State

House of Delegates, District 5

Vote for: 3
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 6
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A delegate votes on Maryland laws and the state budget in the Maryland House of Delegates.

Candidates Compare by issue

Dayana Bergman

Democratic

Registered behavioral technician · Sykesville

The gist

Supports expanding access to quality health care.
Supports strengthening public education.
Pledges to make Maryland more affordable.

More about Dayana

View sources (1)

Supports expanding access to quality health care.
About | Dayana Bergman For Maryland
Campaign website · Friends of Dayana Bergman · dayanabergman.com
“expand access to quality healthcare”
Supports strengthening public education.
About | Dayana Bergman For Maryland
Campaign website · Friends of Dayana Bergman · dayanabergman.com
“strengthen public education”
Pledges to make Maryland more affordable.
About | Dayana Bergman For Maryland
Campaign website · Friends of Dayana Bergman · dayanabergman.com
“Dayana will work to make Maryland more affordable”

Alison Rudolph

Democratic

Adjunct English faculty; former bookstore co-owner · Westminster

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Alison

Courtney Alexa Welch

Democratic

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Courtney

Steve Whisler

Republican

Carroll County Board of Education president · Carroll County

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Steve

April R. Rose

RepublicanIncumbent

Senior technical recruiter · Westminster

The gist

Supports balancing the budget by cutting spending, not raising taxes.
Supports gun ownership rights.
Supports enforcing existing criminal laws over creating new ones.
Supports school choice and classroom-focused school spending.
Supports tax incentives and less regulation for farmers, small businesses.
Sponsored bill prohibiting lab-grown meat.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about April

View sources (2)

Supports balancing the budget by cutting spending, not raising taxes.
Priorities – April Rose for Delegate
Campaign website · April Rose for Delegate · delegateaprilrose.com
“Balancing the budget through less spending (not more taxes)”
Supports gun ownership rights.
Priorities – April Rose for Delegate
Campaign website · April Rose for Delegate · delegateaprilrose.com
“Defending the constitutional right to bear arms”
Supports enforcing existing criminal laws over creating new ones.
Priorities – April Rose for Delegate
Campaign website · April Rose for Delegate · delegateaprilrose.com
“Reducing crime by enforcing existing laws, not creating new laws that infringe on our liberties”
Supports school choice and classroom-focused school spending.
Priorities – April Rose for Delegate
Campaign website · April Rose for Delegate · delegateaprilrose.com
“Directing public school resources to the classroom and promoting school choice”
Supports tax incentives and less regulation for farmers, small businesses.
Priorities – April Rose for Delegate
Campaign website · April Rose for Delegate · delegateaprilrose.com
“Stopping overregulation on our farmers & small businesses … Creating tax incentives for farmers & local businesses to grow jobs in our communities”
Sponsored bill prohibiting lab-grown meat.
Delegate April Rose: member page (biography and 2026 legislation)
Government record · Maryland General Assembly · mgaleg.maryland.gov
“Lab-Grown Meat - Prohibition”

Chris Tomlinson

RepublicanIncumbent

Maryland Transit Administration contracts manager · Melrose (Carroll County)

The gist

Sponsored bills on municipal election transparency and small-business state contracts.
Sponsored bill on heroin or fentanyl distribution causing death.In office
Sponsored bill on school investigation and discipline of student fights.In office
Sponsored landowner notice requirements for transmission line projects.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Chris

View sources (2)

Sponsored bills on municipal election transparency and small-business state contracts.
About | Chris Tomlinson for State Delegate
Campaign website · Friends of Christopher Tomlinson · tomlinsonfordelegate.com
“I've had success with passing bills that increase transparency in municipal elections and bills that help small businesses with getting State contracts”
Sponsored bill on heroin or fentanyl distribution causing death.
Delegate Chris Tomlinson: member page (biography and 2026 legislation)
Government record · Maryland General Assembly · mgaleg.maryland.gov
“Criminal Law - Distribution of Heroin or Fentanyl Causing Death or Serious Bodily Injury (Victoria, Scottie, Ashleigh, and Yader's Law)”
Sponsored bill on school investigation and discipline of student fights.
Delegate Chris Tomlinson: member page (biography and 2026 legislation)
Government record · Maryland General Assembly · mgaleg.maryland.gov
“Public Schools - Student Fights - School Investigation and Discipline”
Sponsored landowner notice requirements for transmission line projects.
Delegate Chris Tomlinson: member page (biography and 2026 legislation)
Government record · Maryland General Assembly · mgaleg.maryland.gov
“Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity and Transmission Lines - Notice to Landowners”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 8 issues covered in this race.