Story perspectives

April Delaney Beats David Trone in $23 M Primary

6/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

Rep. April McClain Delaney won the Democratic primary for Maryland’s 6th District, defeating former Rep. David Trone.
The race cost $23 million in TV ads, with Trone spending $25 million of his own money and Delaney loaning over $7 million to her campaign.
Delaney, endorsed by Maryland’s congressional delegation and Governor Wes Moore, said she regretted supporting the Laken Riley Act and pledged to safeguard reproductive rights after the 2022 Supreme Court decision.

History

Historical Context

On Jan 21 2010 the Supreme Court’s 5-4 Citizens United decision, authored by Justice Anthony Kennedy, struck down limits on corporate independent expenditures. The ruling spurred the rise of super-PACs, which spent over $1 billion in the 2016 election cycle, and enabled billionaires such as the Koch brothers to pour massive sums into races. Today, Maryland Democrats April McClain Delaney and David Trone are following that pattern with multi-million-dollar self-funding.

1 of 2

Story summary

Rep. April McClain Delaney won the Democratic primary for Maryland’s 6th District, defeating former Rep. David Trone.
The race cost $23 million in TV ads, with Trone spending $25 million of his own money and Delaney loaning over $7 million to her campaign.
Delaney, endorsed by Maryland’s congressional delegation and Governor Wes Moore, said she regretted supporting the Laken Riley Act and pledged to safeguard reproductive rights after the 2022 Supreme Court decision.

1 / 2