Rep. John Delaney is planning to announce his future political plans this weekend and it is appearing less likely he’ll seek re-election to his District 6 seat in 2018.
Delaney spokesman Will McDonald said in an email to Bethesda Beat on Wednesday evening that Delaney will reveal his plans “unless health care votes necessitate a change.”
A source with knowledge of Delaney’s plans, who declined to be identified, told Bethesda Beat earlier this week that Delaney plans to announce he will run for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020 and will reveal his plans in an op-ed in The Washington Post this weekend.
The political news website Maryland Matters reported Tuesday on rumors that the congressman is set to reveal his plans to his staff at the end of this week and publish an op-ed possibly in the Post.
State political insiders have been saying for weeks that the congressman is frustrated with the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
On social media over the past month, Delaney has focused his message on national policy goals that he has previously championed such as rebuilding the country’s infrastructure and establishing independent redistricting commissions to fix gerrymandered legislative districts.
The Potomac businessman, who made millions taking two companies public, also has been rumored to be a candidate to run for Maryland governor in 2018.
Delaney did not deny the possibility of a presidential run when asked directly about it earlier this month at a Rockville forum on President Donald Trump’s federal budget proposal. “I think the comments I’ve made are all the comments I’ve made at this point,” he said. However, Delaney has not made any clear comments about potential presidential plans, other than his spokesman denying he had opened an office in Iowa in May and saying he wasn’t actively running for president.
If Delaney decides not to run for re-election, his exit from the District 6 seat would be welcome news to state Dels. Bill Frick (D-Bethesda) and Aruna Miller (D-Darnestown), who are both raising funds to run for the seat. Miller and Frick have raised about $350,000 and $213,000, respectively, according to recently filed campaign finance reports. Republican candidates such as Amie Hoeber, who lost to Delaney by about 50,000 votes in 2016, may also jump into the District 6 race.
The opening could also lead Total Wine & More co-owner David Trone of Potomac to finalize his plans on what public office he will pursue. Trone has said he would consider running for the District 6 seat if Delaney did not run for re-election in 2018, but has also said he may run for Montgomery County executive.
On Thursday, Trone told Bethesda Beat he has no comment at this point and that he plans to wait for Delaney to formally announce his plans.
