Anne Arundel County Democrats Host Meet-And-Greet For 5th District Hopefuls

By William J. Ford, Maryland Matters

April 24, 2026

Sam Kursban worked the room Thursday night like an experienced politician, buttonholing strangers and asking how to make life better for the congressional 5th District, specifically the parts in Anne Arundel County.

But Kursban, 17, is not a politician. He’s a would-be voter who was among a few dozen people at a meet-and-greet for 5th District Democratic candidates held at the Village Commons Community Center in Gambrills.

Ten candidates turned out, fewer than half the 24 Democrats who have filed for the chance to replace longtime Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5th) who is retiring this year. Kursban said he was impressed by at least one of them: Del. Nicole Williams (D-Prince George’s), who sponsored the ban on 287(g) programs that have allowed formal agreements between local police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The governor signed it into law in February.

“She’s a really good candidate,” said Kursban, who turns 18 in September. “The fact that she’s been in the Maryland [General] Assembly before. She has the resume to back it up, and she’s very well spoken.”

The Anne Arundel County Democratic Party, the West County Democratic Club, the South County Democratic Club and the 33rd Democratic Club partnered to host Thursday’s event, which fell exactly two months before the June 23 primary.

District 5 Democratic hopeful James Makle Jr. chats with Sam Kursban, 17, during the meet-and-greet Thursday. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters)

Various forums and other events have been held throughout the district represented by Hoyer, who announced in January he would not seek reelection after 45 years. That set off a stampede of 30 people — 24 Democrats, three Republicans and three independents — running for his seat that represents all three counties in Southern Maryland with portions of Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties.

Besides Williams, three other Democratic elected officials who are in the race showed up: Sen. Arthur Ellis of Charles County, Del. Adrian Boafo of Prince George’s County and Prince George’s County Councilmember Wala Blegay.

Also on hand were former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, who has raised more than $2 million, and home health business CEO Quincy Bareebe, who has loaned herself $3 million for the campaign, according to the latest Federal Election Commission report.

The other candidates who traveled to the community center were Ellis Colvin, Elldwnia “Ella” English, Jerry Lightfoot and James Makle Jr.

The laid-back meet and greet that lasted more than an hour allowed each candidate to speak for three minutes to introduce themselves and say why they were running for the seat.

A few of the candidates stressed they are not politicians, including Makle, a retired Prince George’s firefighter.

“I don’t want to be a politician,” he said. “I’m here to serve, and that’s what we don’t see in our politicians. They take resources from our community and redistribute it everywhere else but in the community.”

Makle, Ellis and Colvin are military veterans, but Lightfoot, who served in the Army, including time in Afghanistan with the military police, said no one in the race is a “combat veteran. There’s a difference.”

Millions already raised, spent on a handful of Maryland congressional primaries

English, who calls herself a Democratic Socialist, said she didn’t want to “be part of this garbage called Congress. But when [President Donald] Trump won, I said, ‘Well, I guess it’s time for me to get off my Black a– and go do some things.’”

Although endorsements may not be the main factor in a campaign, but Boafo is the only candidate to receive Hoyer’s endorsement to replace him.

Blegay also has support from County Executive Aisha Braveboy (D) and several of her council colleagues.

Ellis represented the only state senator who demanded in February that the full Senate to vote on a redistricting bill. It never happened.

The other 14 Democrats who didn’t appear Thursday included Charles County Council president Rueben Collins II and former Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III.

The eight others: Mark Arness; Terry Antonio Jackson II; Harry Jarin; Walter Kirkland; Heather Luper; Leigha Messick; Keith Salkowski; Kenneth Simons; Alexis Solis; Tracy Starr; Dave Sunberg and Harold Tolbert.

Voters who want to cast their ballots early can do so during early voting that runs from June 11 to June 18.

Maryland Matters is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Maryland Matters maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: scrane@marylandmatters.org. Follow Maryland Matters on Facebook and Twitter.