Harry Dunn, a former Capitol Police officer who was on duty during the Jan. 6 riots and is running for elected office for the first time, has emerged as one of the top political fundraisers in the nation. His emotional testimony during televised congressional hearings about the attack has catapulted him to the forefront of the political fundraising scene.
With a war chest of $4.6 million, Dunn has outpaced all other House candidates in Maryland and ranks among the top fundraisers for non-incumbent Democratic House candidates nationwide, according to campaign finance records.
However, Dunn faces stiff competition from fellow Democrats in a crowded primary race in Maryland. His main rival, Sarah Elfreth, a state senator, has raised $1.5 million for her campaign and received substantial support from outside groups.
The bulk of the outside spending in the race has come from the United Democracy Project, a super PAC affiliated with the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee. Dunn, on the other hand, has pledged to reject support from outside groups as part of his pro-democracy platform.
Both Elfreth and Dunn have emphasized campaign finance reform as a key issue in their campaigns. Dunn, in particular, has criticized the influence of money in politics, noting the irony of facing significant outside spending in a race to replace Representative John Sarbanes, who advocated for campaign finance limits during his tenure.
Despite the challenges posed by outside money, Dunn’s national profile has helped him raise significant funds following his testimony at the House committee hearing investigating the Jan. 6 attack.
Dunn’s testimony highlighted the violence faced by Capitol Police officers during the attack, including racist abuse directed at him. His role in protecting the Capitol earned him national recognition, culminating in the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Biden.
Positioning himself as a staunch opponent of former President Trump’s conservative movement, Dunn has garnered support from liberal donors nationwide. In contrast, Elfreth has emphasized her legislative accomplishments and bipartisan approach in the Maryland Senate.
The winner of the primary in Maryland’s Third Congressional District will be favored to win the heavily Democratic district in the general election. Other Democratic candidates in the primary include Clarence Lam, Juan Dominguez, and Michael Coburn, each with varying levels of fundraising support.
The Maryland primary is part of a broader trend in Mid-Atlantic House districts, where candidates are aligning with the “save democracy” movement to address key issues facing the nation.
