for MD-04 in 2014
- , attorney
Grigorian is a Maryland native and graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law. Her platform focuses on public safety, transportation and education.
Howard is a former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant.
Vaeth is a former Baltimore City firefighter. His primary focus is on combating corruption. His platform also has an eye on gun rights, the budget, government reform, immigration reform, health care and public education.
U.S. House
1st District
In the 1st District, which encompasses Maryland鈥檚 Eastern Shore as well as parts of Baltimore and Harford Counties, Rep. Andy Harris, a former Maryland state senator elected to Congress in the 2010 Republican wave, is facing off against two challengers in the Republican primary.
On the Democratic side, six candidates are vying to take on Maryland鈥檚 sole Republican congressman in the general election.
Republican primary
- , a military veteran who founded the 鈥淟ate Night Veterans Show鈥�
- , incumbent
- , a former small business owner who ran a janitorial business and author of 鈥淎 Raw Business Sense鈥�
Democratic primary
- Michael Brown
- , a former U.S. Army intelligence officer and business consultant.
- , a small-business owner
- , former technology entrepreneur
- , served as the Talbot County Attorney for two decades, founded a grass roots activist organization.
- , former Defense Department budget official
2nd District
In the 2nd District, which comprises parts of Howard, Harford, Baltimore, Anne Arundel and small parts of Baltimore City, incumbent Democratic Rep. Charles Albert 鈥淒utch鈥� Ruppersberger is running for reelection. He was first elected to the seat in 2002.
Ruppersberger, who was elected to the seat in 2002, faces a challenger in the Democratic primary. Four Republicans have lined up to challenge him.
Democratic primary
- , a U.S. Army veteran and founder of a software development business.
- , incumbent
Republican primary
- , a small-business owner and author of the book, 鈥淏orn Again Republican.鈥�
- , an Army combat veteran with a degree in criminal justice and a master鈥檚 in theological studies from Liberty University
- , who previously ran as a Libertarian for the seat in 2014 and as a Green Party candidate in 2012.
- , a Dundalk, Maryland, native with a degree in economics and business
3rd District
In the 3rd District, which is made up of parts of Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery and Anne Arundel counties, incumbent Democratic Rep. John Sarbanes faces three Democratic challengers in the primary. Two Republicans are vying for their party鈥檚 nomination.
Democratic primary
- , U.S. Army veteran, West Point graduate and small business owner
- John Rea
- , U.S. Navy veteran, founded nonprofit organization LIFT A VET.
- , incumbent
Republican primary
- Charles Anthony
- Thomas E. 鈥淧inkston鈥� Harris
4th District
In the 4th District, which comprises parts of Prince鈥檚 George鈥檚 and Anne Arundel counties, there are no competitive primaries on either the Democratic or Republican sides.
Democratic incumbent , Maryland鈥檚 former lieutenant governor, who was elected to the seat in 2016, will face off against Republican in the November general election.
5th District
The district includes all of Charles, St. Mary鈥檚 and Calvert counties and parts of Prince George鈥檚 and Anne Arundel counties.
The seat is currently held by House Minority Whip Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer. Hoyer, who has held the seat since 1981, is the most senior Democrat in the House of Representatives.
Democratic primary
- , a retired U.S. Air Force veteran
- , incumbent
Republican primary
6th District
The district, which is made up of all of Garrett, Allegany and Washington counties as well as parts of Montgomery and Frederick counties, features the most crowded congressional primary in the state.
The seat is currently held by John Delaney, who announced last summer that he would step down at the end of his term to run for president.
The district鈥檚 contested boundaries were the subject of a Supreme Court case over accusations of gerrymandering by Democrats. After the lines were redrawn, Republican Rep. Roscoe Bartlett lost his seat in 2014.
Democratic primary
- , U.S. Army veteran and director of operations for the small green energy company Avertica. Duck was the Democratic nominee for the 6th District in 2006 and 2010, before the district鈥檚 boundaries were redrawn.
- , Army veteran and retired economist
- Chris Graves, founder of a solar energy company
- , a pediatrician who worked in the Emergency Department of Children鈥檚 National Medical Center and best-selling novelist.
- , an aerospace executive;
- , a former Maryland state delegate and current state senator, representing District 19.
- , an engineer and state delegate representing District 15
- , multimillionaire co-owner of Total Wine and More
Republican primary
- , Marine Corps veteran, affiliated with the Maryland Tea Party
- , a defense contractor, previously ran for the seat in 2016
- , a nurse practitioner in Montgomery County
- , who works in the real estate industry
7th District
In the 7th District, which includes most of Howard County and about half of Baltimore City, longtime seatholder Rep. Elijah Cummings is facing four challengers in his own party. Four Republicans are on the ballot in the GOP primary.
Democratic primary
- Anthony Carter Sr.
- , incumbent
- Charles U. Smith
- Charles Stokes
Republican primary
- , used appliance salesman
- , longtime Howard County resident and attorney
- Michael Pearson
8th District
In the 8th District, which stretches from the D.C. suburbs of Montgomery and Prince George鈥檚 counties nearly to the Pennsylvania border, first-term congressman Jamie Raskin is running for reelection. Raskin faces two other Democrats in the primary. There are three Republicans running in the GOP primary.
Democratic primary
- Utam Paul
- , incumbent
- , management consultant
Republican primary
- , opera singer and business owner
- John Walsh
- , attorney and law professor
MORE MARYLAND ELECTION NEWS
- Maryland primary election guide 2018
- 2018 Md. Primary Guide: Crowded field of candidates seek Democratic nomination for governor
- 2018 Md. Primary Guide: 10 candidates jockey for Prince George鈥檚 County Executive seat
- 2018 Md. Primary Guide: Crowded field of candidates seek Democratic nomination for governor
- 2018 Md. Primary Guide: House of Delegates, state Senate races to watch
