Editor’s note: This story was originally published at 10:55 p.m. on May 14, 2024. It was updated at 10:33 a.m. on May 15, 2024 to include updated unofficial state elections board results.
April McClain Delaney is the likely Democratic nominee in the 6th District Congressional race, earning nearly 40% of the vote with 212 of 213 precincts reporting by 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to unofficial state elections board results.
State Del. Joe Vogel (D-Dist. 17), her main opponent in the race, conceded Tuesday night during a campaign watch party in Gaithersburg. He garnered nearly 27% of the vote as of Wednesday morning.
Former state Del. Neil Parrott (R-Dist. 2A) appears likely to garner the Republican nomination with over 47% of the vote with 212 of 213 precincts reporting.
In an interview on Tuesday night, McClain Delaney said she received “great feedback at the polls” from both Democrats and unaffiliated voters who said they were “tired of the gridlock” in Washington, D.C.
“Our common sense, common ground message has really been resonating with people across the 6th District,” she said.
McClain Delaney, a Potomac resident, resigned in October as deputy assistant secretary for communications and information in the U.S. Commerce Department before anouncing her campaign. Prior to joining the Biden administration, she was the Washington, D.C. director of Common Sense Media, an advocacy group that focuses on online safety and the impact of television on children’s health and well-being.
Parrott previously represented part of Washington County in the Maryland General Assembly from 2011 to 2022. He ran for the congressional seat in 2020 and 2022, both times losing to Trone.
Vogel conceded the race to McClain Delaney at a watch party at South House Garden in Gaithersburg around 10:30 pm Tuesday night.
“I pledged to her I would do everything in my power to make sure we hold this seat blue in November,” Vogel said, voicing his support for McClain Delaney.
Vogel, a Gaithersburg resident who grew up in Rockville, joined the General Assembly in January 2023. He is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Bills he sponsored that became law include the creation of a state commission on hate crimes and legislation regarding fentanyl testing and overdose prevention. He was the first to enter the race in May 2023,
Tensions began to flare between Vogel and McClain Delaney after Federal Election Commission reports revealed she was largely self-funding her campaign. More than half of the nearly $2 million raised by the McClain Delaney campaign has come from the candidate’s own pocket.
Vogel criticized McClain Delaney’s self-funding in social media posts and attack ads, and also called her out for skipping a local candidates forum to attend an event overseas.
The McClain Delaney campaign pushed back, accusing Vogel of taking “dark money” and saying he lacks experience.
The Maryland Congressional District 6 seat opened up when after its current representative, Democrat David Trone, announced he would be running for U.S. Senate in a bid to succeed Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) in May 2023.
Among the crowded field of other candidates for the Democratic nomination are: environmentalist George Gluck, former Obama administration official Ashwani Jain, state Del. Lesley Lopez (D-Dist. 39), Hagerstown Mayor Tekesha Martinez, Montgomery County Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles (D-At-large), union representative Kiambo White and former U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development official Destiny Drake West.
On the Republican side, former state delegate and 2022 GOP gubernatorial nominee Dan Cox, retired Maryland State Trooper Chris Hyser, Air Force veteran Mariela Roca and former teacher Brenda Thiam are all seeking the nomination. Air Force veteran Tom Royals and former state delegate announced he was conceding to Parrott around 10 p.m. Tuesday.
Results will not be certified until the Montgomery County Board of Elections processes all mail-in ballots, which can be received up to 10 days after the election as long as they were postmarked May 14.
