U.S. House, Maryland 1st Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Maryland's 1st Congressional District?
Andy Harris has the strongest record in Maryland's 1st Congressional District. Andy Harris scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Andy Harris's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Dan Schwartz (7 of 15 criteria) and Edward Shlikas (2 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Andy Harris
64 / 100
Public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 63
Democratic
Dan Schwartz
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Write-in
Edward Shlikas
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 2 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Andy Harris
- On the record2026-09-15
As Freedom Caucus chair, led holdouts on a House rule in September 2026 to press for a vote on his federal fuel tax suspension bill; leadership did not schedule it.
Source: Roll Call, Sept. 16, 2026
- On the record2026-07-21
Held two telephone town halls in July 2026 and told a caller he holds telephone rather than in-person town halls because about 6,000 people join by phone.
Source: Star Democrat, July 23, 2026
- On the record2025-05-22
Voted Present on final House passage of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, on May 22, 2025, while Speaker Mike Johnson voted Yea; it passed 215 to 214.
- On the record2020-12 to 2021-01-07
Signed the House amicus brief in Texas v. Pennsylvania in December 2020 and voted Yea on the January 2021 objections to the certified Arizona and Pennsylvania electors.
Sources: Texas v. Pennsylvania, amicus brief of 126 Representatives, House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021
- Credit2025 to 2026
Chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA, and was primary sponsor of three enacted bills, including its fiscal 2026 appropriations act.
Source: GovTrack, Andy Harris
Dan Schwartz
- On the record2026-07-22
Held an in-person "Town Hall for All" in Chester in July 2026 outside a former Harris office, after Harris postponed a scheduled virtual town hall.
Source: Star Democrat, July 23, 2026
Edward Shlikas
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Andy Harris. His 2025 annual financial disclosure was filed May 14, 2026. The Clerk index lists no periodic transaction reports for 2023 to 2026. No House Ethics Committee matter or FEC administrative fine against his committee found.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10078274, House Committee on Ethics site search for Harris
Dan Schwartz. A House candidate financial disclosure was filed July 13, 2026, and campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10081065, FEC administrative fines search
Edward Shlikas. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Andy Harris. Voted Present on final House passage of H.R. 1 in May 2025 when Speaker Johnson voted Yea, and in September 2026 led holdouts on a rule to press for a vote leadership declined to schedule.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 145, May 22, 2025, Roll Call, Sept. 16, 2026
Dan Schwartz. No public record found.
Edward Shlikas. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Andy Harris. Holds telephone town halls; told a caller in July 2026 that about 6,000 people join them and that he does not hold in-person town halls. No 2026 debate record found.
Source: Star Democrat, July 23, 2026
Dan Schwartz. Held an in-person town hall in Chester, Queen Anne's County, in July 2026. No 2026 debate record found.
Source: Star Democrat, July 23, 2026
Edward Shlikas. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Andy Harris. Physician, Navy Reserve officer, state senator and member of Congress since 2011 with no censure, reprimand or House Ethics Committee finding found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Andrew Harris, House Committee on Ethics site search for Harris
Dan Schwartz. No public record found.
Edward Shlikas. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Andy Harris. Voted Yea on the January 2021 objections to the certified Arizona and Pennsylvania electors (Roll Calls 10 and 11) and signed the House amicus brief in Texas v. Pennsylvania (E2).
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021, Texas v. Pennsylvania, amicus brief of 126 Representatives
Dan Schwartz. No public record found.
Edward Shlikas. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Andy Harris. In the U.S. House since January 2011, now seeking a ninth term; Maryland state senator from 1998 to 2010.
Source: Ballotpedia, Andrew Harris
Dan Schwartz. Senior director of nonbank supervision and enforcement at the Conference of State Bank Supervisors until April 2025; no prior elected office.
Sources: Baltimore Sun voter guide, May 20, 2026, Ballotpedia, Dan Schwartz
Edward Shlikas. No public record found.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Andy Harris. Chairs the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration; primary sponsor of three enacted bills, including that subcommittee's fiscal 2026 appropriations act.
Source: GovTrack, Andy Harris
Dan Schwartz. Published positions in voter questionnaires on tariffs and other issues in general terms.
Edward Shlikas. No public record found.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Andy Harris. Three channels: email newsletter, telephone town halls and issue pages on his office site. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey or the Baltimore Sun questionnaire.
Sources: Office site, home page, Star Democrat, July 23, 2026, Ballotpedia, Andrew Harris
Dan Schwartz. Three channels: Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey (2025), the Baltimore Sun questionnaire and an in-person town hall.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Dan Schwartz, Baltimore Sun voter guide, May 20, 2026, Star Democrat, July 23, 2026
Edward Shlikas. Answered Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey and the Baltimore Sun questionnaire.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Edward Shlikas, Baltimore Sun voter guide, May 20, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Andy Harris. Lives in Dorchester County, per his state filing; represented Maryland Senate District 7 from 1998 to 2010. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 50 percent of itemized individual contributions from Maryland.
Sources: State Board of Elections, 2026 general election candidate list, Ballotpedia, Andrew Harris, FEC contribution totals by state
Dan Schwartz. Lives in Royal Oak, Talbot County, in the district. Born in New York. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 61 percent of itemized individual contributions from Maryland.
Sources: Star Democrat, July 23, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Edward Shlikas. Lives in Jarrettsville, Harford County, in the district, per his state filing.
Source: State Board of Elections, 2026 general election candidate list
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Andy Harris. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. The FEC administrative fine search returns only a fine on another committee that lists a contribution from his committee.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Dan Schwartz. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine record found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Edward Shlikas. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Andy Harris. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 0.917 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 1.481, meets expectations, with one sponsored bill enacted (H.R. 4368, 118th Congress).
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, Andy Harris
Dan Schwartz. No public record found.
Edward Shlikas. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Andy Harris. Missed 164 of 9,214 roll call votes, 1.8 percent, from January 2011 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, Andy Harris
Dan Schwartz. No public record found.
Edward Shlikas. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Andy Harris. Keeps three district offices (Cambridge, Bel Air, Salisbury), open by appointment, offers help with federal agencies, and holds telephone town halls reaching about 6,000 callers. No casework totals found.
Sources: Office site, Office Locations, Star Democrat, July 23, 2026
Dan Schwartz. No public record found.
Edward Shlikas. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Andy Harris. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of -1.52661 in the latest posted House scores (118th Congress, 2023), ranked 407 of 436, in the bottom quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Dan Schwartz. No public record found.
Edward Shlikas. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Andy Harris. No public record found.
Dan Schwartz. No public record found.
Edward Shlikas. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Maryland's 1st Congressional District?
Andy Harris has the strongest record in Maryland's 1st Congressional District. Andy Harris scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Andy Harris's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Dan Schwartz (7 of 15 criteria) and Edward Shlikas (2 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Maryland's 1st Congressional District in 2026?
Andy Harris (Republican, incumbent), Dan Schwartz (Democratic), Edward Shlikas (Write-in). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Andy Harris a good candidate for Congress?
Andy Harris scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 63 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Dan Schwartz a good candidate for Congress?
Dan Schwartz has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Edward Shlikas a good candidate for Congress?
Edward Shlikas has public evidence on 2 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Maryland race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Maryland 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.