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Kim Klacik Wins Republican Primary for Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District

Kim Klacik has won the Republican nomination for Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District, the Associated Press projects. She is now set to face Johnny Olszewski Jr. the Democratic nominee in the November general election.

Klacik, who gained national attention during her 2020 congressional run with a viral video highlighting struggling Baltimore neighborhoods, filed for her current bid in February.

“I believe in fighting for every American who loves this country,” Klacik states on her website. “Young or elderly, weak or strong, we all make up this great nation. We cannot create a stronger union without prioritizing the needs of our people first. That is why I am running for Maryland’s second district, and I hope to gain your support.”

She is vying to replace the retiring 11-term Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, who has endorsed the Democratic candidate Johnny Olszewski Jr., the current Baltimore County executive. Olszewski is the projected winner of the Democratic primary, setting up a general election contest between him and Klacik.

The two candidates have already traded barbs on issues like student loan forgiveness in a preview of the campaign to come.

Klacik has raised approximately $37,000 for her run and spent around $28,000 so far, according to the latest campaign finance reports.

If elected in November, the Republican upstart would capture a U.S. House seat Democrats have held for decades in the Baltimore-area 2nd District.