WASHINGTON — Veteran U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn announced Friday he will run for Congress in Maryland. Dunn resigned from his position with USCP after 15 years this past December.
Dunn announced he will be running in Maryland's 3rd District, for the Congressional seat being vacated by the retiring Rep. John Sarbanes. The 3rd District includes all of Howard County, Annapolis and parts of Anne Arundel and Carroll Counties.
Dunn was one of the officers who defended the United States Capitol from insurrectionists on January 6, 2021. He has been an outspoken advocate for justice against those who participated in the Capitol Riot. He was one of four officers who later testified before the bipartisan January 6 Select Committee.
“On January 6th, 2021, I did my duty as a police officer and as an American and defended our nation’s Capitol from violent insurrectionists. Today, I’m running for Congress because the forces that spurred that violent attack are still at work and as a patriotic American, it is my duty to defend our democracy,” said Harry Dunn. “I was raised here in Maryland, where my parents taught me the values of duty, honor, and community. My family taught me that doing the right thing is a way of life and that’s why I’m focused on protecting Marylanders and delivering on the issues that matter most to them. This election our democracy, our freedoms, and our sacred American values are on the line, and I’m determined to defend them in Congress.”
Dunn refers to what happened on January 6, 2021, as a frightening wake-up call for democracy. He was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal for his actions during the Capitol Riot by President Joe Biden. The award is the second-highest a civilian can get and is given to "U.S. citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.”
Two years after the attack at the Capitol, Dunn said he was not interested in medals or awards.
"I would trade them all for that day to never happen again. I would trade them all for the people responsible to be held accountable," Dunn said.
He documented his experiences with a New York Times best-selling book; Standing My Ground: A Capitol Police Officer's Fight for Accountability and Good Trouble after January 6th.
Outside of his history with Capitol Police, Dunn is the son of a United States Air Force veteran and former insurance claims analyst. He was born and raised in Prince George's County, alongside his brother and four sisters.
Dunn graduated from James Madison University in 2005 with a B.S. degree in Health Science with a concentration in public health education. He later joined the U.S. Capitol Police in 2008. He is also a former JMU athlete and father to his daughter Daphne.
Seven other candidates have already declared their intention to run for the Democratic nomination in Maryland's 3rd District. The primary election is on May 15th.
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