2026 Maryland gubernatorial election

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The 2026 Maryland gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Maryland. The primary elections took place on June 23, 2026.[1] Incumbent Democratic Governor Wes Moore is running for a second term.[2]

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...
2026 Maryland gubernatorial election
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November 3, 2026
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Nominee Wes Moore TBD
Party Democratic Republican
Incumbent Governor

Wes Moore
Democratic


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Background

At the federal and state level, Maryland is a deeply blue state and one of the most reliably Democratic states in the nation, with Kamala Harris carrying it by 29 points in the 2024 presidential election. Elections in Maryland are dominated by the Baltimore metropolitan area and the D.C. suburbs.[3] Going into this election, Democrats occupy all statewide offices and hold supermajorities in both houses of the state legislature, as well as all but one seat in the state's congressional delegation.[4]

Democratic primary

Campaign

Moore has maintained positive approval ratings throughout his first term, though his numbers have steadily declined.[5] Mileah Kromer, the director of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County's Institute of Politics, has associated the downward trend in Moore's approval rating with voter frustration over affordability issues and a distrust of local, state, and federal government.[6] An incumbent Democratic governor has not lost re-election in Maryland since 1950, when William Preston Lane Jr. failed to win a second term.

Moore's campaign faces token opposition in the Democratic primary and remains well funded for the general election.[7][6] He is expected to campaign on his efforts to address affordability issues, expand opportunities, and protect the state from the second Trump administration, whose actions have led to increased prices and caused the state to lose jobs and federal funding.[7]

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Withdrawn

  • Ed Hale, retired banker and owner of the Baltimore Blast (running as a Republican)[9]
  • Ralph Jaffe, perennial candidate (died February 6, 2026)[10]
    • Running mate: Donald Palmore, pastor[8]

Endorsements

Eric Felber
Organizations
Wes Moore
U.S. senators
U.S. representatives
Statewide officials
State legislators
Local officials
Labor unions
Organizations
Newspapers

Fundraising

More information Campaign finance reports as of June 7, 2026, Candidate ...
Campaign finance reports as of June 7, 2026
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Wes Moore (D) $13,795,120 $9,581,961 $6,519,690
Source: Maryland State Board of Elections[30]
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Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic
Democratic
  • Eric Felber
  • LaTrece Hawkins Lytes
Total votes
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Republican primary

Campaign

During the Republican primary, candidates campaigned against Moore's handling of economic issues, especially toward tax reforms and increases to vehicle registration fees in the state during his first term.[7][32][33]

Much of the speculation as to which Republicans may challenge Moore in the 2026 election revolved around former governor Larry Hogan.[34][35][36] Hogan's entry would have given Republicans a high-profile candidate, potentially making the race more competitive.[37] However, he announced in an op-ed to The Baltimore Sun in January 2026 that he would not run for a third term as governor in 2026,[38] after which speculation turned to Steve Hershey, the minority leader of the Maryland Senate who had formed an exploratory committee into a potential gubernatorial campaign.[39] Hershey filed to run for re-election in February 2026,[40] leaving the Republican Party without a formidable opponent against Moore.[41]

Republican challengers to Moore face an uphill battle against him,[5] especially as public frustration with President Donald Trump continues to boost Democratic officeholders in deep blue states.[42] As of May 2026, Republican candidates in the race have struggled to raise funds for their campaigns,[43] lack experience in running a statewide campaign, and hold positions in line with Trump.[6] Media outlets have described Cox and Hale as the frontrunners of the Republican primary.[44][17][45]

In June 2026, the Maryland Democratic Party and Governor Moore began airing advertisements and sending out mailers promoting Cox over Hale.[46]

Candidates

Declared

Deceased

  • Nancy Taylor, bank teller (died May 25, 2026, remained on ballot)[53]
    • Running mate: Rachel "Mohawk" Swift[8]

Disqualified

Withdrawn

Declined

Endorsements

Dan Cox
Organizations
Ed Hale
Statewide officials
State legislators
John Myrick
Organizations
Declined to endorse
Organizations

Debates and forums

More information No., Date ...
2026 Maryland Republican gubernatorial primary debates
No. Date Host Moderator Link Participants
 P  Participant  A  Absent  N  Non-invitee  I  Invitee W  Withdrawn
Burkindine Larcomb Myrick Oakes Wright
1[48] Mar 26, 2026 North County Republican Club Kimberly Klacik
Torrey Snow
Yuripzy Morgan		 YouTube[65] P P P P P
2[66][67] May 19, 2026 Maryland Public Television Matt Bush YouTube[68] A P P A P
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Fundraising

More information Campaign finance reports as of June 7, 2026, Candidate ...
Campaign finance reports as of June 7, 2026
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Carl Brunner (R) $3,368 $3,359 $10
L. D. Burkindine (R) $1,080 $348 $732
Dan Cox (R) $100,499[a] $146,929 $30,346
Ed Hale (R) $274,501 $220,779 $53,722
John Myrick (R) $26,725 $47,238 $3,152
Shannon Wright (R)[b] $172 $26,196 $15,236
Source: Maryland State Board of Elections[30]
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Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
  • Carl Brunner
  • Kevin Rhodes
Republican
  • L. D. Burkindine
  • Jeremy Shifflett
Republican
Republican
Republican
  • Douglas Larcomb
  • Martina Duncan
Republican
Republican
  • Michael Oakes
  • Ronald Abend
Republican
  • Nancy Taylor †
  • Rachael "Mohawk" Swift
Republican
  • Shannon Wright
  • Reba Hawkins
Total votes
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Third-party and independent candidates

Candidates

Declared

Fundraising

More information Campaign finance reports as of June 7, 2026, Candidate ...
Campaign finance reports as of June 7, 2026
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Andy Ellis (G) $37,429 $35,869 $1,560
Source: Maryland State Board of Elections[30]
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General election

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
Inside Elections[72] Solid D August 28, 2025
Race to the WH[73] Safe D June 19, 2026
RealClearPolitics[74] Solid D June 5, 2026
Sabato's Crystal Ball[75] Safe D September 4, 2025
The Cook Political Report[76] Solid D September 11, 2025
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Polling

Hypothetical polling

Wes Moore vs. Larry Hogan

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[c]		 Margin
of error		 Wes
Moore (D)		 Larry
Hogan (R)		 Undecided
OpinionWorks[77] October 7−10, 2025 928 (RV) ± 3.2% 45% 37% 14%
Gonzales Research[78] December 27, 2024 − January 4, 2025 811 (RV) ± 3.5% 52% 38% 10%
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Wes Moore vs. Generic Republican
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[c]		 Margin
of error		 Wes
Moore (D)		 Generic
Republican		 Other Undecided
Gonzales Research[79] December 21, 2025 − January 6, 2026 808 (RV) ± 3.5% 50% 28% 6%[d] 16%
University of Maryland, Baltimore County[80] October 21−25, 2025 757 (RV) ± 3.5% 49% 29% 12% 10%
OpinionWorks[77] October 7−10, 2025 928 (RV) ± 3.2% 47% 29% – 21%
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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    $25,800 of this total was self-funded by Cox
  2. [b]
    As of last reported May 12, 2026
  3. [c]
    Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  4. [d]
    "Third-party candidate" with 6%

References

External links

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