The maryland delegation
congressional officials …
Maryland has a small somewhat demographically-diverse congressional delegation.
Of the ten class members, seven are male, three are female and three are minority representation through the end of the year. Six are lawyers, one holds a medical degree, one has a doctorate, and five have Master’s degrees.
The average tenure for the delegation is 4.8 terms, despite four being first-term members, assuming everyone completes their service through the end of 2026. The longest-serving member has been in Congress for 23 terms.
None of the senators are up for re-election in 2026.
When you look at these profiles, we have given each a letter grade for their effort this Congress, based on various factors, which you will find in What Is Thomas Looking For? These letter grades are probably pretty familiar to you if you have ever been a school student (we hope the answer to that is we all have!)
If you see a meager score for a particular member, it will probably be due to one or two key factors: ethics challenges or anti-democratic behavior.
Republicans have been hit hard on their lack of push back on former and now current President Trump and their support of election denying in the 2020 presidential campaign. The unanswered soaring deficit on their watch, the dismantling of allied relationships around the globe, and opposition to funding anti-authoritarian initiatives. The denial of climate change weighs heavily on us as well. We make no secret that transparency and Government in the Sunshine are important to us, and we further argue that some have been awful stewards of this category. For example, one of the ten Maryland delegation members voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results the same evening as Trump supporters stormed the United States Capitol.
Democrats have been hit hard for their lack of progress on key matters because they do control the United States Senate and have a razor-close margin in the U.S. House of Representatives. They have not been, in our opinion, innovative or necessarily insistent on finding rational, reasonable solutions to the problems plaguing the American public today. We want to see more and better.
Both have been dinged for being too partisan and not collaborative where evident. In our opinion, being too doctrinaire or an obstructionist to good government in the 21st century does not get one a good grade from Thomas.
We also indicate what we believe might be the outcome of these Members’ 2026 elections today. The overwhelming majority of House members were re-elected in 2024.
Our prospect ratings fall into three categories:
Safe Bet - which means what it means. These members of Congress are running strong and look to be overwhelming prospects for re-election at this time. However, we reserve the right to re-categorize their chances if necessary.
It’s A Race - means this race is too close to call, and we can not reasonably predict who will win this seat.
Nudging - means the seat is leaning one way or another for this candidate. We have just a small number of current members of Congress in this category. Senator Cardin is included since his open seat will be a race in 2024. Stay tuned!
So, would you like to meet these fascinating Marylanders? If so, keep reading on!
what is thomas looking for?
Here is the vulnerable race we are watching in Maryland for 2026:
MD06 - April McClain-Delaney’s seat (Incumbent D - Nudging D)
the senators
Credit: US Senator Chris Van Hollen
United states senator chris van hollen (D)
Maryland’s senior senator is serving his second term. A former long-time House member, Chris Van Hollen earned his undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College, an MPP degree from Harvard University, and his law degree from Georgetown University. Married and the father of three, the Senator serves on the Appropriations Committee; the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee; the Foreign Relations Committee; and the Budget Committee.
Thomas Take: Not up for re-election in 2026.
Thomas Rank: B
Credit: US Senator Angela Alsobrooks
United States Senator angela alsobrooks (d)
First-term U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks is a graduate of Duke University and holds a law degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore. The unmarried mother of one serves on the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee; the Environment and Public Works Committee; the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee; the Special Committee on Aging; and the Joint Committee on Taxation.
Thomas Take: Not Running for Re-Election in 2026
Thomas Rank: Too early to rank
the representatives
Credit: US Rep. Andy Harris
district 1 - u.s. rep. Andy Harris (r)
Congressman Andy Harris is the sole Republican member of the Maryland congressional delegation. His district includes all of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. A nine-term member of the House, Harris serves on the Appropriations Committee. Married and the father of five, Congressman Harris earned his undergraduate, graduate, and medical degrees from Johns Hopkins University.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: D
district 2 - U.S. Rep. johnny olszewski (D)
Congressman Johnny Olszewski is a freshman legislator who represents Carroll and Baltimore counties in the U.S. House. A graduate of Goucher College with a graduate degree from George Washington University and a doctorate from the University of Maryland, the married father of one serves on the Foreign Affairs and Small Business committees.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: Too early to rank
Credit: US Rep. Johnny Olszewski
Credit: US Rep. Sarah Elfreth
District 3 - U.S. Rep. sarah elfreth (d)
Representing Howard County and parts of Anne Arundel in Congress, including the capital city Annapolis, first-term Sarah Elfreth serves on the Armed Services Committee and the Natural Resources Committee. The unmarried Congresswoman graduated from Towson University and earned a graduate degree from Johns Hopkins University.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: Too early to rank
District 4 - U.S. Rep. glenn ivey (d)
Second-term Congressman Glenn Ivey represents the Maryland side of the Washington Metropolitan Area including Prince George’s County. A lawyer with a Harvard degree and an undergraduate degree from Princeton University, Ivey was a former Senate staffer before running for office. Congressman Ivey serves on the Appropriations Committee. He is married and the father of six.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
Credit: US Rep. Glenn Ivey
Credit: US Rep. Steny Hoyer
district 5 - U.S. rep. steny hoyer (d)
Representing the Southeastern portion of the Washington Metropolitan Area in Congress, Steny Hoyer is now in his 23rd term in the U.S. House. Hoyer served as Majority Leader from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023. Married and the father of three, Hoyer is a descendant of John Hart who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He serves on the Appropriations Committee. The Congressman earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland and his law degree from Georgetown University.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
district 6 - U.S. rep. april mcclain-delaney (d)
The sixth district of Maryland runs through the northwestern part of the state and the northern-most portions of the Washington suburbs. A graduate of Northwestern University with a law degree from Georgetown University, the first-term Congresswoman is married and the mother of four. She serves on the Agriculture Committee and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.
Thomas Take: Nudging Democrat
Thomas Rank: Too early to rank
Credit: US Rep. April McClain-Delaney
Credit: US Rep. Kweisi Mfume
district 7 - U.s. Rep. kweisi mfume (d)
U.S. Representative Kweisi MFume served five terms in Congress from 1987 to 1996 leaving to run unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate against eventual incumbent Ben Cardin. He returned to the House in 2020 upon the death of Elijah Cummings. A graduate of Morgan State University with a Master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, Mfume is married and the father of six. Congressman Mfume now in his eighth term in the House serves on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
district 8 - U.S. Rep. jamie raskin (d)
Jamie Raskin is most recently known for being the Lead Impeachment Manager in the second Trump Impeachment Trial and for brave battles against cancer including during his five-term tenure in Congress. Holding undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard University, Congressman Raskin serves as the ranking member on the Judiciary Committee. Married and the father of three, the Congressman represents Montgomery County including the cities of Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Potomac.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
Credit: US Rep. Jaime Raskin