Baltimore Councilman Mark Conway Enters Crowded Democratic Primary for Congress in MD-7

By Michael Phillips | MDBayNews

Baltimore City Councilman Mark Conway has formally entered the race for U.S. Congress in Maryland’s 7th Congressional District, mounting a primary challenge to longtime incumbent Kweisi Mfume in what is shaping up to be a generational test inside one of the state’s most reliably Democratic seats.

Conway’s candidacy was the focus of a recent in-depth interview on the Baltimore Positive podcast, recorded at Gertrude’s restaurant at the Baltimore Museum of Art. The wide-ranging conversation offered voters a clearer look at how the late-30s councilman sees Baltimore’s progress, Washington’s dysfunction, and the policy priorities he would carry to Capitol Hill if elected.

A Generational Pitch to Voters

Elected to the Baltimore City Council in 2020 and reelected in 2024, Conway represents District 4, which includes Govans and the York Road corridor. He currently chairs the council’s Public Safety Committee and has built a reputation as a policy-focused legislator willing to clash with City Hall when he believes residents’ needs are being overlooked.

In the interview, Conway framed his run as less about ideology and more about urgency. With two young children at home, he said he worries that federal gridlock could undermine local gains—particularly if Congress moves to reduce funding for programs like Medicaid, Medicare, education, and housing assistance that are heavily relied upon in Baltimore.

The contrast with Mfume is unavoidable. The congressman, first elected in the 1980s and now in his late 70s, remains a respected figure in the district. But Conway is betting that voters may be ready for a different voice—one rooted in city governance rather than decades in Washington.

Policy Focus: Opioids, Energy, Housing, and AI

Conway used the podcast to highlight several policy ideas that have defined his council tenure:

• Opioid Addiction Response: He has advocated equipping all Baltimore paramedics with buprenorphine so patients revived with Narcan can stabilize for 12 to 24 hours and connect with treatment, rather than being discharged back into crisis.
• Energy Affordability: Conway supports creating a Public Power Authority using microgrids and battery storage to reduce peak-hour electricity costs, particularly as data centers and energy demand increase across the region.
• Housing Costs: He described affordability as one of the most consistent concerns he hears from residents, tying it directly to public safety and economic stability.
• AI and Data Centers: Rather than opposing development outright, Conway called for guardrails that balance innovation with community impacts on water, energy, and the environment.

Notably, Conway has drawn lines around campaign financing, refusing donations from major utilities such as BGE/Exelon and from AIPAC—positions that could appeal to progressive voters but also complicate fundraising in a competitive primary.

Baltimore’s Image—and Its Reality

A recurring theme in the discussion was Baltimore’s national reputation. Conway argued that outside narratives often lag behind on-the-ground reality, pointing to record-low crime rates and neighborhood revitalization efforts that rarely make headlines. While acknowledging ongoing challenges, he emphasized the importance of defending the city against what he described as exaggerated or politically convenient portrayals.

That message—pride without denial—appears central to his campaign strategy.

The Road to June 2026

Maryland’s 7th District primary, scheduled for June 23, 2026, is widely viewed as the decisive contest in the safely Democratic seat. In addition to Mfume, other Democratic candidates, including Hadley Anthony, are expected to compete, raising the likelihood of a fragmented field.

For Conway, the challenge will be translating his local profile and policy depth into district-wide name recognition—while persuading voters that change, even in a solidly Democratic district, is worth the risk.

Whether voters opt for continuity or a new generation of leadership, the race is shaping up as one of the more consequential Democratic primaries in Maryland’s 2026 cycle.

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