By MDBayNews Staff
As the 2026 election cycle heats up, Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District (MD-03) is already drawing a crowded and ideologically diverse field—particularly on the Democratic side. Covering all of Howard County, most of Anne Arundel County (including Annapolis), and parts of Carroll County, the district is one of the state’s most reliably Democratic seats, making the primary election the main battleground.
The filing deadline is February 24, 2026, with the primary on June 23 and the general election on November 3. Below is a snapshot of who has officially filed with the Maryland State Board of Elections as of early February.
The Incumbent: Sarah Elfreth (Democrat)
Elfreth, elected in 2024 after years in the Maryland Senate, is seeking a second term and enters the race as the clear favorite in this Democratic-leaning district.
What she’s running on:
- Infrastructure & Port of Baltimore recovery, including federal investment following the Key Bridge collapse
- Reproductive rights, including codifying Roe v. Wade and protecting IVF access
- Defense and environmental policy, through her committee assignments and Annapolis-centric district interests
For now, Elfreth is running a conventional incumbent campaign focused on continuity, federal funding, and Democratic base turnout.
Democratic Primary Challengers
Austin Dyches
A Carroll County resident and self-described democratic socialist, Dyches is running from Elfreth’s left and offering one of the most sweeping policy platforms in the race.
Key positions include:
- Medicare for All
- Abolishing ICE and ending federal immigration detention
- National rent control and massive public housing investment
- Free college, student debt cancellation, and union expansion
- A sharply anti-interventionist foreign policy
Dyches’ campaign is aimed less at flipping the district and more at testing how far left a Democratic electorate in MD-03 is willing to go.
Felix M. Seier
A Navy veteran, Seier has filed as a Democrat and is running a reform-oriented campaign emphasizing government accountability and veteran issues. While his campaign materials remain limited so far, he has framed his bid around structural reform rather than partisan escalation.
Withdrawn Democrat
- John M. Rea (withdrew November 2025)
Republican Primary Candidates
While MD-03 is a long shot for Republicans in a general election, the GOP primary will still determine who carries the banner.
Berney Flowers
A retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, Flowers is positioning himself as a traditional conservative with a focus on:
- National security and veterans’ issues
- Fiscal responsibility and limited government
- Public education reform and accountability
Flowers has been the more visible of the two Republican contenders so far.
Ray Bly
A Howard County resident and repeat candidate, Bly has filed again for the seat. While his current campaign platform is still developing, his past runs have emphasized small business experience, constitutional governance, and grassroots conservatism.
The Political Reality in MD-03
MD-03 remains solidly Democratic, meaning:
- The Democratic primary is likely to be the decisive contest
- Republican candidates face steep structural and registration challenges
- Ideological divisions within the Democratic Party may be more consequential than party-to-party competition
Whether voters prefer Elfreth’s institutional experience or a more insurgent challenge from the left will be the central question heading into June.
More candidates could still file before the February 24 deadline, and platforms are likely to evolve as campaigns move from announcement to persuasion.
Editor’s Note
MDBayNews will continue tracking filings, fundraising, endorsements, and policy contrasts in MD-03 as the race develops.
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