April McClain Delaney, a Democrat, wins competitive US House seat in Maryland.
BALTIMORE—Democrat April McClain Delaney narrowly secured a U.S. House seat in one of Maryland’s most fiercely contested congressional races.
Encompassing a vast expanse of rural Maryland and affluent liberal suburbs of Washington, the state’s sprawling 6th Congressional District saw a tight race that was finally decided on Saturday, four days post Election Day.
Following her declaration of victory on Friday, McClain Delaney expressed deep gratitude for the voters’ trust in her leadership.
“Throughout this campaign, our focus has been clear: it’s time for sensible, consensus-driven leadership that prioritizes people over politics, safeguards our freedoms and principles, and forges a future rooted in unity,” she stated.
A mother of four daughters and wife to a former district representative, McClain Delaney predominantly campaigned on women’s issues, particularly vowing to protect abortion rights in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
With a background in the Biden administration’s Department of Commerce and a career dedicated to children’s online safety, McClain Delaney, 60, emerged as a prominent figure in the race.
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Coming from an Idaho potato farming background, she’s confident in her ability to urge Washington’s politicians to address the concerns of working families.
McClain Delaney’s opponent, Republican Neil Parrott, 54, stressed his dedication to combating inflation, strengthening the economy for middle-class families, and curbing illegal immigration.
Parrott criticized McClain Delaney for residing outside the district, suggesting she lacks an understanding of the challenges faced by ordinary Americans, including many 6th District constituents, despite U.S. House members only needing to live in the state they represent.
Even after the Associated Press announced the race’s outcome with 92% of votes counted late Saturday, Parrott did not concede. In a text message, he stated, “I am extremely thankful for the immense effort and commitment put into this campaign by volunteers in all five counties. As a result of this dedication and sacrifice, the Parrott campaign will await the full vote count before confirming victory or defeat.”
McClain Delaney injected personal funds into her campaign, significantly outspending her opponent. She garnered endorsements from prominent Democrats like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.).
In a last-minute effort to secure more votes before Election Day, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) visited western Maryland to show support for Parrott, hailing the candidate as “an engineer who knows how to break the gridlock in Washington.”
Shortly thereafter, McClain Delaney appeared in a Washington suburb alongside Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, stressing the necessity of bolstering Democratic representation in Congress, particularly as Republicans sought to maintain a slim House majority.
The House seat was left vacant by David Trone, who contested for Senate but lost to Angela Alsobrooks in the Democratic primary earlier this year. Alsobrooks went on to secure a Senate victory.
The 6th District, a space not always favoring Democrats, saw Republican Roscoe Bartlett representing it for two decades before John Delaney, McClain Delaney’s husband, assumed the seat in 2012 post a redistricting effort that tilted the advantage towards Democrats.
