Former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn announced Wednesday that he is running for Congress in Maryland’s 5th Congressional District, setting up a competitive Democratic primary to replace retiring Rep. Steny Hoyer.
Dunn became nationally known for his testimony about defending the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, when a pro-Trump mob sought to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 election. In his campaign launch video, Dunn drew a direct line between that day and current immigration enforcement tactics under former President Donald Trump.
“I see the same aggression in ICE agents that I saw from Jan. 6 insurrectionists,” Dunn said, adding, “So tell Donald Trump I’m coming back to the Capitol — this time with a vote, with oversight authority, with subpoena power.”
Crowded Democratic Primary
Dunn enters a deep-blue district with an increasingly crowded Democratic field. About a dozen Democrats have filed paperwork to run, including Maryland state Del. Adrian Boafo, a former aide to Hoyer. Shortly after announcing his retirement, Hoyer endorsed Boafo, calling him a proven leader capable of continuing his work in Congress.
Accountability as a Central Theme
Speaking on ABC News Live, Dunn said the race is less about policy differences and more about leadership in confronting what he sees as ongoing threats to democracy.
“Since Jan. 7, I have been front and center to lead the charge to demand accountability,” he said.
Dunn also criticized a recent FBI raid at a Georgia election office involving 2020 ballots, saying efforts like that are aimed at rewriting history in a way that benefits Trump.
Not His First Campaign
This marks Dunn’s second congressional run. In 2024, he placed second in the Democratic primary for Maryland’s 3rd District, losing to now-Rep. Sarah Elfreth. Dunn says he’s confident this time around.
“If I didn’t think I could win, I wouldn’t be in the race,” he said, adding that what once felt like a looming threat has now become a reality playing out in real time.
The Democratic primary is expected to be closely watched as the race unfolds in one of Maryland’s safest Democratic districts.
For more updates on congressional candidates and elected officials, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.