# Maryland's 3rd congressional district

Maryland's 3rd congressional district covers all of Howard county as well as parts of Anne Arundel and Carroll counties. The seat is currently represented by Sarah Elfreth, a Democrat.
Three people who represented Maryland in the United States Senate were also former representatives of the 3rd district, including Ben Cardin, Barbara Mikulski, and Paul Sarbanes.
The district's previously odd shape was attributed to gerrymandering to favor Democratic candidates, following the 2000 and 2010 censuses. In 2012, the district was found to be the third least compact congressional district in the United States, and in 2014, The Washington Post called it the nation's second-most gerrymandered district. John Sarbanes, the previous Democratic Representative for the district, put forth the For the People Act of 2019 to address electoral reform, voting rights, and gerrymandering in the United States. Following the 2020 redistricting cycle, it now includes Howard County, most of Anne Arundel County including Glen Burnie and Annapolis, and part of Carroll County, specifically the areas around Mount Airy. For the first time in decades, the district did not include Baltimore City or Baltimore County; meaning incumbent congressman John Sarbanes no longer lives in the district.

## Historical boundaries

Maryland's 3rd district was one of the 61 districts that elected a representative to the 1st United States Congress. It also has the distinction of being one of the few congressional districts that once included areas not currently in the state they are in. The 3rd congressional district originally was composed of Prince George's County, Maryland and Anne Arundel County, Maryland. At that point, what is now Howard County, Maryland, was in Anne Arundel County, and Prince George's County included the eastern half of the District of Columbia.
In 1792, the Maryland 3rd Congressional District was moved to include Montgomery County, Maryland, and the eastern half of Frederick County, Maryland. The population was about 33,000. However, the western portion of what is today Carroll County, Maryland was at this point in Frederick County, and the western half of the District of Columbia was in Montgomery County. This latter fact explains why the district lost population, even though it, in theory, did not experience redistricting after the 1800 census. With the population of Georgetown, D. C., no longer in the district, its 1800 population was about 31,000. At this point, the 3rd was Maryland's least populous district, barely having half the population of the Baltimore City and County 5th district, which, in 1800, had just above 59,000 inhabitants.
The boundaries remained the same after the 1810, 1820, and 1830 censuses. While, in 1820, the district had about 36,000 inhabitants, its population had risen to 53,622 in 1830. With the formation of Carroll County in the 1830s, as well as Maryland falling from 8 to 6 congressional seats, the boundaries of the 3rd Congressional District were drastically redrawn. The only area that remained in the 3rd Congressional District was the part of Carroll County that had been in Frederick County. The 3rd also included Baltimore County and the western half of the city of Baltimore. Its new population was 69,923, 24.5% of whom were black.
In 1853, the 3rd district was redrawn again. The new district consisted of Baltimore County, except for the northern and western parts of the county and about the eastern third of the City of Baltimore. The district now had a population of 95,729. In the redistricting following the 1860 census, Maryland was reduced to five congressional districts. The 3rd was moved so that it contained the part of Baltimore that had not been in the 3rd before 1863. It now had a population of 130,040. In 1873, the 3rd district was moved again, to be the east side of Baltimore. It now had a population of 120,978.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | Obama 52% – 46% |
| 2012 | President | Obama 54% – 46% |
| 2012 | Senate | Cardin 47% – 34% |
| 2014 | Governor | Hogan 62% – 38% |
| 2016 | President | Clinton 53% – 40% |
| 2016 | Senate | Van Hollen 53% – 44% |
| 2018 | Senate | Cardin 58% – 35% |
| 2018 | Governor | Hogan 64% – 35% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Frosh 58% – 41% |
| 2020 | President | Biden 61% – 36% |
| 2022 | Senate | Van Hollen 62% – 38% |
| 2022 | Governor | Moore 62% – 34% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Brown 61% – 39% |
| 2022 | Comptroller | Lierman 57% – 43% |
| 2024 | President | Harris 60% – 36% |
| 2024 | Senate | Hogan 49.0% – 48.6% |

## 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:
Anne Arundel County (20)
    Annapolis, Annapolis Neck, Arden on the Severn, Arnold, Brooklyn Park, Cape St. Claire, Crownsville, Ferndale, Gambrills, Glen Burnie, Herald Harbor, Jessup (part; also 5th; shared with Howard County), Lake Shore, Linthicum, Odenton (part; also 5th), Pasadena, Parole, Riviera Beach, Severn, Severna Park
Carroll County (2)
    Eldersburg (part; also 2nd), Mount Airy (part; also 6th; shared with Frederick County)
Howard County (10)
    All 10 communities

## Recent elections
### 2000s

Maryland's 3rd Congressional District election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Benjamin Cardin (Incumbent) | 169,347 | 75.66 |
| | Republican | Scott Conwell | 53,827 | 24.05 |
| | Libertarian | Joe Pomykala | 238 | 0.11 |
| | Write-ins | | 406 | 0.18 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 223,818 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
Maryland's 3rd Congressional District election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Benjamin Cardin (Incumbent) | 145,589 | 65.79 |
| | Republican | Scott Conwell | 75,721 | 34.21 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 221,310 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
Maryland's 3rd Congressional District election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Benjamin Cardin (Incumbent) | 182,066 | 63.44% | −2.35 |
| | Republican | Robert P. Duckworth | 97,008 | 33.80% | −0.41 |
| | Green | Patsy Allen | 7,895 | 2.75% | +2.75 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 286,969 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
Marylands's 3rd Congressional District election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | John Sarbanes | 150,142 | 64.03% | +0.59 |
| | Republican | John White | 79,174 | 33.76% | −0.04 |
| | Libertarian | Charles Curtis McPeek, Sr. | 4,941 | 2.11% | +2.11 |
| | Write-ins | | 229 | 0.10% | +0.10 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 234,486 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
Maryland's 3rd Congressional District election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | John Sarbanes (Incumbent) | 203,711 | 69.66% | +5.63 |
| | Republican | Thomas E. Harris | 87,971 | 30.08% | −3.68 |
| | No party | Write-ins | 766 | 0.26 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 292,448 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

### 2010s

Maryland's 3rd Congressional District election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | John Sarbanes (Incumbent) | 147,448 | 61.07% | −8.59 |
| | Republican | Jim Wilhelm | 86,947 | 36.01% | +5.93 |
| | Libertarian | Jerry McKinley | 5,212 | 2.16% | +2.16 |
| | Constitution | Alain Lareau | 1,634 | 0.68% | +0.68 |
| | No party | Write-ins | 188 | 0.1% | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 241,429 | 100.00 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
Maryland's 3rd Congressional District election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Sarbanes (Incumbent) | 213,747 | 66.8 |
| | Republican | Eric Delano Knowles | 94,549 | 29.6 |
| | Libertarian | Paul R. Drgos, Jr. | 11,028 | 3.4 |
| | N/A | Others (write-in) | 535 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 319,859 | 100 |
Maryland's 3rd congressional district, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Sarbanes (incumbent) | 128,594 | 59.6 |
| | Republican | Charles A. Long | 87,029 | 40.3 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 323 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 215,946 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
Maryland's 3rd congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Sarbanes (incumbent) | 214,640 | 63.2 |
| | Republican | Mark Plaster | 115,048 | 33.9 |
| | Green | Nnabu Eze | 9,461 | 2.8 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 526 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 339,675 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
Maryland's 3rd congressional district, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Sarbanes (incumbent) | 202,407 | 69.1 |
| | Republican | Charles Anthony | 82,774 | 28.3 |
| | Libertarian | J. David Lashar | 7,476 | 2.6 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 223 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 292,880 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2020s

Maryland's 3rd congressional district, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Sarbanes (incumbent) | 260,358 | 69.8 |
| | Republican | Charles Anthony | 112,117 | 30.0 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 731 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 373,206 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
Maryland's 3rd congressional district, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Sarbanes (incumbent) | 175,514 | 60.2 |
| | Republican | Yuripzy Morgan | 115,801 | 39.7 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 287 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 291,602 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
Maryland's 3rd congressional district, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sarah Elfreth | 236,681 | 59.29 |
| | Republican | Robert Steinberger | 151,186 | 37.87 |
| | Libertarian | Miguel Barajas | 10,471 | 2.62 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 862 | 0.22 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 399,200 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## List of members representing the district

| Member | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | Location |
| District created March 4, 1789 ||||||
| Benjamin Contee (Charles County) | Anti-Administration | March 4, 1789 – March 3, 1791 | 1st | Elected in 1789. Lost re-election. | |
| William Pinkney (Annapolis) | Pro-Administration | March 4, 1791 – November 9, 1791 | 2nd | Elected in 1790. Resigned due to questions of ineligibility. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | November 9, 1791 – February 5, 1792 | 2nd | | |
| John Francis Mercer (Galesville) | Anti-Administration | February 5, 1792 – March 3, 1793 | 2nd | Elected October 26–29, 1791 to finish Pinkney's term. Redistricted to the 2nd district. | |
| Uriah Forrest (Georgetown) | Pro-Administration | March 4, 1793 – November 8, 1794 | 3rd | Elected in 1792. Re-elected in 1794. Resigned. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | November 8, 1794 – January 2, 1795 | 3rd | | |
| Benjamin Edwards (Montgomery County) | Pro-Administration | January 2, 1795 – March 3, 1795 | 3rd | Elected to finish Forrest's term. Retired. | |
| Jeremiah Crabb (Rockville) | Federalist | March 4, 1795 – June 1, 1796 | 4th | Elected in 1794. Resigned. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | June 1, 1796 – December 5, 1796 | 4th | | |
| William Craik (Baltimore) | Federalist | December 5, 1796 – March 3, 1801 | 4th 5th 6th | Elected October 3, 1796 to finish Crabb's term. Also elected the same day to the next term. Re-elected in 1798. Retired. | |
| Thomas Plater (Georgetown) | Federalist | March 4, 1801 – March 3, 1805 | 7th 8th | Elected in 1801. Re-elected in 1803. Lost re-election. | |
| Patrick Magruder (Rockville) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1805 – March 3, 1807 | 9th | Elected in 1804. Lost re-election. | |
| Philip Barton Key (Rockville) | Federalist | March 4, 1807 – March 3, 1813 | 10th 11th 12th | Elected in 1806. Re-elected in 1808. Re-elected in 1810. Retired. | |
| Alexander Contee Hanson (Rockville) | Federalist | March 4, 1813 – 1816 | 13th 14th | Elected in 1812. Re-elected in 1814. Resigned when elected U.S. Senator. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | 1816 – October 7, 1816 | 14th | | |
| George Peter (Darnestown) | Federalist | October 7, 1816 – March 3, 1819 | 14th 15th | Elected to finish Hanson's term. Also elected to the next term in 1816. Lost re-election. | |
| Henry Ridgely Warfield (Middleburg) | Federalist | March 4, 1819 – March 3, 1825 | 16th 17th 18th | Elected in 1818. Re-elected in 1820. Re-elected in 1822. Retired. | |
| George Peter (Darnestown) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1827 | 19th | Elected in 1824. Lost re-election. | |
| George Corbin Washington (Rockville) | Anti-Jacksonian | March 4, 1827 – March 3, 1833 | 20th 21st 22nd | Elected in 1826. Re-elected in 1829. Re-elected in 1831. [data missing] | |
| James Turner (Wiseburg) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1837 | 23rd 24th | Elected in 1833. Re-elected in 1835. [data missing] | |
| John Tolley Hood Worthington (Shawan) | Democratic | March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1841 | 25th 26th | Elected in 1837. Re-elected in 1839. [data missing] | |
| James Wray Williams (Churchville) | Democratic | March 4, 1841 – December 2, 1842 | 27th | Elected in 1841. Died. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 2, 1842 – January 2, 1843 | 27th | | |
| Charles S. Sewall (Elkton) | Democratic | January 2, 1843 – March 3, 1843 | 27th | Elected to finish Williams's term. [data missing] | |
| John Wethered (Franklin) | Whig | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 | 28th | Elected late in 1844. [data missing] | |
| Thomas Watkins Ligon (Ellicotts Mills) | Democratic | March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1849 | 29th 30th | Elected in 1845. Re-elected in 1847. [data missing] | |
| Edward Hammond (Ellicotts Mills) | Democratic | March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853 | 31st 32nd | Elected in 1849. Re-elected in 1851. [data missing] | |
| Joshua Van Sant (Baltimore) | Democratic | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 | 33rd | Elected in 1853. [data missing] | |
| James Morrison Harris (Baltimore) | Know Nothing | March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1861 | 34th 35th 36th | Elected in 1855. Re-elected in 1857. Re-elected in 1859. [data missing] | |
| Cornelius Leary (Baltimore) | Union | March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863 | 37th | Elected in 1861. [data missing] | |
| Henry Winter Davis (Baltimore) | Unconditional Union | March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865 | 38th | Elected in 1863. [data missing] | |
| Charles Edward Phelps (Baltimore) | Unconditional Union | March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1867 | 39th 40th | Elected in 1864. Re-elected in 1866. [data missing] | |
| Charles Edward Phelps (Baltimore) | Conservative | March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1869 | 39th 40th | Elected in 1864. Re-elected in 1866. [data missing] | |
| Thomas Swann (Baltimore) | Democratic | March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1873 | 41st 42nd | Elected in 1868. Re-elected in 1870. Redistricted to the 4th district. | |
| William James O'Brien (Baltimore) | Democratic | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877 | 43rd 44th | Elected in 1872. Re-elected in 1874. [data missing] | |
| William Kimmel (Baltimore) | Democratic | March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1881 | 45th 46th | Elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. [data missing] | |
| Fetter Schrier Hoblitzell (Baltimore) | Democratic | March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1885 | 47th 48th | Elected in 1880. Re-elected in 1882. [data missing] | |
| William Hinson Cole (Baltimore) | Democratic | March 4, 1885 – July 8, 1886 | 49th | Elected in 1884. Died. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | July 8, 1886 – November 2, 1886 | 49th | | |
| Harry Welles Rusk (Baltimore) | Democratic | November 2, 1886 – March 3, 1897 | 49th 50th 51st 52nd 53rd 54th | Elected to finish Cole's term. Re-elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. [data missing] | |
| William Samuel Booze (Baltimore) | Republican | March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899 | 55th | Elected in 1896. [data missing] | |
| Frank Charles Wachter (Baltimore) | Republican | March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1907 | 56th 57th 58th 59th | Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. [data missing] | |
| Harry Benjamin Wolf (Baltimore) | Democratic | March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1909 | 60th | Elected in 1906. [data missing] | |
| John Kronmiller (Baltimore) | Republican | March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1911 | 61st | Elected in 1908. [data missing] | |
| George Konig (Baltimore) | Democratic | March 4, 1911 – May 31, 1913 | 62nd 63rd | Elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Died. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | May 31, 1913 – November 4, 1913 | 63rd | | |
| Charles Pearce Coady (Baltimore) | Democratic | November 4, 1913 – March 3, 1921 | 63rd 64th 65th 66th | Elected to finish Konig's term. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. [data missing] | |
| John B.P.C. Hill (Baltimore) | Republican | March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1927 | 67th 68th 69th | Elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. [data missing] | |
| Vincent L. Palmisano (Baltimore) | Democratic | March 4, 1927 – January 3, 1939 | 70th 71st 72nd 73rd 74th 75th | Elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. [data missing] | |
| Thomas D'Alesandro Jr. (Baltimore) | Democratic | January 3, 1939 – May 16, 1947 | 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th | Elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Resigned to become Mayor of Baltimore. | |
| Vacant | Vacant | May 16, 1947 – July 15, 1947 | 80th | | |
| Edward Garmatz (Baltimore) | Democratic | July 15, 1947 – January 3, 1973 | 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd | Elected to finish D'Alesandro Jr.'s term. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. [data missing] | |
| Paul Sarbanes (Baltimore) | Democratic | January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1977 | 93rd 94th | Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. | 1973–1983 [data missing] |
| Barbara Mikulski (Baltimore) | Democratic | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1987 | 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th | Elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. | 1973–1983 [data missing] |
| Barbara Mikulski (Baltimore) | Democratic | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1987 | 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th | Elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. | 1983–1993 [data missing] |
| Ben Cardin (Baltimore) | Democratic | January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2007 | 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th | Elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. | 1983–1993 [data missing] |
| Ben Cardin (Baltimore) | Democratic | January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2007 | 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th | Elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. | 1993–2003 [data missing] |
| Ben Cardin (Baltimore) | Democratic | January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2007 | 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th | Elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. | 2003–2013 |
| John Sarbanes (Baltimore) | Democratic | January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2025 | 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th | Elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Retired. | 2003–2013 |
| John Sarbanes (Baltimore) | Democratic | January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2025 | 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th | Elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Retired. | 2013–2023 |
| John Sarbanes (Baltimore) | Democratic | January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2025 | 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th | Elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Retired. | 2023–present |
| Sarah Elfreth (Annapolis) | Democratic | January 3, 2025– present | 119th | Elected in 2024. | 2023–present |