With Rep. Steny Hoyer on his way out of Congress, Prince George’s County Del. Adrian A. Boafo is trying to step into one of Maryland’s most powerful political seats. Boafo, 31, a state delegate and former Bowie mayor pro tem, has launched a bid for Congress in Maryland’s 5th District to succeed the retiring Hoyer. Armed with Hoyer’s endorsement, he is crisscrossing the sprawling district to make his pitch ahead of a packed Democratic primary set for June 23.
Boafo On Local TV
Boafo recently sat down with FOX 5 DC’s "The Final 5" to talk through why he is running and what he wants to take to Washington, as reported by FOX 5 DC. The late night TV hit is part of a broader push to turn Hoyer’s backing into old-fashioned name recognition across Prince George’s County and neighboring Southern Maryland.
Hoyer's Stamp Of Approval
On Jan. 23, 2026, Hoyer publicly endorsed Boafo, praising his judgment and saying he "really knows the district," according to The Washington Post. Before winning a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates, Boafo served as Bowie mayor pro tem and on the City Council, and he previously worked for Hoyer’s campaign, as noted in his official biography. Those connections have helped him assemble a network of endorsements and early fundraising as he steps into the federal race.
Crowded Field, Short Clock
The open seat has attracted a swarm of hopefuls. By early March, more than two dozen candidates had filed to run in the 5th District, creating a particularly crowded Democratic primary, per Maryland Matters. The state’s election calendar sets the primary for June 23, 2026, with early voting in mid June, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections. With a short runway, Boafo will have to turn political blessings into volunteers, field operations and cash fast if he wants to stand out.
On The Issues
Boafo’s campaign platform leans hard into local priorities such as economic opportunity, constituent services and education policy, alongside federal goals that his team argues would benefit southern Maryland, as outlined on his campaign website. His agenda highlights efforts like a phone free schools initiative and proposals to raise the state minimum wage, per Adrian Boafo for Congress. In a safely Democratic district, that June primary will almost certainly decide who carries those ideas to Capitol Hill on behalf of the 5th.
