By Adam Pagnucco.
One week after former District 6 Congressman David Trone announced a primary challenge against his successor, April McClain Delaney, her campaign has released poll results claiming that she holds a 17-point lead in the race.
The poll by Hart Research Associates surveyed 600 likely Democratic voters on December 9-16 and has a margin of error of ±4.1 points. The poll finds that Delaney holds a 50-33% lead with 17% undecided. Only 34% of voters are favorable towards Trone running again. And among voters with favorable impressions of both candidates, Delaney leads by 14 points.
What should we make of this? First, Inside Elections reported a month ago that Trone was polling the race. It’s hard to believe that he would run again if his poll showed no potential path to victory. Second, Trone can likely outspend Delaney. That didn’t help him in his U.S. Senate race against Angela Alsobrooks, but CD6 is more friendly territory and he did represent it for six years. Third, I am skeptical of horse race results in early polls and I used Hart Research data to illustrate why. However, this contest effectively pits two incumbents against each other and both are better known than candidates in an open seat race. Accordingly, these numbers may be more reflective of later conditions than most early polls.
Delaney’s press release is reprinted below.
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For Immediate Release: December 18, 2025
Contact: Nick London nick@april4congress.com
New Poll Shows Rep. April McClain Delaney Holding Dominant 17-Point Lead in MD-06 Democratic Primary
Survey finds voters satisfied with Delaney’s leadership and rejecting David Trone’s comeback bid
GAITHERSBURG, MARYLAND — A new survey conducted by Hart Research Associates shows Congresswoman April McClain Delaney holding a commanding early advantage in the Democratic primary for Maryland’s 6th Congressional District, leading former Congressman David Trone by 17 points, 50% to 33%, with just 17% undecided.
The poll, conducted December 9–16 among 600 likely Democratic primary voters via landline, cell phone, and text-to-web, is representative of the 6th District Democratic primary electorate and has a margin of error of ±4.1 percentage points. The survey finds that McClain Delaney begins the campaign in a position of significant strength. Two-thirds of voters (66%) rate her performance in office as “excellent” or “good,” and she leads Trone in every county and across every major demographic group in the district.
Just as striking, the survey shows little enthusiasm for David Trone’s attempted comeback. Only 34% of Democratic primary voters say they are favorable toward Trone running again for Congress, while nearly two-thirds are either unfavorable or neutral — underscoring voters’ lack of interest in replacing the district’s current Democratic representative.
Even among voters who hold favorable opinions of both candidates, McClain Delaney maintains a clear advantage, leading 49% to 35%, a key indicator of broad and durable support.
“David Trone should be embarrassed by this clear rebuke from Maryland voters,” said Nick London, Campaign Manager for April McClain Delaney for Congress. “He’s a bored billionaire looking out for himself, while April McClain Delaney is delivering results for families across the 6th District. That’s why she’s endorsed by Governor Wes Moore, Congressman Jamie Raskin, Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, Nancy Pelosi, and the entire Maryland federal delegation, and why she holds a commanding lead. This poll confirms what we’re hearing every day from voters across Montgomery County and Western Maryland: they’re very pleased with April’s leadership and see no reason to replace their current Democratic member of Congress. Trone can try to buy this race with lies trying to tear down a popular sitting Democratic Congresswoman, but voters today and on Election Day want proven leadership, not a self-funded comeback.”
The poll memo concludes that while Trone may attempt to rely on his vast personal wealth to improve his standing, Democratic voters are strongly inclined to keep their current member of Congress, and Congresswoman McClain Delaney is well-positioned to prevail as the campaign continues.
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