LIVE UPDATES: Follow the results of Maryland's congressional primary

• Marylanders are voting in the state's first-ever mail-in primary on Tuesday.
• In Maryland, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Speaker Nancy's Pelosi's top deputy, is facing his strongest Democratic primary challenge in several cycles.

Marylanders are voting in the state's first-ever mail-in primary on Tuesday.

On the congressional level, the most notable primary involves House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Speaker Nancy's Pelosi's top deputy, who's facing his strongest Democratic primary challenge in several cycles.

In MD-05, Hoyer is facing a primary challenge from Mckayla Wilkes, a 29-year-old Black progressive activist. Hoyer has held his seat for nearly 30 years — since 1981 — and is favored to win the nomination, given his powerful role in the House and strong fundraising.

Wilkes, who was inspired to run by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's successful ousting of former Rep. Joe Crowley in New York, has gathered support from progressive groups, but hasn't managed to compete with Hoyer when it comes to money.

Hoyer is a moderate Democrat, who's sided with Republicans on some key issues, including voting for the Iraq War and deregulation of Wall Street in 2000. Wilkes has run on a platform of expanding voting access and progressive legislation like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal.

Maryland's administrator of elections, Linda Lamone, said the state "strongly encourages" residents to vote by mail, given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

"Voting by mail is safe, secure and free. There is no postage required to submit a ballot," Lamone told local reporters. "Voters simply need to fill out their ballot, sign the oath on the envelope and place it back in the mail."