Adrian Boafo, a Maryland state delegate, won the Democratic primary for the 5th Congressional District on Tuesday, securing the nomination to replace retiring Rep. Steny Hoyer. The race, one of the most expensive House primaries in the country, saw over $12.5 million in outside spending and drew more than 20 Democratic candidates after Hoyer announced his retirement.
Boafo, 32, received 32.2% of the vote with 43% of ballots counted, according to the Associated Press. Quincy Bareebe, a small-business owner, placed second with 18.7%, while former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn finished third with 13.7%. Boafo had the backing of Hoyer, Gov. Wes Moore, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, and the state’s largest teachers union.
The race attracted significant outside spending, including over $10 million from crypto-aligned super PAC Protect Progress and the United Democracy Project, linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Dunn, who defended the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riots, campaigned on opposition to former President Donald Trump and criticized Trump’s pardoning of Jan. 6 defendants. Boafo previously worked as a campaign aide to Hoyer and as a federal lobbyist for Oracle before being elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2022.
Hoyer, 86, has represented the district for 45 years and served in House Democratic leadership alongside former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The 5th District is a deep-blue seat east of Washington, D.C.