Maryland's 4th congressional district wraps around the eastern edge of Washington, D.C., taking in most of Prince George's County and a small portion of Montgomery County. It is home to several racially diverse middle-class suburbs, including College Park, Fort Washington, Greenbelt, and Laurel. With a median household income of $86,941, it is the wealthiest black-majority district in the United States.
Like much of the Washington metropolitan area, the 4th district is substantially influenced by the footprint of the nearby federal government. More than 22% of working adults in this district are employed in the public sector. The Washington Metro provides easy access into the nation's capital, where many employees make daily commutes. Various government entities also sit within the 4th district, most notably the United States Census Bureau, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. The University of Maryland, College Park—the state's flagship public institution of higher education—is another major presence.
Throughout much of the 20th century, the area within this district was predominately white. But as a thriving black middle class emerged in the region and laws eliminating racial discrimination in housing were passed, many African Americans opted to leave Washington for Prince George's County in search of a better quality of life. By the early 1990s, the county had become majority black, and today white voters comprise just 11% of the 4th district. Recently, the district has experienced large amounts of immigration from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras in Central America, leading to the district having the largest Latino population in Maryland and one of the largest Central American populations out of any district. These racial transformations have turned the district into the most Democratic seat in Maryland and one of the most Democratic in the country, with a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+39. In 2022, Democrat Glenn Ivey was elected to represent it with 90.1% of the vote.
Recent election results from statewide races Year Office Results2008 PresidentObama 90% – 10%2012 PresidentObama 92% – 8% SenateCardin 82% – 6%2014 GovernorBrown 86% – 14%2016 PresidentClinton 89% – 7% SenateVan Hollen 88% – 8%2018 SenateCardin 91% – 7% GovernorJealous 73% – 26% Attorney GeneralFrosh 92% – 8%2020 PresidentBiden 89% – 9%2022 SenateVan Hollen 91% – 9% GovernorMoore 89% – 8% ComptrollerLierman 89% – 10% Attorney GeneralBrown 91% – 9%2024 PresidentHarris 85% – 12% SenateAlsobrooks 82% – 17%
Historical boundaries Maryland's fourth congressional district was one of the about 50 original congressional districts. When it was organized in 1788, it covered Baltimore, Baltimore County, and Harford County. According to the 1790 census, the fourth district had a population of 53,913, nearly 20% of whom were slaves.Parsons, Stanley B., William W. Beach and Dan Hermann. United States Congressional Districts, 1788-1841 (Westport: Greenwood Press, 1978) p. 8-9
In 1792, the fourth district was moved to western Maryland, with its eastern boundary being a north to south line running about the midpoint of Frederick County, Maryland. The new district had a population of 36,026, with less than 10% of the population being slaves.Parsons. Congressional Districts. p. 42-43 The 1800 census population was 38,015, and the boundaries remained unchanged in 1802.Parsons. Congressional Districts. p. 93-94
Composition For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST24/CD118_MD04.pdf
Montgomery County (7)
Ashton-Sandy Spring (part; also 8th), Burtonsville, Calverton (part; also 8th; shared with Prince George's County), Cloverly (part; also 8th), Fairland (part; also 8th), Spencerville (part; also 8th), Takoma Park (part; also 8th)
Prince George's County (64)
Accokeek (part; also 5th), Adelphi, Beltsville, Berwyn Heights, Bladensburg, Brentwood, Calverton (part; also 8th; shared with Montgomery County), Camp Springs (part; also 5th), Capitol Heights, Cedar Heights, Cheverly, Chillum, Clinton, College Park, Colmar Manor, Coral Hills, Cottage City, District Heights, East Riverdale, Edmonston, Fairmount Heights, Forestville, Friendly, Glenn Dale (part; also 5th), Fairwood (part; also 5th), Forest Heights, Forestville (part; also 5th) Fort Washington, Glassmanor, Glenarden, Greenbelt, Hillcrest Heights, Hillandale (part; also 8th; shared with Montgomery County), Hyattsville, Konterra, Lake Arbor (part; also 5th), Landover, Landover Hills, Langley Park, Lanham, Laurel, Marlow Heights, Maryland Park, Mitchellville (part; also 5th), Morningside, Mount Rainier, National Harbor, New Carrollton, North Brentwood, Oxon Hill, Peppermill Village, Riverdale Park, Seabrook, Seat Pleasant, Silver Hill, South Laurel, Springdale, Suitland, Summerfield, Temple Hills, University Park, Walker Mill, West Laurel, Woodlawn
Recent elections 1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
List of members representing the district 1789–1835: one seat Name Party Years Congress Electoral historyDistrict created March 4, 1789 William Smith Anti-Administration March 4, 1789 –March 3, 1791 Elected in 1789.Retired. Samuel Sterett Anti-Administration March 4, 1791 –March 3, 1793 Elected in 1790. Thomas Sprigg Anti-Administration March 4, 1793 –March 3, 1795 Elected in 1792.Re-elected in 1794.Retired. Democratic-Republican March 4, 1795 –March 3, 1797 George Baer Jr. Federalist March 4, 1797 –March 3, 1801 Elected in 1796.Re-elected in 1798.Retired. Daniel Hiester Democratic-Republican March 4, 1801 –March 7, 1804 Elected in 1801.Re-elected in 1803.Died.Vacant March 7, 1804 –November 6, 1804 Roger Nelson Democratic-Republican November 6, 1804 –May 14, 1810 Elected October 1, 1804 to finish Hiester's term.Elected the same day to the next term.Re-elected in 1806.Re-elected in 1808.Resigned to become associate justice of Maryland's 5th judicial circuit.Vacant May 14, 1810 –October 15, 1810 Samuel Ringgold Democratic-Republican October 15, 1810 –March 3, 1815 Elected October 1, 1810 to finish Nelson's term.Also elected the same day to the next term.Re-elected in 1812.Lost re-election. George Baer Jr. Federalist March 4, 1815 –March 3, 1817 Elected in 1814.Retired. Samuel Ringgold Democratic-Republican March 4, 1817 –March 3, 1821 Elected in 1816.Retired. John Nelson Democratic-Republican March 4, 1821 –March 3, 1823 Elected in 1820Retired. John Lee Federalist March 4, 1823 –March 3, 1825 Elected in 1822Lost re-election. Thomas C. Worthington Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1825 –March 3, 1827 Elected in 1824Retired. Michael Sprigg Jacksonian March 4, 1827 –March 3, 1831 Elected in 1826Re-elected in 1829Lost re-election. Francis Thomas Jacksonian March 4, 1831 –March 3, 1833 Elected in 1831.Redistricted to the . James P. Heath Jacksonian March 4, 1833 –March 3, 1835 Elected in 1833.
1835–1843: two seats From 1835 to 1843, two seats were apportioned, elected at-large on a general ticket.
Years CongressSeat A Seat B Name Party Electoral history Name Party Electoral history March 4, 1835 –March 3, 1837 Benjamin Chew Howard Jacksonian Elected in 1835.Re-elected in 1837. Isaac McKim Jacksonian Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1835.Died. March 4, 1837 –April 1, 1838 Democratic Democratic April 1, 1838 –April 25, 1838Vacant April 25, 1838 –March 3, 1839 John P. Kennedy Whig Elected to finish McKim's term. March 4, 1839 –March 3, 1841 James Carroll Democratic Elected in 1839. Solomon Hillen Democratic Elected in 1839. March 4, 1841 –March 3, 1843 Alexander Randall Whig Elected in 1841. John P. Kennedy Whig Elected in 1841.
1843–present: one seat