From Cop to Candidate: Ex-Capitol Police Harry Dunn Runs for Capitol Hill

Nearly three years ago, Harry Dunn was a Capitol Police officer who came face to face with a violent mob of supporters of former President Donald Trump. Now retired, he wished to serve his Maryland constituents by vying for a House seat in his former workplace.

On the eve of the January 6, 2021, Capitol Hill attack anniversary, Dunn launched a campaign in Maryland's 3rd congressional district, joining a crowded Democratic primary to replace Democrat representative John Sarbanes.

(Photo : ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

From Cop to Catalyst

The 15-year veteran of the US Capitol Police has since shared his story about how he was physically attacked by and even received racial slurs from the mob.

Since the incident, he admitted that it was difficult to put on his police uniform due to the trauma he received that day. However, his experience also served as one of his biggest motivators when he weighed whether to run for Congress, which prompted him to resign from the force on December 17.

Dunn has since delivered an emotional testimony at the House committee on the mob attack and has been often outspoken about the experience he and other officers had on that day. He also participated in several congressional hearings and even wrote a book late last year pushing for accountability, NBC News reported.

Dunn also observed and testified in multiple court hearings regarding the Capitol Hill attack since then, including Trump's first court appearance last summer.

Candidacy in a Crowded Ticket

Before even being able to contend for a congressional seat, Dunn would have to best other candidates in an already crowded Democratic primary to represent the district, which is located south of Baltimore.

While he respected his fellow Democrat candidates and their expertise, Dunn insisted that he was the "best person for the job" due to his time as a Capitol Police officer. When asked on which issues to focus on in his campaign, Dunn said that he pointed to road infrastructure to and from Baltimore, as well as mental health and crime. He would also move to the third district of Maryland if he gets elected.

Whoever wins the Democratic primary would be favored to win by November, as Sarbanes won his final term in 2022 by 20 percentage points. The district was also constantly blue as President Joe Biden won there by 26 points in 2020, according to calculations from Daily Kos Elections.