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U.S. Representative · Congressional District 1 · Maryland · 2026 Primary
A U.S. Representative serves as your district's voice in Congress, where they vote on federal laws, national budgets, and policies that impact daily life. They are responsible for securing federal funding for local infrastructure and helping residents resolve issues with federal agencies, such as the Social Security Administration or the Department of Veterans Affairs. This office matters because it ensures your community’s specific needs and priorities are represented in the national government.
View all candidates in this raceGeorge M. Walish Jr. is a Democratic candidate for Maryland's First Congressional District seeking to unseat Republican incumbent Rep. Andy Harris in the 2026 election. He has lived on Maryland's Eastern Shore full time for nearly 30 years, owning homes in Chestertown, St. Michaels, Oxford, and Earleville, where he restored his family's summer cottage across from Turkey Point at the mouth of the Elk River. Born into a working-class neighborhood outside Philadelphia, Walish paid his way through college as a union laborer, carpenter, and sheet metal worker before graduating with honors from Biscayne College in Miami (now St. Thomas University) with a business degree. His career included teaching high school social studies and coaching sports in Florida, followed by 30 years as a senior executive at BMW of North America, Xerox Corporation, and Chrysler, where he became one of the company's youngest senior executives in North America. He was elected town commissioner in St. Michaels and founded the St. Michaels Concours d'Elegance classic car show that raised nearly $500,000 for area nonprofits including the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.
Sources: Campaign website
"I have lived on Maryland's Eastern Shore full time for nearly 30 years... My appreciation for the unspoiled natural beauty and the wonderful people who make up this special place has never been stronger. But, something is missing… Have you ever asked yourself 'What is my representative in Congress doing for me?' If you live in Maryland's First Congressional District, the answer is 'Little to nothing.' It's as if we have no representative at all. We deserve better!"
"I believe we can do better for our working families, for the health of the Chesapeake Bay, and for the small towns and rural communities that make this district special... I'm running to bring open, honest, and accountable leadership to Washington, and to make sure the voices of Eastern Shore and upper Baltimore County residents are heard."
"My focus will be on the health of the Chesapeake Bay, programs that support watermen and farmers, the creation of clean jobs, and listening to the needs of my constituents."
"Vote the person, George Walish, not the party."
Source: walishforcongress.org
Environment
Chesapeake Bay health and environmental stewardship
“"My focus will be on the health of the Chesapeake Bay, programs that support watermen and farmers, the creation of clean jobs, and listening to the needs of my constituents."”
Agriculture
Support for farmers and watermen working in the district
“"I believe we can do better for our working families... programs that support watermen and farmers, the creation of clean jobs."”
Economic Development
Creating clean-energy jobs and supporting working families
“"I believe we can do better for our working families... and for the small towns and rural communities that make this district special."”
Government Ethics
Open, honest, and accountable leadership in Washington
“"I'm running to bring open, honest, and accountable leadership to Washington, and to make sure the voices of Eastern Shore and upper Baltimore County residents are heard."”
The Daily Record reports that Democrats are hoping to beat long-term incumbent Andy Harris in Maryland's First Congressional District in the 2026 election. MyEasternShoreMD.com notes that Walish is an Eastern Shore executive launching his campaign to challenge Andy Harris, though the article content was truncated and did not provide additional details about his record or endorsements.
“"My focus will be on the health of the Chesapeake Bay, programs that support watermen and farmers"”
Source“"programs that support watermen and farmers"”
Source“"the creation of clean jobs, and listening to the needs of my constituents"”
Source“"I'm running to bring open, honest, and accountable leadership to Washington"”
Source