CIVPAC endorses Rushern Baker in the Democratic primary for Maryland’s 5th Congressional District.
This is a crowded race to succeed Representative Steny Hoyer, and CIVPAC recognizes that several candidates bring real strengths.
Harry Dunn has a powerful personal story and a special claim on the gratitude of Americans who care about democratic institutions. His service as a Capitol Police officer on January 6 gives him moral authority on the defense of constitutional democracy. Harry Jarin also deserves respect for his public-service background, including his work as a volunteer firefighter and his support for Ukrainian first responders. Those are not small things. They speak to courage, service, and values that CIVPAC takes seriously.
But this endorsement is ultimately about who appears best prepared to serve effectively in Congress.
Rushern Baker has the strongest governing-experience case in the field. His service as Prince George’s County executive gives him direct experience with budgets, administration, public safety, economic development, local government, and the practical tradeoffs of governing. Congress needs members who understand not only how to make statements, but how to make decisions. Baker’s record gives him a substantial advantage on that score.
CIVPAC also considered Adrian Boafo, who has the support of Representative Hoyer and a plausible continuity argument. Hoyer’s judgment deserves respect. But Boafo’s background as a former lobbyist, his close connection to the Hoyer political network, his reported absence from some candidate forums, and the scale of outside spending supporting his campaign raise fair questions about independence and accountability. Those concerns do not make him unqualified. But they weaken the case for a CIVPAC endorsement.
CIVPAC is not trying to predict the winner of this race. In some races, our role is to identify the candidate who most closely matches our principles even when that candidate may not be favored to win. In Maryland’s 5th District, Baker appears to offer the strongest combination of experience, governing seriousness, and public-sector judgment.
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