MARYLAND'S 5TH DISTRICT — Rep. Steny Hoyer announced he will retire at the end of his current congressional term, triggering a primary election in Maryland's 5th Congressional District. Twenty-seven candidates are on the primary ballot, including 24 Democrats and 3 Republicans.

Hoyer has represented the district since the start of Ronald Reagan's presidency and has served two separate terms as House majority leader, totaling eight years. Maryland's 5th District encompasses northern Prince George’s County, western Anne Arundel County, and Southern Maryland. Affordability and federal worker assistance were the most frequently cited as campaign issues among the candidates.

State Senator Arthur Ellis of Charles County, a candidate in the primary, has advocated in the Maryland General Assembly to revive the Southern Maryland Rapid Transit light rail line, which would run from White Plains to the Branch Avenue Metro Station. In 2019, he introduced legislation in the Maryland State Senate to prevent utility shut-offs and mortgage foreclosures for furloughed federal workers. Ellis said, "My objective in Congress is to reinstate terminated federal employees with back pay and benefits, because federal agencies are created and funded by congressional legislation rather than presidential decree."

Prince George’s County Council at-large member Wala Blegay is also running in the congressional primary. Blegay has centered her campaign on free healthcare proposals and stated that policies such as "Medicare for All, taxing billionaires, free community college, and universal childcare were previously criticized as unaffordable, but current economic conditions highlight their practical value." She said, "The federal government should impose a wealth tax on billionaires."

Democrats hold a 17-point voter registration advantage in the 5th District. Blegay said, "The Democratic Party has prioritized opposition to Donald Trump over developing substantive policy solutions, and securing a legislative majority requires shifting from defensive messaging to actionable governance." Ellis publicly disagreed with Maryland State Senate President Bill Ferguson regarding redistricting boundaries this year. He said, "I have challenged internal party leadership and disagree with their campaign approach, as Democratic candidates are utilizing fearful rather than proactive messaging."