Adrian Boafo

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Background

Boafo was born in Arlington, Virginia on May 10, 1994. [1] His parents were immigrants from Ghana who migrated to the United States after the country's democratic political systems collapsed. [2]

Boafo graduated from DeMatha Catholic High School in 2012. He later attended the University of Baltimore, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in government and public policy in 2016, and American University, where he received a Master of Business Administration degree in 2019. After graduating, Boafo worked as a national press assistant for U.S. Representative Ruben Kihuen. He later served as the campaign manager for House Majority leader Steny Hoyer from 2018 to 2021. [1] [3]

Political career

Bowie mayor pro-tempore

Boafo filed to run for District 3 of the Bowie city council on May 8, 2019, challenging incumbent council member Darian Senn-Carter. [4] Boafo won election to the Bowie city council on November 6, 2019, with 34.8 percent of the vote. [5] Soon after, the council selected him to serve as the city's youngest mayor pro tempore, succeeding at-large council member Henri Gardner. [6] While working for the Bowie city council, Boafo also worked as a federal lobbyist for the Oracle Corporation. [7]

Development initiatives

In May 2020, Boafo voted to stop construction and cancel the city's contract to build a new ice rink, instead opting to build an indoor courts facility. [8] In July 2020, Boafo voted against cancelling public-private partnership proposals to repair and operate Bowie's city-operated ice rink. After the city council voted to reject the proposals, it created a task force for the amenity. [9] The task force unveiled its recommendations on January 19, 2021. [10]

In January 2021, Boafo voted against a bill to support a preliminary plan for the Bowie's Mill Branch Crossing development. [11]

In June 2021, Boafo introduced a bill to provide city residents with a rebate of up to $50 to install a new water filtration system. The City Council unanimously voted to pass the initiative. [12] Later that month, the United States House Committee on Appropriations' Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee approved a $2 million request from the city to replace one mile of a tuberculated cast iron water main. [13]

Social issues

In 2019, Boafo included a budget line item in the city's budget to reimburse Bowie residents for installing outdoor cameras. In November 2020, Boafo and the Bowie Police Department launched a program to provide rebates up to $50 for residents who purchase and install a home security camera. [14]

In June 2020, Boafo attended a vigil to honor George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor at Allen Pond Park in Bowie. [15]

Statewide politics

In 2022, Boafo issued a statement asking for a correction from Bowie mayor Tim Adams after he included Boafo on his list of endorsements in the 2022 Maryland Comptroller election, saying that despite having a "great working relationship with Mayor Adams, there was no communication or confirmation in advance of the endorsement." [16] Boafo later endorsed state delegate Brooke Lierman for Comptroller of Maryland. [17] He also endorsed author and former nonprofit CEO Wes Moore for Governor of Maryland. [18]

Maryland House of Delegates

Boafo in the House Economic Matters Committee, 2025 Bill Hearing HB577 - 2 12 2025 (54324085430) (cropped).jpg
Boafo in the House Economic Matters Committee, 2025

Boafo announced he would run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 23 on February 25, 2022. His campaign was endorsed by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. [7] He won the Democratic primary on July 19, 2022, placing second with 14.4 percent of the vote. [19]

Boafo was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 11, 2023. He has served as a member of the Economic Matters Committee since 2023. [20] He was a delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention, pledged to Kamala Harris. [21]

In September 2024, Boafo established his own federal political action committee, GenBlue PAC, to endorse progressive candidates running for Congress. [2]

2026 congressional campaign

On January 12, 2026, Boafo announced that he would run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Maryland's 5th congressional district, seeking to succeed Steny Hoyer, who is retiring. [22]

Political positions

Immigration

During the 2026 legislative session, Boafo introduced a bill that would prohibit United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers hired during the second Trump administration from applying to become Maryland law enforcement officers in the future. [23]

Israel

In October 2024, on the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks, Boafo wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post in which he expressed support for the Jewish community and the Black-Jewish alliance. During the 2025 legislative session, Boafo introduced legislation to ban "masked intimidation", citing the use of face coverings among anti-Israel protesters to obscure their identity and cause disturbances. [24]

Minimum wage

During the 2026 legislative session, Boafo introduced a bill to raise the minimum wage of Maryland from $15 to $25 an hour and eliminate all subminimum wages. [25]

Redistricting

In August 2025, amid Republican efforts to redraw Texas's congressional districts to gain five congressional seats in the 2026 United States House of Representatives elections, Boafo supported redrawing Maryland's congressional districts to make Maryland's 1st congressional district more favorable to Democrats. [26]

Personal life

Boafo is a devout Catholic. [27]

Electoral history

Adrian Boafo
Adrian Boafo Feb2023.jpg
Boafo in 2023
Member of the MarylandHouseofDelegates
from the 23rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 11, 2023
Bowie City Council District 3 election, 2019 [28]
CandidateVotes%
Adrian Boafo71334.8
Mike Byrd66032.2
David Grogan33116.2
Darian Senn-Carter (incumbent)1939.4
Kevin Motley1487.2
Write-in 20.1
Maryland House of Delegates District 23 Democratic primary election, 2022 [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Marvin E. Holmes, Jr. (incumbent) 10,382 16.2
Democratic Adrian Boafo 9,237 14.4
Democratic Kym Taylor 8,957 14.0
Democratic Jocelyn Irene Collins8,93813.9
Democratic Monica Roebuck7,60911.9
Democratic Keenon James6,1049.5
Democratic Remi Duyile3,8886.1
Democratic Januari McKay3,7845.9
Democratic Valeria Tomlin2,6304.1
Democratic Jacqui Steele-McCall2,5754.0
Maryland House of Delegates District 23 election, 2022 [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Marvin E. Holmes Jr. 36,506 33.89
Democratic Kym Taylor 36,399 33.80
Democratic Adrian Boafo 33,843 31.42
Write-in 9570.89

References

  1. 1 2 "Members – Delegate Adrian Boafo". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Ford, William J.; Kurtz, Josh (September 5, 2024). "Muñoz quits House, Huntley steps up to council, Boafo launches federal PAC, more moves". Maryland Matters. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  3. ↑ Pacella, Rachael (November 14, 2019). "Economic development, tech will be focus for incoming Bowie council". Capital Gazette . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  4. ↑ Pacella, Rachael (May 8, 2019). "First candidates file for election in Bowie". Capital Gazette . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  5. ↑ Pacella, Rachael (November 6, 2019). "Bowie to have new leadership in first black mayor, women return to the council". Capital Gazette . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  6. ↑ Alfaro, Carlos (November 22, 2019). "Bowie swears in first African American mayor". PG Sentinel. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Gaines, Danielle; Kurtz, Josh (February 25, 2022). "Political Notes: Delegate Seeks Apology, Drama in District 23, a New Hoyer Foe, Harden's National Security Play, and More". Maryland Matters . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  8. ↑ Pacella, Rachael (May 20, 2020). "Bowie City Council cancels new ice arena to instead build indoor basketball courts". Capital Gazette . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  9. ↑ Pacella, Rachael (July 8, 2020). "Bowie council rejects public-private proposals, creates ice rink task force". Capital Gazette . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  10. ↑ Conaway, Donovan (January 19, 2021). "Bowie Ice Arena Task Force unveils Ice Arena recommendations, includes HVAC renovation and a second sheet of ice". Capital Gazette . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  11. ↑ Conaway, Donovan (January 5, 2021). "After hours of discussion, Bowie council doesn't support or reject preliminary plan for hotel, multifamily development off U.S. 301". Capital Gazette . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  12. ↑ Conaway, Donovan (June 9, 2021). "Bowie council passes water rebate initiative; city offers $100 city employee COVID vaccine incentive". Capital Gazette . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  13. ↑ Conaway, Donovan (June 30, 2021). "Bowie's $2 million request to replace corroded cast iron water main approved by House subcommittee". Capital Gazette . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  14. ↑ Conaway, Donovan (November 25, 2020). "Bowie police announce security camera rebate program". Capital Gazette . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  15. ↑ Pacella, Rachael (June 6, 2020). "Bowie holds vigil for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery". Capital Gazette . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  16. ↑ Leckrone, Bennett (March 17, 2022). "In Rocky Release, Adams Announces Endorsements in Comptroller Race". Maryland Matters . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  17. ↑ Gaines, Danielle (June 1, 2022). "Adams, Lierman Describe Visions for Comptroller's Office at Tuesday Evening Forum". Maryland Matters . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  18. ↑ Byrne, Deirdre; Hockaday, Natalie; Miller, Larry (March 5, 2022). "Prince George's County Executive makes surprise gubernatorial endorsement for Wes Moore". WUSA-TV . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  19. 1 2 "2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. July 19, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Adrian A. Boafo, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. January 26, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  21. ↑ Kurtz, Josh (July 22, 2024). "Meet the Maryland delegates to the Democratic National Convention". Maryland Matters . Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  22. ↑ Pusatory, Matt (January 12, 2026). "Prince George's County Del. Adrian Boafo is running for Congress". WUSA (TV) . Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  23. ↑ Dickstein, Ryan (January 7, 2026). "Delegate proposes barring Trump hired ICE agents from ever becoming Maryland police officers". WMAR-TV . Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  24. ↑ Deutch, Gabby (February 16, 2025). "Black and Jewish legislators team up on anti-masking legislation in Maryland". Jewish Insider . Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  25. ↑ Pencek, Matthew (January 19, 2026). "Maryland Democrats to unveil $25 minimum wage bill at Annapolis rally". WRDE-LD . Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  26. ↑ Janesch, Sam (August 5, 2025). "Maryland Democrats ready for gerrymandering fight, may target GOP Rep. Andy Harris' district". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  27. ↑ Boafo, Adrian [@adrianboafo]; (March 31, 2023). "I'm a devout Catholic..." Retrieved June 29, 2025– via Instagram.
  28. ↑ "City of Bowie Unofficial Election Results 2019". cityofbowie.org. Bowie, Maryland. November 6, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  29. ↑ "2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. December 7, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
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