Harris retains Maryland's final House seat
The Republican won a ninth term despite a national Democratic surge, preserving the state's sole GOP presence in the federal legislature.
By Elijah Fitzgerald ·
Republican Rep. Andy Harris secured a ninth term in Congress on Tuesday, holding Maryland's 1st District for the GOP. At 10:45 p.m., election data showed Harris leading Democrat Dan Schwartz by a wide margin. This result preserves the state's only Republican seat in the House of Representatives, even as Democrats gained ground across the nation.
Harris first entered office in 2010, riding a Tea Party wave to defeat former Democratic Rep. Frank Kratovil. Since then, he has won every election by double-digit margins. The district covers all nine counties on Maryland's Eastern Shore, along with parts of Baltimore and Harford counties. This geography has consistently favored Republican candidates for more than a decade.
The race gained national attention last month during a candidate forum in Cambridge. Harris told audience members they were rude after they mocked his comments on diesel prices. He later confronted the press, singling out a student journalist for recording him. Harris claimed she was violating Maryland's wiretap law, a statement that proved false. The incident boosted Schwartz's campaign and brought national media attention to the race.
Harris is a leading figure in the House Freedom Caucus and holds a senior role on federal spending. He frequently aligns with President Donald Trump's agenda, including voting for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. That legislation included deep cuts to food and healthcare benefits in exchange for tax breaks. These changes may affect tens of thousands of constituents in his district.
Schwartz, a former consumer protection official, resigned from his job in April 2025 to run a full-time campaign. Gov. Wes Moore and other Maryland federal officials backed his effort. Shortly after 10 p.m., Schwartz spoke to supporters at a Stevensville brew pub. He noted that the numbers did not look good for his side, despite strong Democratic results elsewhere in the country.
Voters in the district cited loyalty to the Republican Party and Harris's work for local industries. Joanne Harwood, an 83-year-old Republican from Easton, said she voted for Harris because he supports President Trump. Stephen Parks, a 43-year-old small business owner from Federalsburg, blamed Democrats for the state's budget deficit. He noted that the state moved from a surplus to a deficit under Democratic leadership.
Both Harris and Schwartz opposed a ballot measure approved on Tuesday that would make it easier for Democrats to redraw congressional maps. The 120th Congress is scheduled to be sworn in on January 3, 2027.
