Harry Dunn, a former Capitol Police officer who was on duty during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot that interrupted Congress’ certification of the 2020 presidential vote, announced Wednesday that he is running for Congress again in Maryland.
Dunn, a Democrat, announced Wednesday that he is jumping into the race to replace retiring Rep. Steny Hoyer in Maryland's 5th District. He told NBC News that he thinks he’s the right person to help his party stand up to “this administration’s unrelenting assault on the rule of law, democracy and, shoot, decency.”
“I’ve been a fighter my whole life, but the world knew me as a fighter on Jan. 6,” he said.
The primary to succeed Hoyer in a safe blue seat is set to be very crowded. Hoyer, the longtime No. 2 Democrat in the House, has endorsed state Del. Adrian Boafo, a former aide.
Dunn had harsh words for the Trump administration on immigration, particularly when it comes to the conduct of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He said the agency has to be “abolished,” because “I don’t think there is a logical way to train your way out of this.”
“The absolute disregard for human life. Law enforcement, you’re supposed to be public servants; you are there to serve and protect, not create and incite terror, fear and chaos,” Dunn said, citing the killings of two people in Minnesota and viral videos of immigration agents' other interactions with the public.
“Every single law enforcement officer should be disgusted by that and should be speaking out,” he added.
As Democrats in Congress weigh what restrictions on ICE and the Department of Homeland Security to push for amid a funding fight, Dunn criticized the demands Democrats in Congress are making as “ridiculous” and too small.
“They said: ‘Hey, how about we get them to wear name tags?’ Absolutely not. ‘OK, well how about they [don’]t wear a mask?’ OK, absolutely not. ‘OK, how about they have warrants?’ Absolutely not. ‘OK, how about they just stop murdering us?’ These demands have just gotten more ridiculous over time,” he said.
Dunn lost his previous bid for Congress in 2024 in the Democratic primary, finishing second to now-Rep. Sarah Elfreth in a neighboring district. He grew up in the 5th District and plans to move back.
A super PAC tied to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee spent more than $4 million to boost Dunn’s opponent even though the campaign didn’t center on any disagreement over Israel. Dunn demurred when he was asked about his views on the rift within the Democratic Party over Israel’s conduct in its war against Hamas in Gaza and the question of whether Congress should limit the sale of certain offensive weapons to Israel.
He told NBC News that he wanted to talk with would-be constituents to take their pulse on the issue and that “I will do what they want me to do from the community standpoint” and not have a personal “agenda.”
Dunn raised millions during his last bid, propelled into the national spotlight by his response to the Capitol riot. He evoked that service while he argued that he’s offering Democrats a candidate who would be a “fighter” both to hold the Trump administration accountable and on issues like affordability.
“I don’t know how this is going to end. I don’t know. I don’t think anybody does,” Dunn said when he was asked about the evolving Republican response in the wake of the 2021 attack on the Capitol, from denouncing the riot and the violence that day to President Donald Trump’s pardons of the rioters and continual investigations into the 2020 election.
“If we do not stand up, if we do not show up, if we sit down and just lay down and just let them steamroll their way, they will win. I want to be the person that stands in that gap now and fights for the people," Dunn said. He added: "Then all of the other stuff, I believe, will take care of itself, because we’ll get adults back at the table to address issues of affordability, to address health care, to address housing, all that stuff that adults can talk about.”
