Candidate · November 3, 2026
Chris Chaffee
On the ballot for U.S. House · Maryland's 5th District
- issues with public statements
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§1On the ballot
Why this matters: This is exactly how the candidate appears on your ballot, from the state's official candidate list.
| Office | U.S. House · Maryland's 5th District1, |
|---|---|
| Party on the ballot | Republican1, |
| Status | Open seat — no incumbent is running for this seat. |
| Also on the ballot |
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§2Who they are
Why this matters: Background and experience help you judge how someone might do the job. These come from public records and the candidate's own materials.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
His campaign website says one of his first jobs after high school was with the electricians' union, Local 26, and that he then completed his electrical education at the University of Maryland.4 It says he started a home-building and renovation business in 1991 serving the tri-county region, and that he has worked for decades as a builder, home improvement contractor and farmer.4 Ballotpedia says he studied at PG Community College and the University of Maryland.5
Why they say they're running
His campaign website says he is running to bring resources home to District 5, and notes that the district has been held by a Democrat since 1981 and calls this a once-in-45-years opportunity to elect a Republican.4 It says he is a conservative who will work with everyone in the district, and lists protecting the Second Amendment, securing the borders, supporting the armed forces, energy independence and term limits among his pledges.4
Websites and accounts
- Campaign websitechaffeeamericafirst.com1,
2, 3 - Campaign websitechaffeeamericafirst.com4,
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§3What they've said on the issues
Why this matters: These are positions the candidate has stated publicly — on their campaign website or in public statements — summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Issues they haven't spoken about publicly are left out.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Each issue has its own range of views. A position is marked on that range only when the candidate's own statement clearly matches one option; there is no overall left–right score.
Elections and Government Reform
His campaign website says he would push for term limits and would limit himself to three terms.4
Infrastructure and Transportation
His campaign website says the federal and state governments should suspend the fuel tax for 30 days to help lower fuel prices.4
- Raise the federal gas tax
- Add new fees, such as a yearly fee on electric vehicles or a charge for each mile driven
- Keep the gas tax as is and cover the gap with other federal money
- Cut or suspend the federal gas tax
Taxes and Budget
His campaign website says budget shortfalls and shutdowns should never happen, that legislators responsible for passing the budget should have their pay stopped if the funding is not in place, and that homeland security should be fully funded.4
His campaign website lists ending government fraud, waste and abuse among his pledges.4
Foreign Policy and Defense
His campaign website says that putting America first includes funding for the Department of Defense and keeping military bases funded.4
His campaign website says he is not for boots on the ground, that Iran's means to enrich uranium should be ended, and that inspectors should be sent in to find and remove any nuclear fuel and to end the war with Iran.4
Housing
His campaign website says home and rent costs have risen because of a shortage of builders' funding and land, and that the permit process for residential and commercial construction should be minimized.4