Terence Strait speaks with a voter after the 4th Congressional District candidates forum. He was arrested April 15 in Washington after participating in protests against money in politics. (Mark Gail for The Washington Post)

A Democratic candidate in Maryland’s 4th Congressional District race was arrested and released Friday along with scores of protesters staging a sit-in demonstration on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

Terence Strait, 35, is one of six Democrats running for the nomination to succeed Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D-Md.), who is running for U.S. Senate. Strait’s election chances are remote, but he said his campaign is about drawing attention to issues Sen. Bernie Sanders has popularized in his run for the presidency.

[Terence Strait: ‘Bernie-crat’ faces long odds in Maryland congressional race]

Strait was charged with “crowding, obstructing and incommoding” after he and several dozen other people sat down on the Capitol steps about 1:30 p.m. for a teach-in. The demonstration was part of Democracy Spring, a week-long mobilization of activists protesting the influence of big money in politics.

“This is really what is the big challenge of today,” said Strait, who left his federal job to run for office. He has struggled to generate enough campaign contributions to compete with the primary front-runners, one of whom has raised more than $1 million.

Big money “makes it difficult for ordinary people to get involved in politics,” he said.

Strait was detained, processed and cited for $50. He will have to pay the fine Saturday at Capitol Police headquarters but the arrest will not appear as a conviction on his record.

After he was released, Strait rejoined the protest but did so in an area designated by police.

“I think every generation has their issues that they fight for,” he said, adding that he thinks public financing would go a long way to reform the political process.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for candidates to show that they care about these issues,” he said.