Maryland’s 5th Congressional District: Who Will Win in 2026?

The Department of Justice has sued Maryland, Attorney General Anthony Brown, the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission, and Prince George's and Montgomery counties over laws banning law enforcement officers from wearing masks or face coverings while on duty. The state law, effective October 1, includes limited exceptions for undercover work, weather, and health reasons, and requires officers to display visible identification. Violations are treated as civil offenses carrying fines up to $1,500, a structure adopted after federal judges struck down similar criminal-penalty mask bans elsewhere. Montgomery and Prince George's counties passed comparable local laws in the spring.

The DOJ argues the laws unconstitutionally regulate federal officers under the Supremacy Clause and endanger ICE agents by exposing them to doxxing, harassment, and violence amid the administration's immigration crackdown. Officials including Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate said only the federal government can dictate equipment for federal officers on duty. Maryland officials, including House Speaker Joseline Pena-Melnyk and Montgomery County Councilmember William Jawando, say the laws promote transparency and accountability and vow to defend them. Maryland is the eighth state the DOJ has sued over similar laws, following suits in New York, Virginia, Connecticut, New Jersey, California, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee.

DOJ sues Maryland and two counties over laws barring masks for federal law enforcement, citing risks to ICE officers.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said Thursday he would "absolutely sign" a statewide moratorium on new data center development if it reached his desk, though he stressed local jurisdictions should retain say over such decisions. Thirteen of Maryland's 24 jurisdictions, including Baltimore and Montgomery and Prince George's counties, have already imposed temporary bans amid resident concerns over housing and utility costs.

Moore's comments add to a growing wave of pushback against data center expansion tied to the AI boom. New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland also backed a moratorium, citing environmental concerns and calling for centers to build their own renewable power. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed regulators to penalize data centers violating water-use rules. At the federal level, Sen. Martin Heinrich blocked a GOP bill on data center electricity costs, calling it insufficient. President Trump has urged data centers to cover their own power and water costs but criticized New York's moratorium, warning it risks losing AI investment to China.

Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) drew scrutiny after a combative Tuesday debate in Cambridge, Maryland, that included clashes with both an audience member and a reporter. During the debate, Harris told a laughing audience member she was "rude" after she interrupted his remarks blaming Democratic environmental regulations for rising diesel prices amid the U.S.-Iran conflict, prompting the moderator to ask both candidates' supporters to remain polite and respectful for the rest of the event.

After the debate, Harris accused Baltimore Banner reporter Pamela Wood of illegally recording him and called for an officer to intervene, citing Maryland's two-party consent law. Wood noted Harris had invited reporters to question him post-debate with cameras visibly rolling, meaning no reasonable expectation of privacy applied, since the law protects only private conversations, not public statements made to visible press.

Democratic opponent Dan Schwartz, who called for civility during the debate, criticized Harris's conduct as out of touch. Harris, chair of the House Freedom Caucus, is seeking a ninth term representing Maryland's 1st Congressional District.

The Baltimore Sun and Capital Gazette have launched a voter guide ahead of Maryland's Nov. 3, 2026 general election, surveying nearly 500 candidates across major statewide and local races. The guide covers contests for governor, attorney general and comptroller, plus General Assembly seats and competitive county-level races for executive, council, school board, state's attorney and sheriff in the Baltimore area and in Wicomico and Worcester counties. Circuit court clerk, register of wills, and orphans' and circuit court judgeships are also on the 2026 ballot.

The questionnaire lets candidates describe their backgrounds, policy positions and platforms in their own words, including reflections on past decisions and where they diverge from their party base. The outlets say the project is intended to help voters compare candidates directly as the election cycle ramps up.

The guide underscores the scale of Maryland's 2026 down-ballot landscape, which includes several competitive executive and legislative races likely to draw attention from political forecasters and prediction markets tracking state-level outcomes.

A pivotal Prince George's County Council vote set for Monday could clear the way for up to $215 million in special obligation bonds to finance infrastructure for a proposed $1.4 billion Sphere venue at National Harbor, a 6,000-seat version of the Las Vegas landmark. County officials say the financing relies on tax increment financing tied to future revenue in the National Harbor Development District rather than new taxes on residents.

Ahead of the vote, local officials, labor groups and business leaders are pressing for guarantees that local, minority and union workers benefit substantially from construction and permanent jobs. County Executive Aisha Braveboy highlighted the project's importance as the county recovers from federal job losses, the Six Flags closure and the Washington Commanders' departure from Landover. Officials are seeking commitments that at least 50% of workers come from county-based small businesses, with 40% reserved for minority-owned firms. Separately, Maryland Delegate Adrian Boafo criticized the lack of a Project Labor Agreement, noting one existed for the Las Vegas Sphere, and urged the council to secure stronger labor standards before approving financing.

A Maryland circuit court has ruled that a Democratic-backed constitutional amendment cannot appear on the November ballot, blocking a measure that could have let lawmakers redraw the state's congressional districts ahead of the 2028 elections. Anne Arundel County Judge Robert Thompson found lawmakers missed their own July 1 deadline for certifying ballot summaries, siding with Republican lawmakers and the conservative Oversight Project, which sued to stop the measure. The ruling is paused to allow an appeal to the state Supreme Court.

The amendment, pushed after Gov. Wes Moore called a special session, would have exempted congressional districts from compactness and "natural boundaries" rules, potentially letting Democrats target the Eastern Shore seat held by Republican Rep. Andy Harris. Democrats hold seven of Maryland's eight House seats. The decision follows a similar setback in Virginia and comes amid a broader mid-decade redistricting fight, spurred by Republican efforts backed by President Trump, that has also played out in California and Texas.

Michigan's next governor will confront a steep decline in reading proficiency, with just 38.2% of third graders meeting English language arts standards in 2026, down from roughly half in 2015. Republican John James and Democrat Jocelyn Benson both cite Mississippi's reading gains as a model and support evidence-based, phonics-focused instruction, but diverge on execution. James says existing education funding is sufficient if administrative waste is cut and redirected to classrooms; he also backs school choice and a constitutional amendment making the state superintendent report to the governor, plus an A-F school grading system. Benson wants a weighted school funding model, a $60,000 minimum teacher salary, expanded early childhood education, and targeted support for struggling schools rather than a focus on blame.
James and Benson both back science-based reading fixes for Michigan's literacy crisis but split sharply on funding and accountability.

Maryland's 2026 general election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 3, with early voting running Oct. 22–29. Online and mail registration has closed, but in-person registration remains available through early voting and on Election Day with proof of address. Mail-in ballot requests face late-October deadlines, and ballots must be postmarked by Election Day.

Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller seek reelection against Republican, Green, and Working Class Party challengers. Attorney General Anthony Brown and Comptroller Brooke Lierman also defend their seats. All eight U.S. House seats and all 188 General Assembly seats are on the ballot. Voters will also weigh three constitutional amendments, most notably Question 3, which would clarify that redistricting rules apply only to state legislative maps, not congressional boundaries, amid a national gerrymandering debate.