BIOGUIDE E000301 · FEC H4MD03156
Sarah Elfreth
U.S. Representative (since 2025)DINCUMBENT
- Race
- U.S. House · Maryland's 3rd District
- Result
- Sarah Elfreth, projected winner
- Opponent
- Bernard Flowers (R)
- Research
- Basic
Party line16 votes tracked
With party = voted the same way as most Democrats who voted.
Said vs. did6 statements · 16 votes
Sarah knows healthcare decisions are between you and your doctor – not elected officials or judges.
Protect legal access to abortion
Compare statements with votes ›Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
Sarah knows healthcare decisions are between you and your doctor – not elected officials or judges.
In her 2024 Ballotpedia survey, says healthcare decisions belong between a patient and their doctor, says she voted to expand access to reproductive healthcare, and says she will fight in Congress to make Roe v. Wade the law of the land again.[4]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
In her 2024 Ballotpedia survey, says she helped pass Maryland laws banning ghost guns and requiring safe storage, and says she will fight in Congress to ban assault weapons and expand background checks.
Documented position[4]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
In her 2024 Ballotpedia survey, says she passed state laws to invest in clean energy jobs and will fight in Congress for climate justice and to speed the transition to clean energy.
Documented position[4]
On Capitol Hill, she will fight to protect the Affordable Care Act from right-wing attacks and to expand coverage to the nearly 30 million Americans without health insurance.
Her 2024 campaign website says she will fight to protect the Affordable Care Act and expand coverage to the nearly 30 million Americans without health insurance.[4]
Cosponsored H.R. 2743, the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 (119th Congress), which would raise the federal minimum wage.
Documented position[8]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Cosponsored H.Con.Res. 40 (119th Congress), a War Powers Resolution measure directing the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities not authorized by Congress. Cosponsored H.Con.Res. 68 (119th Congress), directing the removal of U.S. forces from Venezuela not authorized by Congress.
- YESWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization.[11]
- YESWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.[12]
2 of 2 votes point the same way as the statement
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- NOSAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).[14]
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- YESResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.[15]
Biography
Sarah Elfreth is the Democratic U.S. Representative for Maryland's 3rd Congressional District and won re-election on November 3, 2026. She worked in university and nonprofit advocacy before serving in the Maryland Senate from 2019 to 2025 and was first elected to Congress in 2024.[1][2][3]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Elfreth was born in New Jersey in 1988 and, according to her congressional website, was raised by two civil servants in a union household.[1][2] She earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Towson University in 2010 and a master's degree in public policy from Johns Hopkins University in 2012.[1] Her congressional website says her public service began on the University System of Maryland Board of Regents.[2] She worked as government affairs director for the National Aquarium in Baltimore, as an adjunct professor at Towson University's Honors College, and as senior director of university projects with Margrave Strategies.[1][2]
Elfreth was elected to the Maryland Senate in 2018 and served from 2019 to 2025; her congressional website says she was the youngest woman ever elected to the chamber and that 91 bills she sponsored became law.[1][2] In 2024 she won the general election for the open 3rd District seat with 59.3% of the vote.[1] In Congress she serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Natural Resources Committee, where she is Vice-Ranking Member, and she sits on the Naval Academy Board of Visitors.[2] She won the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary with 74.7% of the vote and, according to her congressional website, lives in Annapolis with her husband, Eric.[1][2] She won the November 3, 2026 general election with 67.3% of the vote to Berney Flowers's 32.7%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[3]
Recent votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-03 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207 |
| 2026-02-11 | With partyvoted yes | Resolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210 |
| 2026-02-03 | With partyvoted no | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21 |
| 2026-01-08 | With partyvoted yes | Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196 |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212 |
| 2025-12-10 | With partyvoted yes | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18 |
| 2025-11-18 | With partyvoted yes | Epstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1 |
| 2025-11-12 | With partyvoted no | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2 |
Showing the 8 most recent of 16 votes.
All 16 recorded votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-03 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207The 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. |
| 2026-02-11 | With partyvoted yes | Resolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210The 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. |
| 2026-02-03 | With partyvoted no | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21The 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. |
| 2026-01-08 | With partyvoted yes | Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196The 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. |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212The 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. |
| 2025-12-10 | With partyvoted yes | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18The 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. |
| 2025-11-18 | With partyvoted yes | Epstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1The 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. |
| 2025-11-12 | With partyvoted no | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2The 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. |
| 2025-07-17 | With partyvoted no | CLARITY Act — digital asset market structureH.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · roll call ↗Democrats 78–134 · Republicans 216–0The 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. |
| 2025-07-17 | With partyvoted no | GENIUS Act — stablecoin regulationS. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · roll call ↗Democrats 102–110 · Republicans 206–12The 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. |
| 2025-07-03 | With partyvoted no | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passageH.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 218–2H.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. |
| 2025-06-12 | With partyvoted no | Rescissions Act of 2025H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–208 · Republicans 214–4The 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. |
| 2025-05-22 | With partyvoted no | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passageH.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 215–2H.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. |
| 2025-04-10 | With partyvoted no | SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registrationH.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 4–208 · Republicans 216–0The 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. |
| 2025-03-11 | With partyvoted no | Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 1–212 · Republicans 216–1The 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. |
| 2025-01-22 | With partyvoted no | Laken Riley Act — final passageS. 5 · Passed 263–156 · roll call ↗Democrats 46–156 · Republicans 217–0The 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: bills, executive acts, filings and court records.
- 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.[4]
- actionServed on the Maryland Senate budget committee overseeing tens of billions of dollars in transportation, environmental and public safety spending.[4]
- actionServes on the House Natural Resources Committee and House Armed Services Committee for the 2025-2026 term.[16]
In their own words
Priorities
- Protecting reproductive health care access, saying decisions should be between a patient and their doctor.[4]
- Gun violence prevention, citing her record passing Maryland laws on public carry, ghost guns and safe storage.[4]
- Environmental protection, particularly restoring the Chesapeake Bay and addressing climate change.[4]
Campaign money$1.1M raised · 61% from individuals · FEC through 2026-06-30
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $693K
- PACs & committees $442K
- Own money & loans $649
Largest committee contributions
- Employees of Northrop Grumman Corporation PAC PAC$10K
- Leidos Inc. Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- American Federation of State County & Municipal Employees P E O P L E PAC$10K
- Machinists Non Partisan Political League of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers PAC$10K
- American Association for Justice Political Action Committee (AAJ PAC) PAC$8,500
- Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. PAC (BOOZ Allen PAC) PAC$8,500
- Honeywell International Inc. Technologies Public Affairs Council (Honpac) PAC$8,000
- Defend the Vote PAC$7,500
- American Maritime Officers Voluntary Political Action Fund PAC$7,500
- National Beer Wholesalers Association Political Action Committee PAC$7,500
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/sarah-elfreth
Where they stood out
Voted against most of their party on 7 of 470 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (3), Rights & public safety (3), Education & families (2)
An Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow early childhood educators to take the educator expense deduction, and for other purposes
A yes vote agreed to the Senate's amendments to H.R. 5334, which add Russia sanctions, higher duties and an Iran Sanctions Act extension to the early-childhood educator deduction, sending the bill to the president. (AI-written)
What it does: Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 This bill imposes a variety of sanctions, tariffs, and prohibitions related to Russia, extends an Iran-related sanctions law, and expands a tax deduction for t…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 58–152, Republicans 203–7
Sep 16, 2026Official record ↗
Cashless Bail Reporting Act
What it does: Cashless Bail Reporting Act This bill requires the Department of Justice to publish annually a list of state and local governments that permit individuals who are charged with certain criminal offenses that pose a cle…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 96–114, Republicans 211–2
May 14, 2026Official record ↗
Denouncing the antisemitic terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado
What it does: Condemns the June 2025 Boulder, Colorado attack, affirms the need for communication between state, local and federal law enforcement, and thanks law enforcement officers including ICE personnel.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 75–113, Republicans 205–0
Jun 9, 2025Official record ↗
Their votes on the most contested roll calls
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
- No
With most of their party · Passed 214–212 · Yes 214–No 212 · Democrats 0–211, Republicans 214–0
Jun 9, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act
With most of their party · Failed 214–217 · Yes 214–No 217 · Democrats 214–0, Republicans 0–216
Feb 11, 2026Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Passed 217–215 · Yes 217–No 215 · Democrats 0–214, Republicans 216–1
Feb 25, 2025Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Failed 215–215 · Yes 215–No 215 · Democrats 213–0, Republicans 2–214
Jan 22, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Failed 213–213 · Yes 213–No 213 · Democrats 211–0, Republicans 2–212
Jun 4, 2025Official record ↗
Compare all 2 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Sarah Elfreth · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.About Sarah Elfreth · Office of Rep. Sarah Elfreth Official record
- 3.Maryland U.S. House District 3 election results 2026 · NBC News · 2026-11-09 News report
- 4.Sarah Elfreth Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
- 5.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
- 6.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
- 7.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
- 8.H.R. 2743, the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 (Raise the Wage Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 9.H.Con.Res. 40 (Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 10.H.Con.Res. 68 (To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 11.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
- 12.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
- 13.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
- 14.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
- 15.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
- 16.Sarah Elfreth · Ballotpedia Reference