Who's In the Race

Democratic incumbent Sarah Elfreth and Republican nominee Bernard "Berney" Flowers face each other in Maryland's 3rd U.S. House District.

Elfreth is serving her first term in Congress after six years in the Maryland State Senate. Before Congress, she served on the University System of Maryland Board of Regents and advocated for the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

Flowers is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who served nearly 21 years with deployments around the world. His campaign identifies his professional background as including national defense and cybersecurity.

Elfreth won the district in 2024 with 59.3 percent of the vote.

What They Stand For

Elfreth says she supports expanding access to affordable child care and reducing the burden of student loans. She says she supports building more housing and has worked to roll back BG&E utility-rate increases. Elfreth says she has secured funding for mental-health services and supports expanding access to military medical facilities, including Walter Reed, for veterans. She describes herself as a former Towson University professor and a champion for Maryland families and educators.

Flowers says he supports strong immigration enforcement and policies prioritizing national safety. He says he supports lower taxes and responsible federal spending to reduce waste in Washington. Flowers says he favors business-oriented solutions and describes his political commentary as offering constructive and constitutional critiques of America's political direction.

The Money Behind the Race

Outside spending in Maryland's 3rd District race totals $1,647, all of it on the Democratic side and all directed in support of a candidate. The NEA Advocacy Fund, the political arm of the National Education Association, accounts for the full $1,647.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

Cook Political Report rated the race "Solid Democratic" as of Sept. 25; Sabato's Crystal Ball matched that rating as of Sept. 29; and Inside Elections also called it "Solid Democratic" as of Oct. 2.

On Kalshi, the prediction market gave Elfreth a 95 percent chance of winning and Flowers a 5 percent chance, as of Oct. 5.

Democrats won the district in both 2022, when John P. Sarbanes took 60.2 percent, and 2024, when Elfreth won with 59.3 percent. In the 2024 presidential race, Democrat Kamala Harris carried Maryland with 62.6 percent of the vote.

Voting logistics for Maryland's 3rd District have not yet been confirmed on official sources as of Oct. 5. The Maryland State Board of Elections voter registration page will carry the statewide registration deadline and any same-day registration option once published.

Early-voting dates and hours for the 2026 general election were not verified on an official source as of Oct. 5, and county boards of elections publish early-voting center locations, so any county-specific variation must be confirmed with the relevant county board.

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