Democratic House candidate April McClain-Delaney won the open seat in Maryland’s 6th District late Saturday, four days after Election Day.
She defeated Republican opponent Neil Parrott. The seat was open because Rep. David Trone, a Democrat, decided to run for Senate, but he lost in the primary to Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. Ms. Alsobrooks won the Senate contest, defeating Republican Larry Hogan.
“I am deeply honored and humbled by the trust the people of Maryland’s 6th District have placed in me by electing me to be their next member of Congress,” Ms. McClain-Delaney said in a statement posted on X on Friday declaring victory.
“Since the beginning of this campaign, our message has been clear: it’s time for common sense, common ground leadership that puts people over politics, defends our freedoms and values, and builds a future centered on unity,” she said.
The district covers the state’s conservative western region and a piece of wealthy, suburban left-leaning Montgomery County.
Ms. McClain-Delaney is familiar with the seat, as her husband, former Rep. John Delaney, held the seat from 2013-2019. He flipped the seat Democrat from former Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, a Republican. Mr. Delaney gave up his seat to focus on his unsuccessful run for Democratic presidential candidate in 2020. He was succeeded by Mr. Trone.
A mother of four daughters, Ms. McClain-Delaney focused her campaign on reproductive rights. She previously worked in the Department of Commerce during the Biden administration.
She outspent Mr. Parrott, using personal funds to bankroll the campaign. She received endorsements from some top Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
Mr. Parrott has run for the seat three times now unsuccessfully. He ran his campaign on inflation, the economy and illegal immigration. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Louisiana Republican, came out in support of Mr. Parrott, calling him “an engineer who knows how to break the gridlock in Washington.”
Mr. Parrott has not conceded, telling The Associated Press in a text that he is “extremely grateful for the huge amount of work that was put into this campaign by volunteers in all five counties.”
“As a result of this effort and sacrifice, the Parrott campaign will wait until all the votes are counted before declaring victory or defeat,” he said.
As of Sunday, the race was still at 92% reported, with Ms. McClain-Delaney leading 52.1% to 47.9%.
Democrats only need a gain of four seats to win the lower chamber.
• This report is based in part on wire service reports.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.