Former FBI Official Fired Under Trump Launches Congressional Bid in Maryland

David Sundberg, a former senior FBI official who was dismissed shortly after President Donald Trump began his second term, announced Monday that he is running for Congress in Maryland’s 5th District.

Sundberg is seeking the seat held for more than four decades by Rep. Steny Hoyer, a Democrat who is retiring. The district includes southern Maryland and parts of Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties. Political analysts rate it as a solid Democratic seat in the upcoming midterm elections.

Fired Early in Trump’s Second Term

Sundberg joined the FBI in 2002 and most recently served as assistant director in charge of the bureau’s Washington field office during the Biden administration. In that role, he oversaw roughly 1,600 employees and managed operations across Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia.

He was notified in late January 2025, just days after Trump returned to office, that he would be removed from his position. His dismissal was part of a broader shake-up that saw several top FBI officials pushed out at the start of Trump’s second term.

In announcing his candidacy, Sundberg said he was removed for doing his job and “refusing to allow politics to compromise justice.”

Campaign Framed Around Rule of Law

“I’m running for Congress because I believe in the rule of law, not the rule of one man,” Sundberg said in a statement that appeared to reference Trump.

He highlighted his career in public service, which includes time in the Air Force, work as a local detective and more than two decades at the FBI.

“I’ve spent my career defending our Constitution from threats abroad and at home,” Sundberg said. “Now, I’m ready to take that same fight to Congress to protect our democracy from those who think they are above the law.”

He also accused the White House of “weaponizing the Department of Justice against political opponents” and criticized the administration’s use of National Guard deployments in major cities.

NBC News has reached out to the White House for comment on Sundberg’s remarks.

High-Profile FBI Background

Former FBI Director Christopher Wray appointed Sundberg to lead the Washington field office in December 2022. In that role, Sundberg oversaw major investigations, including the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and the investigation into pipe bombs placed near the Republican and Democratic party headquarters the night before the attack.

Throughout his FBI career, Sundberg also worked on counterterrorism operations, hostage rescue missions and SWAT deployments.

Crowded Democratic Primary

Sundberg enters a competitive Democratic primary. Rep. Hoyer has endorsed Maryland state Del. Adrian Boafo, who previously served as one of Hoyer’s campaign managers.

Other Democratic candidates include former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, health care entrepreneur Quincy Bareebe and emergency services consultant Harry Jarin.

With the district strongly leaning Democratic, the primary contest is expected to play a decisive role in determining who will succeed Hoyer in Congress.

Sundberg’s candidacy adds a high-profile law enforcement figure to the race, positioning him as a candidate focused on constitutional protections and executive oversight as the 2026 midterm elections approach.