April McClain Delaney

April McClain Delaney
Born	April Lynn McClain 28 5, 1964
Birthplace	Buhl, Idaho, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Lawyer, politician
Title	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 6th congressional district
Known for	U.S. Representative for Maryland's 6th congressional district
Education	Northwestern University (BS) Georgetown University (JD)
Spouse(s)	John Delaney
Children	4
Website	[Official website Official site]

April Lynn McClain Delaney (née McClain; born May 28, 1964) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Maryland's 6th congressional district since January 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, she won election to the seat in November 2024 after defeating Republican former state delegate Neil Parrott in the general election. Prior to her congressional career, McClain Delaney served as the deputy administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) from 2022 to 2023. Born in the rural farming community of Buhl, Idaho, she built a career in law and public policy before entering electoral politics. She is the wife of former U.S. Representative John Delaney, who represented the same 6th congressional district from 2013 to 2019 and later ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. McClain Delaney's path from a potato farm in southern Idaho to the halls of Congress reflects a trajectory shaped by public service, legal advocacy, and civic engagement. Since taking office, she has focused on affordability issues, immigration policy in her district, and voting rights legislation.

Early Life

April Lynn McClain was born on May 28, 1964, in Buhl, Idaho, a small agricultural community in the Magic Valley region of southern Idaho known for its potato farming industry. She grew up on a potato farm, and her upbringing in the agricultural heartland of Idaho shaped her early experiences. The rural community of Buhl, located in Twin Falls County, provided the backdrop for her formative years.

McClain Delaney's roots in a farming family in rural Idaho stood in contrast to the political and legal career she would later build in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Her background became a recurring element of her political narrative when she later ran for Congress, distinguishing her from other candidates in the Maryland political landscape.

Education

McClain Delaney attended Northwestern University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. She subsequently pursued a legal education at Georgetown University Law Center, where she earned her Juris Doctor (JD) degree. Her legal training at Georgetown positioned her for a career in law and public policy in the Washington, D.C., area. The connection to Georgetown Law Center continued in later years; the school's Delaney Post-Graduate Residency Program bears the family name, reflecting the family's engagement with the institution.

Career

Legal and Public Policy Career

After completing her legal education at Georgetown, McClain Delaney built a career in law and public policy. She practiced as an attorney and became involved in various civic and policy initiatives in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and Maryland. Her professional background prior to entering government service and electoral politics encompassed work in the legal field and engagement with public interest issues.

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

In 2022, McClain Delaney was appointed to serve as the deputy administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that advises the president on telecommunications and information policy issues. In this role, she worked on broadband access, digital equity, and related technology policy matters during the Biden administration. She served in the position until 2023, when she departed the agency ahead of her congressional campaign.

2024 Congressional Campaign

Announcement and Primary

In September 2023, reports emerged that McClain Delaney was preparing to seek the Democratic nomination for Maryland's 6th congressional district, the same seat her husband John Delaney had represented from 2013 to 2019. She formally announced her candidacy in October 2023, entering what would become a crowded Democratic primary field. The seat had been held by incumbent David Trone, who vacated it to run for the United States Senate in 2024.

McClain Delaney's campaign was notable for its fundraising strength. By early May 2024, she had raised nearly $2 million, leading the fundraising totals among candidates in the 6th district race. Her fundraising totals drew scrutiny, however, particularly regarding a personal loan she made to her campaign, which became a point of discussion during the primary.

During the primary campaign, McClain Delaney addressed a range of policy issues. In October 2023, as the Israel–Hamas war escalated, she and other 6th district candidates were asked about their positions on the crisis, providing voters with insight into her foreign policy views.

McClain Delaney received notable endorsements during the primary campaign. The Washington Post endorsed her candidacy in May 2024, providing a significant boost in the competitive race. She also received the endorsement of the United Auto Workers.

On May 14, 2024, McClain Delaney won the Democratic primary in Maryland's 6th congressional district, prevailing in the crowded field of candidates.

General Election

Following her primary victory, McClain Delaney advanced to the general election, where she faced Republican nominee Neil Parrott, a former Maryland state delegate who had previously run for the seat. The 6th district, which encompasses western Maryland including Frederick and parts of Montgomery County, had been redrawn following the 2020 census and was considered favorable to Democratic candidates.

McClain Delaney won the general election in November 2024, defeating Parrott and securing the right to represent Maryland's 6th congressional district in the 119th United States Congress.

Tenure in Congress

McClain Delaney was sworn into office on January 3, 2025, succeeding David Trone as the representative for Maryland's 6th congressional district. In her first months in office, she has focused on several policy priorities and taken positions on various legislative and political matters.

Affordability Agenda

In February 2026, McClain Delaney unveiled what she called the "Costs Down, Opportunity Up" affordability agenda, a legislative package aimed at lowering prices, expanding economic opportunity, advancing Medicare for All, building more housing, and ensuring tax fairness. The agenda represented her effort to address cost-of-living concerns among her constituents.

Immigration and ICE Detention

McClain Delaney has been active on immigration-related issues affecting her district. In February 2026, she introduced legislation to block U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from establishing a detention facility in Washington County, Maryland. She subsequently voiced support for a lawsuit filed by Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown to block the proposed ICE detention warehouse in the county.

Voting Rights

In February 2026, McClain Delaney publicly opposed the SAVE Act, legislation proposed by Republican lawmakers, which she characterized as a threat to voting rights. In a statement, she criticized the bill as an effort that could restrict voter access.

State of the Union Boycott

In February 2026, McClain Delaney announced that she would not attend President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, citing what she described as the administration's attacks on Maryland's working families. She instead planned to participate in an alternative event called "The People's State of the Union" on the National Mall. She was joined in the boycott by Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen and other Democratic lawmakers.

Personal Life

April McClain Delaney is married to John Delaney, a businessman and former U.S. representative who represented Maryland's 6th congressional district from 2013 to 2019. John Delaney subsequently ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, during which time April McClain Delaney was profiled by media outlets in Idaho as a potential first lady with roots in the state's agricultural community. The couple has four children.

The Delaneys' connection to Georgetown University Law Center has been maintained through the Delaney Post-Graduate Residency Program at the law school, which supports graduates pursuing careers in public service.

McClain Delaney's election to the 6th district seat in 2024 made her a successor to her husband in representing the same congressional district, though she succeeded David Trone, who held the seat in the intervening years between John Delaney's departure and her election.

Recognition

During her 2024 primary campaign, McClain Delaney received the endorsement of The Washington Post, which backed her candidacy alongside Tom Royals in the Maryland 6th district races. She was also endorsed by the United Auto Workers union, reflecting labor support for her campaign.

Her primary victory was covered by national media outlets including The Hill and NBC News, reflecting the significance of the race as an open-seat contest in a competitive district. The general election matchup against Neil Parrott was tracked by Maryland Matters and other state and regional outlets.

Since taking office, McClain Delaney's legislative activities and political positions have received coverage from both local and national media, including the Frederick News-Post, Maryland Daily Record, WUSA9, and her official congressional communications.