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Military Vet Says She’ll Challenge Brown in Congressional Primary

Here are two things that have been known about U.S. Rep. Anthony G. Brown since he entered the political arena in 1998: He’s a lawyer with degrees from Harvard University and he’s served in the military.

On Sunday, Brown got a Democratic primary challenger who’s a lawyer with a degree from Harvard University and has served in the military.

Shelia Bryant, an attorney who rose to the rank of colonel in the Marine Corps Reserves, held a campaign event at the Mad Cow Grill in Laurel Sunday evening, announcing her plans to seek the 4th District seat, which takes in most of Prince George’s County and a sliver of Anne Arundel County. Brown has held the seat since 2017.

“I want to use my voice to speak out on criminal justice reform, affordable housing, healthcare and many other progressive issues to ensure that Maryland’s 4th congressional district has real representation – not just a warm body – in Washington,” Bryant said in a statement.

Bryant earned the Bronze Star for her work in Iraq, where she served as inspector general to the Iraqi Interior Ministry. Bryant raised two children as a single mother after her first husband died young and earned a Master’s degree from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She lives in Upper Marlboro.

In her statement, Bryant said she feels as if she is running for a “vacant” seat, because she believes Brown hasn’t been aggressive enough challenging the Trump administration.

“Anthony Brown doesn’t understand the tremendous urgency of now,” Bryant said. “Our president is out of control, our country is not dealing with our problems, and we need leadership that is ready to speak up, speak out and make a difference, not just show up to vote and call it a week. The country is falling apart, and Anthony Brown is treating Congress like it’s his nine-to-five, all while hoping he can use this as a stepping stone for the governorship. Congress is not a day job – it’s a calling, and that’s why I’m running for this seat.”

Brown, the 2014 Democratic nominee for governor, told Maryland Matters last month he has not ruled out seeking the job again in 2022.

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Military Vet Says She’ll Challenge Brown in Congressional Primary