Half Showed Up to the Capitol. Half Walked Away.
By Michael Phillips | MDBayNews
On February 24, 2026, President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress in the U.S. Capitol.
Maryland’s congressional delegation — eight House members and two U.S. Senators — was sharply divided that evening.
Five members attended the official address inside the House chamber. Five boycotted entirely.
The split reflected a broader national Democratic strategy: some chose institutional presence; others opted for protest and parallel events.
Here’s where Maryland’s delegation was — and wasn’t — on one of the most visible political nights of the year.
Who Attended the State of the Union at the Capitol
Five members of Maryland’s delegation were inside the chamber.
- Andy Harris (R-1st District)
The lone Republican in Maryland’s delegation attended and brought a guest focused on veteran suicide prevention and treatment. - Johnny Olszewski (D-2nd District)
Attended and brought Carroll County resident Michael Zabetakis to highlight rising health insurance premiums. - Sarah Elfreth (D-3rd District)
Attended and brought Maryland House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk as her guest, emphasizing institutional respect despite disagreements. - Steny Hoyer (D-5th District)
Attended the address. - Jamie Raskin (D-8th District)
Attended and brought Sky and Amanda Roberts, relatives of the late Virginia Giuffre, to spotlight Epstein-related transparency issues.
Several Democrats nationwide described their presence as “silent defiance” — choosing to attend while strongly opposing the President’s agenda.
Who Boycotted the State of the Union
Five Maryland members did not attend the Capitol address at all.
- Chris Van Hollen (D)
- Angela Alsobrooks (D)
- Glenn Ivey (D-4th District)
- April McClain Delaney (D-6th District)
- Kweisi Mfume (D-7th District)
Nationally, more than 80 Democrats skipped the official address.
The reasons cited included objections to the President’s immigration enforcement policies, rhetoric, economic messaging, and what several called threats to democratic norms.
But the question for Maryland voters remains straightforward: when the President addresses the nation, should your elected representative be in the room — or somewhere else?
The “People’s State of the Union” on the National Mall
While the official address took place inside the Capitol, an alternative rally unfolded on the National Mall.
Organized by progressive groups including MoveOn Civic Action and MeidasTouch, the event featured Democratic lawmakers, activists, and advocacy groups criticizing the administration on affordability, immigration enforcement, and federal workforce issues.
Maryland participants included:
- Chris Van Hollen, who spoke at the rally, accusing the President of acting like a “bully” and urging Americans to “speak up.”
- April McClain Delaney, who joined the event and cited federal worker layoffs, trade policies, and concerns about a proposed detention facility in Washington County.
There are claims that the rally drew a few hundred attendees, though another report speculated that no more than 75 attended in cold conditions and served as a visible counter-programming effort during the televised address.
The “State of the Swamp” at the National Press Club
A separate counter-event took place at the National Press Club, roughly a mile from the Capitol.
Branded the “State of the Swamp,” the event featured celebrities and progressive political figures offering live rebuttals, satire, and criticism of the administration.
Headliners included actor Robert De Niro and other high-profile activists. No Maryland members of Congress were reported as participating in this event.
A Delegation Divided
Maryland’s delegation was split evenly: five inside the Capitol chamber, five outside it.
Even among Democrats, the division was stark.
Some argued that attending the State of the Union is a matter of constitutional duty and respect for co-equal branches of government — regardless of who occupies the White House.
Others argued that boycotting sends a stronger moral and political message.
For Maryland voters, the contrast was clear:
- Rep. Harris sat in the chamber applauding border security and economic messaging.
- Reps. Olszewski, Elfreth, Hoyer, and Raskin chose to attend while opposing the President’s agenda.
- Sens. Van Hollen and Alsobrooks, along with Reps. Ivey, McClain Delaney, and Mfume, declined to attend at all — opting instead for protest platforms and counter-events.
The Political Signal to Maryland
In a state with a large federal workforce — from Fort Meade to NIH, from the Port of Baltimore to Western Maryland’s federal installations — the State of the Union carries real policy implications.
Maryland is deeply blue at the federal level. But even in a Democratic state, voters differ on whether protest or presence is the better strategy.
The night of February 24 did more than showcase national politics. It revealed a philosophical divide within Maryland’s own delegation about how to confront — or engage — a presidency they oppose.
And with a crowded 2026 election cycle ahead, those choices will not be forgotten.
MDBayNews will continue tracking how Maryland’s delegation positions itself on major federal events and what that means for the state’s voters, workers, and families.
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