Editor’s note: More than a dozen Democrats and Republicans are running in the May 14 primary election to be their party’s nominee in the race for the 6th Congressional District seat now held by Rep. David Trone (D), who is running for the U.S. Senate. MoCo360 is running profiles of the candidates based on questionnaire answers submitted for our voters guide. Beginning with the Republican candidates, a profile will be published every weekday until the May 2 start of early voting.
Today’s profile features Democratic candidate Peter Choharis.
Peter Choharis
Party: Democrat
Age: Candidate declined to provide his age
Residence: Potomac
Education: Harvard College, B.A.; Yale Law School, J.D.
Current/most recent role: Lawyer and Small Businessperson
Previous political experience: Executive Director, 2004 Democratic Party Platform Committee; policy and/or field work (volunteer) for Gore, Kerry, Obama, and Biden campaigns.
Campaign website: www.peterformaryland.com
Why are you running?
I was adopted from Greece by a working family when I was 2. After my parents divorced, my mom raised my sister and me.
I went to Harvard, the first in my family to go to college. After graduating, I worked in Asia and Africa with refugees in war and famine zones. I went to Yale Law School, married my wife Lili, an immigrant from Peru, and have two daughters.
Half of Americans won’t live the American Dream because they won’t earn as much their parents. I want to change that by building an economy that provides a better future.
If elected, what would your priorities be within your first 100 days in Congress?
Crime: see below.
Education
I support President Biden’s targeted loan forgiveness program, but it is unsustainable.
I will work to:
- reduce the cost of higher education that has continued to increase over the last twenty years despite historically low inflation;
- expand community colleges and keep fees and expenses affordable;
- expand access to vocational training and apprenticeship programs, including in high school;
- explore ways to expand Pre-K education nationwide.
Healthcare
I will work to:
- improve healthcare access and reduce costs for uninsured and underinsured citizens, including children;
- expand Biden’s efforts to allow drug manufacturers reasonable profits, while preventing outrageous drug prices.
What district-specific issues are you most passionate about and how would you use your platform to address them?
I’ll be the first “Incubator Member of Congress!” I’m a small businessperson and have helped U.S. startups and investors. Small businesses need access to more capital, technical support, and mentorship programs.
I’ll:
- bring Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to provide concessionary loans, investment capital, and financial services to each county in the Sixth District.
- support the “Right to Start” to make starting a business less expensive and burdensome and open government procurement opportunities to small businesses.
- promote community colleges, vocational schools, apprenticeship programs and lower the cost of higher education.
- make sure we get our fair share of federal funds.
What do you think Congress’ role should be when it comes to public schools? What can you do to best support the schools?
I’m the first person in my family to attend college. My experience working multiple jobs during college drives my commitment to improve education for all.
I support Pre-K education, which helps children learn and socialize, reduce later truancy, and boost graduation rates.
High school students should be given a chance to begin vocational training and age appropriate apprenticeships with local businesses.
I support increasing funding for vocational schools, community colleges, and lowering the cost of four-year colleges.
I also support expanding scholarship and grant programs to help low-income students.
How should Congress address crime?
I support hiring more police officers and providing good pay and training. I support strengthening community-law enforcement relations to build trust and address root causes of crime, especially against seniors, single-parents, and children. I also support drug and alcohol treatment because substance abuse is a major driver of crime.
A real opportunity for economic advancement, instead of falling economically behind their parents, is also important for reducing crime, gang violence, illicit narcotics, and mental health challenges.
Vocational training, community colleges, and affordable four-year college educations can give people hope that work will lead to good paying jobs and economic security.
How should Congress address gun violence?
In 2024, there have been 49 mass shootings, almost 5,000 deaths, and 3,351 injured from firearms. And the availability of guns plus teen depression is a lethal combination in the growth of teen suicide rates which tripled from 2007 to 2018.
I support banning ghost guns, cop-killer ammunition, and high-capacity magazines.
I support strong background checks and smart gun technology to neutralize stolen guns and protect children in gun households.
I will scrutinize the Supreme Court’s ruling on bump stocks when it comes out this term to help craft a legislative fix, if needed.
The Dobbs v. Jackson decision in 2022 that overturned Roe v. Wade has changed the face of reproductive care access across the country. What should Congress’ role be in the abortion conversation?
I strongly support Roe v. Wade’s framework. I support the Reproductive Health Care Act. I would repeal or amend the Comstock Act, so a future president does not restrict abortion nationwide. Democrats must also support state candidates who fight for women’s healthcare.
I was adopted from Greece. I have friends who traveled the world to adopt a child because they couldn’t do so in the U.S. We also have to end the stigma surrounding adopted children and mothers who give their children for adoption. I support federal funds to provide support and safety for mothers who want to choose adoption.
The same Supreme Court decision has raised concerns about marriage rights and gender-affirming care access for LGBTQ+ people. How should Congress address this?
While Dobbs insisted that “[n]othing in this opinion should be understood to cast doubt on precedents that do not concern abortion,” we should be concerned. Obergefell recognized a same-sex marriage right in the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses, as did Roe and Casey. Roe was fifty years old; Obergefell is nine years old. Three of the five Obergefell majority Justices are gone.
If the Court reverses Obergefell, Congress should use the Commerce Clause to require states that do not recognize the same-sex marriage under their own laws or constitutions to recognize same-sex marriages performed in states that do.
What should Congress’ role be in addressing a changing climate?
Setting emissions targets for private industry is effective and fosters innovative technologies. Many new green technologies exist, with more on the way, to provide sustainable, green energy. I support protecting US companies from cheap imports that undermine U.S. technology and innovation.
I will use my international law expertise to promote new approaches. G20 countries produce 80% of global greenhouse gases and agreed to stop financing new coal-fired power plants. How about enforceable metrics for financing renewable energy? While not abandoning Kyoto, how about adapting the Montreal Protocol approach of leveraging trade and limiting consumption and production of greenhouse gas emissions?
Is there anything else you want to share with prospective voters?
Who’ll be most electable and effective?
I’m a small businessperson; MD-6 has elected a businessperson for the last 12 years.
I’ve been a litigator, law professor, and scholar. I’ve litigated tough cases featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, and others. I know how to fight.
I’m a foreign policy expert. I’ve been to dozens of countries and negotiated with a Head of State. I’ve been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and appeared on CNN, MSNBC, BBC. I can defend our national security.
I’m a policy leader who’s led the 2004 Democratic Platform.
This is the thirteenth in a series of candidate profiles. Check out the first profile here.
