U.S. House · Maryland's 3rd District

Parts of Anne Arundel, Howard, Baltimore and Montgomery counties, including Annapolis and Columbia.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

✓ Fact-checked 2026-09-25: 22 claims re-checked against their sources

A second, independent research pass re-opened every cited source for this race and corrected or removed anything the source didn’t support.

  • Verified the primary/general context (including the Felix Seier entries appearing in both the Democratic 'did not make the ballot' list and the Republican primary field, per Ballotpedia's raw candidate listing), Sarah Elfreth's quote on healthcare ('Sarah knows healthcare decisions are between you and your doctor...') verbatim, her record of 84 bills and gun-safety legislation, and Bernard Flowers's bio and 2026 Candidate Connection survey priorities/positions. All facts and quotes matched their cited sources exactly; no corrections needed.

On the ballot · 2 candidates

Where they stand — side by side

Only positions documented in a cited source are shown. Where an officeholder’s recorded votes speak to an issue, the votes set the position (marked “votes”). A dash means we found no clear public position — not that the candidate has none.

ISSUESarah Elfreth
D
Bernard Flowers
R
Protect legal access to abortionSupports[3]—
Stricter gun lawsSupports[3]—
Expand immigration enforcement and deportationsOpposes[6][7][8][9]votes—
Raise taxes on high earners or corporationsSupports[7][8][9]votes—
Expand public health coverageSupports[7][8][9][10]votes—
Faster transition away from fossil fuelsSupports[7][8][9]votes—
Public funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)—Supports[5]
Broad tariffs on imported goodsOpposes[11]votes—

The candidates, in full

Sarah Elfreth

DINCUMBENTU.S. Representative (since 2025)

Sarah Elfreth is the Democratic incumbent in Maryland's 3rd Congressional District. She previously served six years in the Maryland Senate, where she passed 84 bills into law.[2][3]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Key votes in Congress

  • YesWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · H. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · 2026-06-03 roll call ↗The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans.
  • YesResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · H.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · 2026-02-11 roll call ↗The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy.
  • NoConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government funding · H.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · 2026-02-03 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
  • YesBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · H.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · 2026-01-08 roll call ↗The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans.
  • YesWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela · H. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region.
  • YesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · 2025-12-10 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year.
  • YesEpstein Files Transparency Act · H.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · 2025-11-18 roll call ↗The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support.
  • NoContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · 2025-11-12 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively.
  • NoCLARITY Act — digital asset market structure · H.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries.
  • NoGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation · S. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · 2025-07-03 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025.
  • NoRescissions Act of 2025 · H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · 2025-06-12 roll call ↗The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · 2025-05-22 roll call ↗H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients.
  • NoSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · H.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · 2025-04-10 roll call ↗The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls.
  • NoFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 · H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · 2025-03-11 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
  • NoLaken Riley Act — final passage · S. 5 · Passed 263–156 · 2025-01-22 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.

On the record — official actions

  • billPassed 84 bills into law during five years in the Maryland Senate, on issues including Chesapeake Bay protection, prenatal care expansion and veterans' PTSD care.[3]
  • actionServed on the Maryland Senate budget committee overseeing tens of billions of dollars in transportation, environmental and public safety spending.[3]
  • actionServes on the House Natural Resources Committee and House Armed Services Committee for the 2025-2026 term.[2]

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsProtect legal access to abortion

    Says healthcare decisions belong between a patient and their doctor, voted in the Maryland Senate to expand access to reproductive health care, and co-sponsored a state constitutional amendment on reproductive freedom.[3]

    “Sarah knows healthcare decisions are between you and your doctor – not elected officials or judges.”
  • SupportsStricter gun laws

    Helped pass Maryland laws prohibiting carrying firearms in places like schools and restaurants, banning ghost guns, increasing penalties for illegal possession, and requiring safe storage; says she will push to ban assault weapons and expand background checks in Congress.[3]

  • SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[7][8][9]

    What they say: Says she passed state laws to invest in clean energy jobs and will fight for climate justice and a faster transition to clean energy in Congress.[3]

  • OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations.[6][7][8][9]

  • SupportsExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted yes on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08).[7][8][9][10]

  • SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[7][8][9]

  • OpposesBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11).[11]

In their words — priorities

  • Protecting reproductive health care access, saying decisions should be between a patient and their doctor.[3]
  • Gun violence prevention, citing her record passing Maryland laws on public carry, ghost guns and safe storage.[3]
  • Environmental protection, particularly restoring the Chesapeake Bay and addressing climate change.[3]

Background

  • Born in New Jersey in 1988; earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Towson University and a master's in public policy from Johns Hopkins University.[2]
  • Worked as government affairs director with the National Aquarium and as an adjunct professor at Towson University's Honors College.[2]
  • Served in the Maryland Senate from 2019 to 2025, becoming the youngest woman elected to the chamber in state history.[2][3]

Campaign money

Raised $1.1M · spent $836K · $336K cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Bernard Flowers

R

Bernard Flowers is the Republican nominee for Maryland's 3rd Congressional District, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel with nearly 21 years of active-duty service.[4][5]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsPublic funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)

    Says he wants to depoliticize public schools and empower parents, teachers and local communities in education decisions.[5]

In their words — priorities

  • National defense, citing his 21 years of active duty and 13 years as a senior civil servant.[5]
  • Empowering parents and promoting what he calls excellence in education rather than indoctrination.[5]
  • Immigration reform, middle-class affordability, fiscal reform, term limits and infrastructure renewal.[5]

Background

  • Born in Lumberton, North Carolina; served in the U.S. Air Force from 1987 to 2008, including an assignment at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.[4][5]
  • Earned a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, a graduate degree from Golden Gate University, and graduated from the U.S. Air Force War College.[4]
  • After military service, worked in banking and later as a DoD civil servant helping stand up U.S. Cyber Command and serving as a senior technical advisor to NORAD and U.S. Northern Command.[5]

Campaign money

Raised $13K · spent $14K · $2,016 cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Sources · 11

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 2.Sarah Elfreth · Ballotpedia Reference
  3. 3.Sarah Elfreth Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
  4. 4.Bernard Flowers · Ballotpedia Reference
  5. 5.Bernard Flowers Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
  6. 6.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  7. 7.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  8. 8.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  9. 9.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  10. 10.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  11. 11.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record