Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall is considering a campaign for Congress against eight-term incumbent Andy Harris and won’t run for re-election as mayor.
Calling rural Eastern Shore communities “overlooked and underserved,” Tyndall said he’s formed an exploratory committee towards a campaign for Maryland’s First Congressional District seat in the 2026 election.
“The people of Maryland’s First Congressional District deserve a representative who is not only visible and accessible but also responsive and a partner,” he wrote. “I believe that I am the person to help bring Eastern Shore values back to Washington.”
In a statement Tuesday, Tyndall noted a “disconnect” between the Shore and Washington when it comes to funding of public safety, healthcare, and infrastructure projects. Berlin recently lost out on $950,000 in support when the federal government rescinded a transportation grant meant to explore bridging the town’s geographical and racial divides created by Route 113.
When it comes to running for federal office, election rules allow for a “testing the waters” committee, where a potential candidate can suss out their chances without actually filing as a candidate.
A candidate is no longer testing the waters when they raise more than $5,000 and begin to conduct campaigning in earnest, which would then require formally filing candidacy, according to Federal Elections Commission rules.
Jake Day, Maryland’s housing secretary and a former Democratic mayor of Salisbury, has also established an exploratory committee but has not yet publicly stated whether he’ll pursue a campaign. Day did not respond to a request for comment for this report.
We certainly do not want another democrat!
The Eastern Shore deserves better than that!
Just what we need. Another pure liberal who thinks he knows everything
No thanks.
Lovely! Just another DemonicRat! Harris iti is!
We need Republicans to take more Maryland seats, not more Democrats. We have too many of those already.
We sure don’t need Jake Day!