Former Capitol Police Officer Running For Congress

(USNewsMag.com) – On Jan. 5, former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn announced he is running in the Democratic primary to replace Maryland Rep. John Sarbanes, who is retiring as the representative for the state’s 3rd Congressional District. A 15-year veteran of the Capitol Police, he retired from his job in December.

In his announcement video, he re-enacts the events of Jan 6, 2021, and states that he is running “to stop Trump’s MAGA extremists.” The events of Jan. 6 and “everything that happened after,” Dunn said, led him to make the decision to run for public office. Dunn called himself a “career public servant” and stated that he is running for the seat because “career politicians” are not what Congress needs. He added that one of his strong points is his “willingness to stand up and fight back against the people” trying to erode Congress.

He discussed Maryland’s needs and said he wants to tackle the issues concerning mental health and infrastructure.

While he currently lives outside the 3rd Congressional District in Montgomery County, Maryland, he stated that he would move to the district if elected.Dunn became nationally known in 2022 after he testified about the events at the Capitol before the House select committee investigating Jan. 6, 2021. During his testimony, he stated he saw Metropolitan Police Department officers and Capitol Police officers attacked that day. He added that black police officers, including him, were also attacked with racial slurs.

Dunn also wrote a book about his experience on Jan. 6. In 2023, President Joe Biden awarded Dunn and several other police officers the Presidential Citizens Medal.

He joins a growing field of 15 candidates for the Democratic primary that includes Maryland state Sen. Sarah Elfreth, Maryland state Sen. Clarence Lam, Maryland state Delegate Mark Chang, Maryland state Delegate Mike Rogers, Maryland state Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary and Maryland state Delegate Terri Hill, nurse Kristin Lyman Nabors and businesswoman Abigail Diehl.