Overview
- Adrian Boafo secured the Democratic nomination for Maryland’s 5th District on June 23, prevailing in a crowded primary to succeed retiring Rep. Steny Hoyer.
- Outside groups poured roughly $12.5 million into the contest, with AIPAC’s United Democracy Project spending about $5.7 million and the crypto-aligned Protect Progress/Fairshake network contributing roughly $5.5 million.
- Boafo ran with endorsements from Hoyer, Gov. Wes Moore and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks while his campaign reported far lower direct spending than the independent expenditures backing him.
- Several primary rivals and some Democrats publicly criticized the flood of outside money, with Sen. Chris Van Hollen saying pro-Israel and crypto interests were ‘trying to buy’ the seat.
- The result leaves Boafo favored in the November general election in a safely Democratic district and serves as a test case for how national interest groups can nationalize local primaries and shape party dynamics going forward.