This year’s filing deadline for candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Maryland was Feb. 24, 2026.

Seven incumbents — six Democrats and one Republican — are running in contested primaries. That’s the second-highest number of incumbents running in contested primaries since 2014. There were five incumbents in contested primaries in 2024, six in 2022, eight in 2020, six in 2018, five in 2016, and six in 2014.

In total, 14 primaries — eight Democratic and six Republican — are contested this year. In total, there were 14 contested primaries in 2024, 25 in 2022, 16 in 2020, 14 in 2018, 15 in 2016, and 12 in 2014.

The 5th Congressional District is the only open district this year. The district’s incumbent Rep. Steny Hoyer (D) is retiring from public office. There were three open districts in 2024, one in 2022, none in 2020, one in 2018, two in 2016, and none in 2014.

The 5th Congressional District has attracted the most candidates. Twenty-seven candidates — 24 Democrats and three Republicans — are running for the district.

Seventy-six candidates — 56 Democrats and 20 Republicans — are running for Maryland’s eight congressional districts. That’s 9.5 candidates per district. There were 10.9 candidates per district in 2024, 8.1 in 2022, 9.9 in 2020, 6.9 in 2018, 7.5 in 2016, and 4.4 in 2014.

Candidates filed to run in the Republican and Democratic primaries in all eight districts, meaning no districts are guaranteed to either party.

Maryland and two other states — New York and Utah — are holding U.S. House primaries on June 23, 2026.

In Maryland, the winner of a primary election is the candidate who receives the most votes, even if they do not win an outright majority.