Maryland State Senator Sarah Elfreth emerged victorious in the Democratic primary for an open House seat, as projected by NBC News. She defeated a former Capitol Police officer who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6 and several other candidates.
Elfreth is now a strong favorite for the general election, aiming to succeed retiring Rep. John Sarbanes in Maryland’s 3rd District, a staunchly Democratic area. Harry Dunn, a 15-year veteran of the Capitol Police force, gained prominence as one of the officers who faced off against rioters supporting then-President Donald Trump's efforts to retain power after the 2020 election. Dunn gained national visibility through media appearances, testimony at a televised Jan. 6 committee hearing, and the publication of his book, “Standing My Ground.”
Despite Dunn's status as a political newcomer, his national profile enabled him to raise significantly more funds than over 20 other candidates, including Elfreth and four other Maryland state lawmakers. However, the race dynamics shifted in the final campaign weeks due to substantial outside funding. United Democracy Project, a super PAC affiliated with the influential pro-Israel group American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), invested over $4 million to support Elfreth, primarily through TV ads in the Baltimore market. Dunn strongly criticized this outside spending.
In response to the support from UDP, Dunn highlighted the PAC's funding sources, noting contributions from prominent supporters of the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement and figures like Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and Lauren Boebert. Elfreth, in accordance with the law, emphasized that she cannot coordinate with any super PAC and expressed surprise at UDP's backing. She argued that her rivals’ positions on Israel align closely with her own.
Elfreth, a 35-year-old state legislator, campaigned on her record in Annapolis, citing the successful passage of bills related to solar energy, Chesapeake Bay restoration, and other key issues. She also focused on protecting women’s reproductive rights and addressing climate change, including efforts to combat major flooding in parts of the district.
In an interview before Election Day, Elfreth emphasized her commitment to her constituents, stating, “We’ve had tornadoes in this district. We’ve had gun violence. We’ve had flooding. We’ve had a whole bunch of issues that I’ve been able to be there for folks on their hardest days. And that’s a really important part of the job, that at the end of the day, folks really don’t care how I vote as long as they feel like they can turn to me when they need help."