Key facts
- Adrian Boafo won the Democratic primary for Maryland's 5th Congressional District.
- Boafo's campaign received financial support from crypto super PAC Protect Progress and AIPAC's United Democracy Project.
- Senator Chris Van Hollen criticized the outside spending in Boafo's campaign.
- Retiring Rep. Steny Hoyer endorsed Boafo.
- Rep. April McClain Delaney won a primary to retain her Maryland House seat.
Maryland state Delegate Adrian Boafo is projected to win the Democratic primary for the 5th Congressional District seat, succeeding longtime Representative Steny Hoyer. Boafo, Hoyer's former campaign manager, secured the nomination with significant financial backing from pro-crypto super PAC Protect Progress and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's (AIPAC) United Democracy Project.
The substantial outside spending in the race drew criticism from Senator Chris Van Hollen, who accused the groups of attempting to "buy this congressional seat." Boafo, who also worked as a federal lobbyist for Oracle and co-sponsored legislation on blockchain technology, defended his campaign.
Hoyer, retiring after 45 years in Congress, endorsed Boafo, as did Senator Angela Alsobrooks and Governor Wes Moore. Boafo previously served on the Bowie City Council and as its vice mayor before his current role in the Maryland House of Delegates.
In a separate race, Rep. April McClain Delaney won a primary to keep her Maryland House seat, defeating challenger David Trone. Trone had cited McClain Delaney's vote for the Laken Riley Act, a Republican-led immigration bill, as a reason for his challenge. McClain Delaney later expressed regret for the vote.