Maryland's 5th congressional district comprises all of

Charles Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English language, English and French language, French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic, Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''* ...

, St. Mary's, and Calvert counties (a region known as Southern Maryland), as well as portions of Prince George's and Anne Arundel counties. The district is currently represented by Democrat

Steny Hoyer Steny Hamilton Hoyer ( ; born June 14, 1939) is an American politician and retired attorney who has served as the United States House of Representatives, U.S. representative for since 1981. He also served as House Majority Leader from 2007 to 20 ...

, who from 2007 to 2011 and from 2019 to 2023 was House Majority Leader. When it was defined in 1788, the 5th Congressional District centered on

Salisbury, Maryland Salisbury ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Wicomico County, Maryland, United States. Salisbury is the largest city in Eastern Shore of Maryland, the state's Eastern Shore region, with a population of 33,050 at the 2020 United States census ...

. It consisted of the current Maryland counties of Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico,

Somerset Somerset ( , ), Archaism, archaically Somersetshire ( , , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Gloucestershire, and Bristol to the north, Wiltshire to the east ...

, and Worcester. In 1792 the boundaries of Maryland's congressional districts were redrawn, and the 5th District was made to include Baltimore and Baltimore County. This district is safely Democratic, and has been in Democratic hands uninterrupted since the retirement of Lawrence Hogan (father of future

Governor of Maryland The governor of the State of Maryland is the head of government of Maryland, and is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The governor is the highest-ranking official in the state and has a broad range of appointive powers ...

Larry Hogan) in 1975. He was succeeded by Gladys Spellman, who served from 1975 until the seat was declared vacant by the House due to her falling into a coma in 1980. Hoyer won a special election that year to complete her term, and has held the seat since.

Recent election results from statewide races

Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST24/CD118_MD05.pdf
/ref> Anne Arundel County (12) : Crofton, Deale, Edgewater,

Fort Meade Fort George G. Meade is a United States Army installation located in Maryland, that includes the Defense Information School, the Defense Media Activity, the United States military bands#Army Field Band, United States Army Field Band, and the head ...

Friendship Friendship is a Interpersonal relationship, relationship of mutual affection between people. It is a stronger form of interpersonal bond than an "acquaintance" or an "association", such as a classmate, neighbor, coworker, or colleague. Althoug ...

, Galesville, Jessup (part; also 3rd, shared with Howard County), Maryland City, Mayo, Odenton, Riva, Shady Side Calvert County (14) : All 14 communities Charles County (13) : All 13 communities Prince George's County (30) : Accokeek (part; also 4th), Andrews AFB, Aquasco,

Baden Baden (; ) is a historical territory in southern Germany. In earlier times it was considered to be on both sides of the Upper Rhine, but since the Napoleonic Wars, it has been considered only East of the Rhine. History The margraves of Ba ...

, Bowie, Brandywine, Brock Hall, Brown Station, Camp Springs (part; also 4th), Cedarville, Clinton, Croom, Eagle Harbor, Fairwood (part; also 4th), Forestville (part; also 4th), Glenn Dale (part; also 4th), Lake Arbor (part; also 4th), Largo,

Kettering Kettering is a market town, market and industrial town, industrial town in the North Northamptonshire district of Northamptonshire, England, west of Cambridge, England, Cambridge, southwest of Peterborough, southeast of Leicester and north- ...

, Marlboro Meadows, Marlboro Village, Marlton, Melwood, Mitchellville (part; also 4th), Rosaryville, Queen Anne,

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

, Upper Marlboro,

Westphalia Westphalia (; ; ) is a region of northwestern Germany and one of the three historic parts of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It has an area of and 7.9 million inhabitants. The territory of the region is almost identical with the h ...

, Woodmore St. Mary's County (11) : All 11 communities

Recent elections

2000s

2010s

2020s

List of members representing the district

1789–1803: one seat

1803–1833: two seats

From 1803 to 1833, two seats were apportioned, elected at-large on a

general ticket The general ticket or party block voting (PBV), is a type of block voting in which voters opt for a party or a team of candidates, and the highest-polling party/team becomes the winner and receives 100% of the seats for this multi-member distric ...

1833–present: one seat

Notes

Sources

Archives of Maryland Historical List United States Representatives
Maryland State Archives * *
Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present
{{coord, 38.55, N, 76.95, W, region:US-MD_type:adm2nd, display=title 05 1789 establishments in Maryland Constituencies established in 1789