Former U.S. Capitol Police Officer and Jan. 6 Rioter Vie for Congress

Former U.S. Capitol Police Officer and Jan. 6 Rioter Could Both Head to Congress

In a surprising turn of events, a former U.S. Capitol police officer who defended lawmakers during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack and a man who served time in prison for joining the mob could both be headed to Congress next year if they succeed in primaries later this month.

Their campaigns for respective Democratic and Republican nominations present a split-screen look into a divided nation more than three years after the siege by Donald Trump supporters trying to overturn his election defeat.

The pair — Democrat Harry Dunn in Maryland and Republican Derrick Evans in West Virginia — are seeking their parties’ nominations in strongly partisan districts, meaning both could serve together in the House of Representatives next year if they prevail in their separate May 14 contests.

Dunn, 40, said he was thrust into politics by what he experienced on Jan. 6, which stoked his concerns about the stability of U.S. democracy. When he was called to testify to the probe into the attack, Dunn, who is Black, described the way that rioters taunted him with racial slurs as they tried to overturn Democratic President Joe Biden’s election.

“Going forward, it is imperative on us that believe in democracy, that believe in the Constitution, to fight for it,” Dunn told Reuters in a Thursday interview near his campaign headquarters in Ellicott City, Maryland.

Evans, 36, is trying to unseat third-term Republican U.S. Representative Carol Miller in West Virginia. Evans, a former teacher who served briefly in the state legislature, was among the throng that illegally entered the Capitol on Jan. 6. He served three months in prison after pleading guilty to a felony charge of “impeding, obstructing or interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder.”

Dunn and Evans both cite the need to defend the U.S. Constitution at a moment they say presents great peril for the U.S. However, their approaches and agendas differ significantly.

If elected, Dunn said he would want to pass legislation to strengthen voter protections, guard election workers from intimidation, and reduce the influence of corporate campaign contributions. When asked if he would be willing to work for legislative compromises with Evans if they both were to be elected, Dunn responded affirmatively, emphasizing the importance of compromise in a democracy.

On the other hand, Evans stated, “I’m not running to make friends. I’m not running to play patty-cake politics. I’m working to kick in the front door and expose the corruption in D.C.”

Dunn leads in campaign contributions in a crowded field of 22 candidates and has secured the endorsement of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Evans, on the other hand, has raised less money compared to his opponent, Miller.

The run-up to Jan. 6 saw Evans expressing excitement on social media about a “wild” gathering at the Capitol and cheering on rioters upon entering the building. Now, he presents that foray as a badge of courage, campaigning on themes that resonate strongly in the Trump-loving district.

It remains to be seen how the primaries will unfold and whether Dunn and Evans will secure their parties’ nominations. The possibility of these two individuals, with vastly different backgrounds and approaches, serving together in Congress highlights the deep divisions within the country.