Hollywood, Md. — Brian Jordan, a Naval veteran, small business owner, inventor and father of four from Southern Maryland, announced his independent candidacy for Maryland’s 5th Congressional District on September 16, 2025, with a community kickoff party set for October 9 at Port of Leonardtown Winery.
The event, starting at 6:30 p.m., offers free admission to the public and includes food, live music and entertainment. Attendees can meet Jordan, learn about his plans for the district and network with neighbors. To RSVP, email events@brianjordanforcongress.com or call 240-925-4341. Donations to the campaign are accepted at www.tinyurl.com/brianjordanforcongress or www.brianjordanforcongress.com.
Jordan’s launch signals his push to inject fresh perspectives into representation for the district, which spans all of Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties — the core of Southern Maryland — plus parts of Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties. The area, home to about 790,000 residents, blends rural waterfront communities with growing suburbs near Washington, D.C., and relies on sectors like agriculture, maritime trade and federal jobs at bases such as Naval Air Station Patuxent River.
As an independent, Jordan positions his run against entrenched party dynamics, aiming to prioritize constituent needs over partisan divides. His campaign website outlines a focus on bolstering small businesses through tax relief, easier access to capital and fewer regulatory hurdles, steps he views as essential to fortifying the local economy. “I’m not tied to party agendas — I’m focused on listening to our communities and delivering real solutions,” Jordan said in a statement released with the announcement.
The kickoff comes amid early positioning for the 2026 election cycle, where the general election is slated for November 3. Incumbent Democrat Steny Hoyer, who has held the seat since 1981 and won re-election in 2024 with 67.8% of the vote, has filed to run again. Other declared candidates include Democrat Quincy Bareebe, Republican Harry Jarin and Republican Michelle Talkington, who advanced from the 2024 Republican primary but lost the general. As of September 16, Jordan does not appear on the Maryland State Board of Elections’ preliminary 2026 candidate list, which requires formal filing by February 24, 2026. Independents in Maryland must gather 2,000 signatures from registered voters in the district to secure ballot access, a process that typically ramps up after announcements like this one. Independents or otherwise unaffiliated must gather 10,000 signatures for statewide office, and 1% of eligible voters for all of the offices in that particular District. Based on the MD State Board of Elections voter rolls from January 2025, Maryland’s 5th District has 616,766 eligible voters. Meaning Mr. Jordan would need approximately. 6,168 signatures to make the primary ballot.(Corrected 10/2/2025)
Jordan’s military service in the Navy underscores his emphasis on accountability in government, a theme he ties to local challenges. He points to underfunded schools, crumbling roads and struggling enterprises as symptoms of a system that overlooks everyday residents. “I believe the current system is not working for everyone,” Jordan said. “From schools that are not fully funded to roads in need of repair, from small businesses that are struggling to neighbors who feel unheard, I want to bring solutions that reflect the needs of the people. Instead of accepting ‘how it’s always been,’ I want to build a better future for our communities and strive for unity in this country.”
In Southern Maryland, where infrastructure strains from population growth and tourism, such priorities resonate. The district’s roads, including stretches of U.S. Route 4 and Maryland Route 5, handle heavy traffic to and from the capital, with repair backlogs estimated in the millions by state transportation reports. Calvert County alone saw a 15% rise in school enrollment over the past decade, stretching resources in districts like those in Prince Frederick and Lusby. Jordan’s platform echoes broader calls for federal investment, though he avoids aligning with specific bills pending in Congress.
His background as a small business owner and inventor adds a practical lens to these issues. Jordan has advocated for community events like National Night Out, which promotes neighborhood safety and bridges gaps between residents and law enforcement — initiatives that have gained traction in St. Mary’s County towns such as Leonardtown and Lexington Park. These gatherings, held annually in August, drew thousands across the district last year, highlighting Jordan’s hands-on approach to engagement.
The 5th District’s political landscape leans heavily Democratic, with a Cook Partisan Voter Index rating of D+17 as of 2025, based on recent presidential voting patterns. In the 2024 presidential election, Democrat Kamala Harris carried the district by a margin reflecting that tilt, continuing a trend since redistricting in 2022 preserved its boundaries. Hoyer, now 86, has long championed federal funding for Patuxent River naval operations, which employ over 20,000 people and drive 25% of St. Mary’s County’s economy. Yet voter frustration with national gridlock has spurred independent challengers in past cycles, though none have broken through here.
Jordan’s independent status sets him apart in a field dominated by party loyalists. Maryland law allows unaffiliated candidates to participate in the June 23, 2026, primary if they choose, but most opt for the general ballot via petition. His campaign launch at Port of Leonardtown Winery, a fixture in the district’s agritourism scene since opening in 2015, nods to Southern Maryland’s wine trail, which spans 20 vineyards and attracts 100,000 visitors yearly. The venue, in a restored 18th-century tobacco barn, symbolizes the region’s shift from farming to diversified enterprises — a transition Jordan seeks to accelerate.
For residents in Hollywood, a St. Mary’s County hamlet of 4,300 known for its proximity to the winery and Chesapeake Ranch Estates, the event offers a low-key entry into the race. Hollywood’s community center has hosted similar political meetups, but Jordan’s free-admission model broadens access beyond traditional fundraisers. Contributions, while optional, will fund outreach in a district where media buys and door-knocking prove crucial, given its 500-square-mile sprawl.
As the campaign unfolds, Jordan plans town halls across the district, starting in Charles County’s Waldorf and Calvert’s Prince Frederick, to refine his agenda. His inventor credentials — though specifics remain private — suggest innovative fixes for issues like broadband gaps in rural St. Mary’s, where 15% of households lack high-speed access despite federal pushes under the 2021 Infrastructure Act.
Maryland’s 5th District traces its roots to 1789, initially covering Eastern Shore counties before evolving post-Civil War to include Southern Maryland’s tobacco belt. The area’s economy pivoted after World War II with the navy’s expansion at Pax River, making it a federal stronghold. Hoyer’s tenure has secured billions for that base, but debates persist over environmental impacts from testing and development pressures on the Patuxent River watershed.
Jordan’s entry revives questions about third-party viability in a polarized era. Independents nationwide captured 1.7% of House votes in 2024, per Federal Election Commission data, but local races like this one test grassroots momentum. His focus on unity aligns with surveys showing 43% of Maryland voters identifying as independent in 2025 polls by the University of Maryland.
The October 9 kickoff not only marks Jordan’s formal start but also previews a race that could spotlight Southern Maryland’s push for equitable growth. With filings months away, his independent voice adds a layer to the conversation in a district where representation has remained steady for over four decades.