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Candidates › MD-05 race › 2025–2026
Brian Stephen Jordan
IndependentU.S. House, MD-05Maryland
Has not served in Congress
- General election
- Tuesday, November 3, 2026 · filing with the FEC is not a place on the ballot
- Where to vote
- Find your polling place (opens in a new tab) · More ways to vote
- Top priorities
- Campaign Issues
- Lower Taxes Less Red Tape
- Important Issues for Maryland Congressional Candidate 2026.
- Lower Taxes Less Red Tape
- Here's what party-first politics looks like in practice
- Money
- $0 raised, $0 spent, $0 cash on hand. Where it comes from
14 priorities from brianjordanforcongress.com, in the order they are listed there. Every heading and the text under it is copied exactly, as one passage for each page it is from, and links to that place on the page; hover a source to see which passage it opens.
The Case for Lower Taxes and Less Red Tape: A Small Business Owner's Perspective ↗ (opens brianjordanforcongress.com/lower-taxes-less-red-tape at this heading)
Before I ever thought about running for Congress, I knew what it meant to meet a payroll, fill out permit paperwork at midnight, and wonder whether this quarter's tax bill would eat into the raise I wanted to give an employee. That's not a talking point — it's Tuesday for thousands of small business owners across Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary's County.
I'm running for Congress because I believe Washington has lost sight of what it actually takes to build something in this country. Too many policies coming out of the Capitol are written by people who have never had to choose between hiring a new employee and covering a compliance fee. Southern Maryland deserves a representative who has lived that choice — and who will fight to make it easier, not harder.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · brianjordanforcongress.com/lower-taxes-less-red-tape
Heading as listed on brianjordanforcongress.com ↗ (opens brianjordanforcongress.com at this heading)
Veterans - All veterans should want, need, and deserve VA benefits after sacrificing for our country.
Education - My goal is to establish mechanisms for funding for all college students in the district, and improve K-12 education.
Expand Affordable Healthcare and Care Access - Support expanding community health centers and mobile clinics to increase preventive care access in underserved areas of the district.
Homelessness and Affordable Housing - Advocate for increased funding for low-income housing tax credits and partnerships with nonprofits to expand transitional and permanent supportive housing.
Economic Diversification and Growth - Champion small business grants and technical support programs to grow local entrepreneurship, particularly in technology, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing.
Infrastructure and Commutes - Secure federal and state funds to improve local roads and public transit connections, reducing commute times and expanding job access.
Environmental and Public Health - Support clean water initiatives and green infrastructure projects to reduce flooding, improve air quality, and protect the Chesapeake Bay.
TELL CANDIDATE BRIAN JORDAN KNOW WHAT CONCERNS YOU HAVE FOR MARYLAND'S 5TH DISTRICT...
LET BRIAN BRING YOUR CONCERNS TO WASHINGTON!
What is the central theme of Brian Jordan's campaign platform?
The central focus of the campaign is on people over politics, with an emphasis on listening to communities, providing fresh energy, and delivering real solutions as an Independent voice, rather than adhering to a specific party agenda.
What is his stance on economic issues and small businesses?
As a small business owner, Brian Jordan's platform is generally focused on fostering a supportive economic environment, which often involves advocating for policies that reduce financial burdens on local businesses and promoting fiscal responsibility.
What are his priorities regarding military and veterans' affairs?
As a Naval veteran, he is committed to supporting those who have served. Platform points typically include ensuring veterans receive the healthcare and benefits they have earned, and advocating for a strong, responsible national defense.
How does he plan to address the cost of living and district accountability?
His campaign is built on the promise of bringing greater accountability to local government and delivering solutions to improve the daily lives of residents, which would include addressing high costs of living and economic opportunity in the 5th District.
See the world as you want it to be and VOTE Brian Jordan to make it that way.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · brianjordanforcongress.com/issues
When a small business owner keeps more of what they earn, that money doesn't disappear into a savings account somewhere. It goes back into the community. It becomes a new hire at the hardware store in Mechanicsville. It's a raise for the crew at a family-owned restaurant in Hollywood. It's new equipment that lets a contractor in Lexington Park take on bigger jobs and bring on an apprentice.
Lower taxes for small businesses aren't a gift to the wealthy — they're fuel for the local economy. Southern Maryland is a region built on small, family-run enterprises: contractors, marinas, pest control companies, HVAC crews, boutique shops, and restaurants. These businesses don't have armies of accountants or lobbyists. Every percentage point of tax burden lands directly on their ability to grow and to pay their people well.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · brianjordanforcongress.com/lower-taxes-less-red-tape
I want to be clear: this isn't an argument against reasonable rules that keep workers safe or protect consumers. It's an argument against the layers of duplicative, outdated, and often contradictory regulation that force small business owners to spend more time on paperwork than on the work itself.
I've talked to business owners across this district who can tell you exactly how many weeks it took to get a simple permit approved, or how many different agencies they had to satisfy just to open their doors. That's time not spent serving customers, training employees, or growing a business — and it's often the smallest operations that get hit the hardest, because they don't have a compliance department to absorb the cost. Overregulation doesn't punish big corporations who can afford teams of lawyers. It punishes the plumber trying to hire a second truck and the small manufacturer trying to expand.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · brianjordanforcongress.com/lower-taxes-less-red-tape
Heading as listed on brianjordanforcongress.com ↗ (opens brianjordanforcongress.com at this heading)
a bill comes to the floor that would genuinely help working families in our district, but leadership decides it's bad "optics" for the other side to get credit, so it dies. Or a representative privately agrees a policy makes sense for their constituents, but votes against it anyway because crossing party lines could cost them a committee assignment or draw a primary challenger.
That's not representation. That's loyalty to an institution that has very little to do with the people back home.
Southern Maryland is not a uniform place. We have small business owners who want lower taxes and less regulation. We have military families connected to NAS Patuxent River who care deeply about national security funding. We have working parents who want strong public schools. We have watermen and landowners who care about the health of the Chesapeake Bay. None of those priorities belongs exclusively to one party — and none of them should be held hostage to party politics.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · brianjordanforcongress.com/what-it-means-to-represent-people-not-a-party
As an Independent, I don't answer to a party leadership structure in Washington. I don't have to vote a certain way to protect a committee seat or avoid a primary opponent. That means when a good idea comes from across the aisle, I can support it. When my own instincts say a bill isn't right for MD-5, I can say so — without worrying about the political fallout from party leadership.
This isn't about being "moderate" for its own sake, or trying to please everyone. It's about making decisions based on what's actually good for Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary's County — full stop. Sometimes that will look conservative. Sometimes it will look progressive. Most of the time, it will just look practical.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · brianjordanforcongress.com/what-it-means-to-represent-people-not-a-party
Representing people instead of a party means:
- Voting based on merit, not messaging.
Every bill gets judged on whether it helps Southern Maryland — not on which party introduced it.
Being honest when I don't have the answer.
Constituents deserve straight talk, even when it's not the popular answer within a party base.
Building relationships across the aisle, because the biggest wins for our military installations, small businesses, and schools have always required cooperation, not gridlock.
Staying accountable to you, not to donors or party committees
whose priorities are set far outside our district's boundaries.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · brianjordanforcongress.com/what-it-means-to-represent-people-not-a-party
How will you navigate a polarized Congress?
Tactics to get results:
Coalition-first drafting: I will co-author every major bill with at least one Republican and one Democrat from day one. If we can’t agree on text up front, it isn’t ready.
Join the do-ers: Engage cross-party groups (e.g., Problem Solvers–style caucuses) and commit to their “90% rule”—if we agree on 90%, we move the bill.
Regular order + discharge when needed: Push committees to mark up bipartisan bills; if leadership stalls widely supported items, use discharge petitions to force a vote.
Data over rhetoric: Require transparent scorecards (cost, benefits, implementation timeline) to keep debates grounded and shorten the spin cycle.
Maryland first, then national: Start with district priorities that naturally cut across party lines—Bay restoration, military/veterans support, infrastructure, small-business growth.
Affordable Housing and Cost of Living: Given that polls show housing affordability is a top concern for Marylanders, what federal actions would you support to address the rising cost of living?
(This is a big deal for me as I know many people who are in need of affordable housing!)
What I’ll back:
Build more, faster: Expand and simplify the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit; create a “workforce housing” credit for teachers, nurses, police, and trades. Tie certain federal grants to by-right zoning near transit so good projects aren’t buried in red tape.
Lower rents now: Convert underused federal and commercial buildings to mixed-income housing with rapid permitting; provide bridge financing for ADUs/garage apartments in compliant localities.
Help first-time buyers: Down-payment assistance for first-gen buyers; modernize FHA/VA appraisal rules; cap junk fees in mortgages and rentals.
Cut recurring bills: Federal incentives for home energy retrofits (heat pumps, insulation) to reduce utility costs 15–30% over time; crack down on price-gouging and “drip” fees across sectors.
Economy and Taxes: What is your stance on the federal minimum wage, and what economic policies would you champion to create jobs and improve the economic outlook for Marylanders?
Minimum wage: Support a phased federal increase to $15/hour, indexed to local costs, with a predictable multi-year ramp for small businesses and a tax credit to offset early years.
Jobs & growth agenda:
Apprenticeships & skilled trades: Fund paid apprenticeships in construction, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy; make community-college tuition-free for in-demand certificates.
Small-business engine: Make the small-business R&D credit refundable for startups; expand immediate expensing for equipment; streamline federal contracting so Maryland firms win more work.
More Incubators: Incubators can be integral to helping small business start-up. They provide budding businesses with support related to: taxes, admin, engineering, and much more.
Modern infrastructure: Invest in roads, broadband, grid upgrades, and transit that shorten commutes and open job corridors across the 5th District.
Innovation clusters: Support defense-adjacent tech, maritime, and advanced air mobility R&D (testing, workforce, and manufacturing) to keep high-wage jobs here.
Tax fairness: Keep rates stable for middle-income families, protect/expand the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, and close egregious loopholes that reward unproductive tax games.
Healthcare: With access to healthcare and the cost of prescription drugs being major concerns, what is your plan to ensure people can afford basic medical care?
Actions I’ll support:
Lower drug prices: Expand Medicare negotiation to more drugs; cap out-of-pocket costs and insulin nationwide; require price transparency from pharmacy benefit managers.
Primary care within reach: Boost community health centers and rural clinics; expand telehealth parity; incentivize more nurses and primary-care providers in shortage areas.
Keep coverage affordable: Make enhanced ACA subsidies permanent; create a public option buy-in where private markets are thin; enforce the ban on surprise billing.
Mental health!!: Fund school-based counselors, crisis lines, and co-responder teams so people get care instead of landing in ERs or jails.
Environment: What actions will you take in office to mitigate the impacts of global warming and address environmental justice issues in Maryland, including protecting the Chesapeake Bay?
My plan:
Bay restoration at scale: Increase federal support for agricultural runoff reduction, wetland and oyster-reef restoration, and stormwater upgrades—measured by nitrogen/phosphorus reductions and water-clarity targets.
Resilience projects: Fund flood mitigation, living shorelines, and modern stormwater systems in vulnerable communities.
Clean energy + reliability: Accelerate grid upgrades, offshore wind/solar interconnects, and port modernization while protecting ratepayers.
Environmental justice: Prioritize EJ grants and clean-up funds for overburdened communities near highways, landfills, and industrial sites; require community benefit agreements for major projects.
Police and Criminal Justice: What is your approach to ensuring accountability and fairness in law enforcement while also tackling issues of public safety?
Safety and equal application of the law are non-negotiable—and compatible.
What I’ll work for:
Standards & transparency: National reporting on use of force, misconduct, and traffic stops; tie certain grants to adoption of evidence-based training and policies.
Tools that work: Body-worn cameras, modern forensics, and data-driven hot-spot policing alongside community partnerships.
Right responder, right call: Expand co-responder models (mental-health and social-work teams) to reduce repeat 911 calls and improve outcomes. (This is huge!!! We need more funding for this!)
Violence prevention & reentry: Invest in community violence interruption, job training, and record-sealing for non-violent offenses after rehabilitation.
Addressing Local Concerns: How do you plan to represent Maryland's diverse districts, which include metropolitan areas, suburban developments, and rural communities?
Representing a Diverse District ↗ (opens brianjordanforcongress.com/what-maryland-is-asking at this heading)
One district, many communities—urban, suburban, and rural.
How I’ll stay accountable:
Multiple local offices + mobile hours: Regular pop-up hours in each county; monthly town halls and quarterly tele-town halls!!!
Advisory councils: Standing councils for veterans, small business, labor, agriculture, educators, healthcare, and environmental stakeholders to shape my votes.
Constituent service first: Fast-track help with federal agencies (VA, SSA, IRS, passport) and publish response-time metrics online.
Targeted investments:
Metro & suburbs: transit reliability, housing near jobs, small-biz corridors.
Rural & waterfront: broadband, farm/working-waterfront support, coastal resilience, and vocational training.
Military & veterans: seamless transition services, spouse employment, and GI Bill optimization.
Core Responsibilities: What do you believe are the most important duties for a member of Congress?
Uphold the Constitution and rule of law.
Legislate effectively: write, negotiate, and pass laws that improve everyday life.
Conduct oversight: ensure your tax dollars are spent wisely and agencies perform.
Deliver for constituents: solve problems, secure smart funding, and communicate clearly.
Model integrity and transparency: publish meetings, earmark requests, and voting rationales so you can see exactly what I’m doing.
See the world as you want it to be and VOTE Brian Jordan to make it that way.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · brianjordanforcongress.com/what-maryland-is-asking
lower monthly costs for renters, first-time buyers, and seniors on fixed incomes.
What I’ll back:
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · brianjordanforcongress.com/what-maryland-is-asking
For buyers who earn less income but have good credit, banks should be able to offer longer mortgages in order to reduce monthly rates.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · brianjordanforcongress.com/what-maryland-is-asking
No Marylander skips basic care or medicine because of cost.
Actions I’ll support:
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · brianjordanforcongress.com/what-maryland-is-asking
Protect the Bay, strengthen climate resilience, and grow good-paying clean-energy jobs.
My plan:
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · brianjordanforcongress.com/what-maryland-is-asking