U.S. House, Maryland 5th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Maryland's 5th Congressional District?
Adrian Boafo has the strongest record in Maryland's 5th Congressional District. Adrian Boafo scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Adrian Boafo's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Chris Chaffee (4 of 15 criteria) and Mildred Marie Hall (0 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.
Democratic
Strongest record
Adrian Boafo
64 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 75
Republican
Chris Chaffee
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 56
- Performance
- NR
Write-in
Mildred Marie Hall
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 0 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- NR
- 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.
Adrian Boafo
- On the record2021 to 2026
While serving as a state delegate, has worked as Oracle's director and then senior director of government affairs since March 2021, per his own questionnaire answer.
- Credit2026
Was primary sponsor of three bills enacted in the 2026 General Assembly session, including the Joanne C. Benson Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act (Chapter 596).
Chris Chaffee
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Mildred Marie Hall
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.
Adrian Boafo. A House candidate financial disclosure was filed May 20, 2026, and FEC reports are on file through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10078099, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Chris Chaffee. No public record found.
Mildred Marie Hall. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Adrian Boafo. No public record found.
Chris Chaffee. No public record found.
Mildred Marie Hall. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Adrian Boafo. No public record found.
Chris Chaffee. No public record found.
Mildred Marie Hall. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Adrian Boafo. Served on the Bowie City Council from 2019 to 2023, including as mayor pro tem, and in the House of Delegates since 2023. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Sources: Baltimore Sun voter guide, May 20, 2026, Maryland General Assembly, Delegate Adrian Boafo
Chris Chaffee. No public record found.
Mildred Marie Hall. 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.
Adrian Boafo. Has held sworn local and state legislative office since 2019. No misuse-of-office finding found.
Chris Chaffee. No public record found.
Mildred Marie Hall. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Adrian Boafo. State delegate for Prince George's County District 23 since January 2023 and a Bowie City Council member and mayor pro tem from 2019 to 2023; earlier a campaign manager for Rep. Steny Hoyer and a House press aide.
Sources: Baltimore Sun voter guide, May 20, 2026, The Baltimore Banner voter guide, MD-5
Chris Chaffee. Describes a home building and renovation business he started in 1991 and work as a farmer, after electrical training at the University of Maryland. Has not held public office.
Source: Campaign site, home page
Mildred Marie Hall. No public record found.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Adrian Boafo. Serves on the House of Delegates Economic Matters Committee and answered detailed newspaper questionnaires on budgeting, immigration, voting rights and stock trading.
Sources: Maryland General Assembly, Delegate Adrian Boafo, Baltimore Sun voter guide, May 20, 2026
Chris Chaffee. Publishes positions on taxes, energy, the Key Bridge, a Calvert to St. Mary's crossing, budgets and term limits, mostly in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, home page
Mildred Marie Hall. No public record found.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Adrian Boafo. Answered both the Baltimore Sun and Capital Gazette and The Banner 2026 voter guide questionnaires, offers a legislative newsletter and publishes issue pages.
Sources: Baltimore Sun voter guide, May 20, 2026, The Baltimore Banner voter guide, MD-5, Maryland General Assembly, Delegate Adrian Boafo, Campaign site, home page
Chris Chaffee. Publishes a single issue page on his campaign site. Did not answer the Baltimore Sun or Banner 2026 pre-primary questionnaires.
Sources: Campaign site, home page, Baltimore Sun voter guide, May 20, 2026
Mildred Marie Hall. No public record found.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Adrian Boafo. Lists Bowie as his hometown and represented Bowie on its city council and Prince George's County in the House of Delegates. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 17 percent of itemized individual contributions from Maryland.
Sources: Baltimore Sun voter guide, May 20, 2026, Maryland General Assembly, Delegate Adrian Boafo, FEC contribution totals by state
Chris Chaffee. Says he was raised in Prince George's County and lives in Calvert County, both in the district. No FEC financial reports for 2025 to 2026, so no in-state share.
Sources: Campaign site, home page, Maryland State Board of Elections candidate list
Mildred Marie Hall. No public record found.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Adrian Boafo. 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
Chris Chaffee. No public record found.
Mildred Marie Hall. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Adrian Boafo. Primary sponsor of three bills enacted in the 2026 session, including a digital asset task force (Chapter 548) and the Joanne C. Benson Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act (Chapter 596).
Chris Chaffee. No public record found.
Mildred Marie Hall. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Adrian Boafo. No public record found.
Chris Chaffee. No public record found.
Mildred Marie Hall. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Adrian Boafo. No public record found.
Chris Chaffee. No public record found.
Mildred Marie Hall. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Adrian Boafo. No public record found.
Chris Chaffee. No public record found.
Mildred Marie Hall. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Adrian Boafo. No public record found.
Chris Chaffee. No public record found.
Mildred Marie Hall. 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 5th Congressional District?
Adrian Boafo has the strongest record in Maryland's 5th Congressional District. Adrian Boafo scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Adrian Boafo's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Chris Chaffee (4 of 15 criteria) and Mildred Marie Hall (0 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 5th Congressional District in 2026?
Adrian Boafo (Democratic), Chris Chaffee (Republican), Mildred Marie Hall (Write-in). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Adrian Boafo a good candidate for Congress?
Adrian Boafo scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Chris Chaffee a good candidate for Congress?
Chris Chaffee has public evidence on 4 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 Mildred Marie Hall a good candidate for Congress?
Mildred Marie Hall has public evidence on 0 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.