Maryland congressional races: Mfume defeats Conway in Democratic primary

Mfume prevails over younger contender

U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume defeated challenger Mark Conway in the Democratic primary to represent a district with a large Baltimore footprint.

Mfume, whose second stint in Congress began in 2020, held a comfortable lead over Conway as election day totals were tallied. The Associated Press called the race shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m.

Conway, 38, a member of the Baltimore City Council since 2020, had hoped to unseat the veteran congressman, first elected in 1987, amid a national push to elect younger leaders.

However, Mfume, 77, remains popular in Baltimore, where he has consistently swept elections. He secured 88% of the vote in the 2024 Democratic primary.

“Elections come and go, but our shared responsibility to serve the people remains,” Mfume said late Tuesday in a statement declaring victory. “Tomorrow, we continue the work of creating affordable opportunities.”

Conway, who served as deputy director of City Hall’s CitiStat office before being elected to the City Council, has two years left in his term. The chairman of the council’s high-profile Public Safety Committee, he has struggled to build consensus with his fellow members who have accused him of using the seat to campaign for the congressional post.

Conway’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

In the heavily Democratic district that includes most of Baltimore and portions of Baltimore County, the winner of the primary election is all but guaranteed to win the general election. Mfume will face Republican Scott Collier in November.

Here’s how congressional candidates fared elsewhere in the state Tuesday:

District 2

U.S. Rep. Johnny Olszewski Jr. comfortably secured a win over challenger Clint Spellman Jr. in the Democratic primary in District 2.

AP called the race for Olszewski shortly after polls closed Tuesday. The former Baltimore County executive has held the Northern Maryland district since 2024, when he defeated Kimberly Klacik, a conservative radio host and internet personality, with 58% of the vote.

This fall, Olszewski will face a Republican challenger. The AP had not made a call in the Republican primary as of 8:40 p.m., but David Wallace was leading with early votes and some mail-in votes tallied.

District 3

U.S. Rep. Sarah Elfreth overcame challenges from a handful of Democrats to win in District 3.

Elfreth, elected in 2024 and one of three women in Maryland’s delegation, defeated Jennifer Cross, Austin Dyches, Sean Hammond and Robert Gerald Morrison, according to AP. She was the only Democrat in the race to raise money and had more than $300,000 in her campaign account as of June, federal campaign finance records show.

District 3 covers Howard County and parts of Anne Arundel and Carroll counties.

This fall, Elfreth will face challenger Berney Flowers who beat a small field of Republicans, according to the Associated Press.

District 4

U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey emerged as the Democratic nominee in the district that wraps around the eastern side of Washington.

Ivey, who was elected to Congress in 2022, bested Democrats Jakeya Johnson, Shavonne Hedgepeth, Jonathan White and Joseph Gomes.

District 4 is among the most liberal in the state, meaning Ivey is the odds-on favorite to win in November. He will face Republican George McDermott, who was unopposed in the Republican primary.

District 8

Longtime U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin won the Democratic nomination for the district centered in Montgomery County, besting a small field of Democrats. AP called the race shortly after polls closed.

Raskin, who has represented District 8 since 2017, had a vast fundraising advantage in the race. Federal campaign finance records show he had more than $7 million in his campaign account as of June.

Raskin has enjoyed high popularity among his constituents. He grew his national profile during President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial in 2021, which he oversaw.

In the highly Democratic district, Raskin is heavily favored to win this fall, but he will have a Republican challenger. AP had not called the Republican primary as of 8:40 p.m.

District 1

It was not immediately clear Tuesday night which Democrat would emerge as the nominee to go head-to-head this fall with incumbent Republican U.S. Rep Andy Harris.

With the majority of Election Day precincts reporting but thousands of mail-in ballots yet to be counted, Daniel Schwartz had a small lead over Randi White in a four-way Democratic primary. Shortly before midnight, AP had not called the race.

Schwartz, former senior director with the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, had a significant fundraising advantage over White and the rest of the field, campaign finance records showed.

Harris, chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, has handily controlled his seat on Maryland’s Eastern Shore for much of his 16 years in office. In recent years, however, Maryland’s lone Republican congressman has become a more popular target for Democrats. He narrowly defeated Heather Mizeur in 2022 with 54% of the vote.

Harris beat challenger Chris Bruneau in Tuesday’s Republican primary, according to the AP.