April McClain Delaney wins primary for David Trone’s Maryland House seat

Former Biden administration official April McClain Delaney has won the Democratic nomination for the seat representing Maryland’s 6th Congressional District, Decision Desk HQ projects. 

McClain Delaney previously served as deputy assistant secretary for communications in the U.S. Commerce Department and is the wife of former Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.), who represented the district for six years. She is running to fill the seat being vacated by Rep. David Trone (D-Md.), who chose not to seek reelection to a fourth term to instead run for Senate. 

McClain Delaney defeated a wide range of candidates who were vying for the Democratic nomination, including state Del. Joe Vogel (D), who was among her top competitors. 

She secured endorsements from several high-profile Democrats, including former House Speaker and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Reps. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), and raised the most of any candidate in the race with nearly $2 million, though $1 million of it came from a loan she made to her campaign. 

McClain Delaney will be the favorite to win the seat in November in the blue-leaning district though not certain. The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates the seat as “likely Democrat.”