Former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn lost the Democratic primary for one of Maryland’s open House seats on Tuesday, coming in second to a prominent state senator after competing in a crowded Democratic field.
Dunn lost the Democratic nomination for Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District, a deep-blue seat held by outgoing Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD), to state Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth. Elfreth and Dunn emerged as the top two contenders in the field of 21 other Democratic candidates.
The Associated Press called the race for Elfreth at 10:27 p.m. two hours after polls closed, with Elfreth winning with 36% of the vote with just under half of the vote counted. Coming in second, Dunn had 25.9% of the vote.
The former officer’s name recognition was thought to be a significant advantage, after he became well-known for defending the Capitol against rioters on Jan. 6, 2021, in response to the 2020 election results. Several supporters of Dunn had praised him as a defender of democracy, drawing on his testimony that he gave before the House Select Committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack.
Dunn also had received prominent several endorsements, including one from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), whom he protected along with several other members on Jan. 6. He also received the backing of former Democratic Whip and current Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) and the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Dunn raised about $4.6 million from donors across the country, compared to Elfreth’s $1.5 million. However, Elfreth received a large boost from the United Democracy Project, a super PAC connected to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
The super PAC dropped $3.5 million on ads since April to boost Elfreth in the race. Both candidates had nearly identical stances on Israel, so the reason to select Elfreth over Dunn remains unclear.
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Ultimately, both the money and the fame were not enough for Dunn to sail to victory on Tuesday. Both Dunn and Elfreth ran on similar platforms that echo the Democratic establishment: protecting rights to abortion, preventing gun violence, and expanding health care, among other policies.
Five state legislators, including Elfreth, competed for the open seat, which Sarbanes is vacating after nine terms in Congress. He announced in October last year that he would not seek reelection.
