Democratic Montgomery County Executive race too close to call in early election results; Sullivan walking away with GOP race

David Blair

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and his leading challenger, businessman David Blair, are in a tight race for victory in the 2022 Democratic primary tonight. Blair had staked out a slight lead in early voting and in initial results from in-person voting today, but as more precinct report totals, Elrich and Blair are neck-and-neck at 38.30% and 38.53%, respectively. Blair has led from the beginning to this point, however small the margin. County Councilmember Hans Riemer is currently in third place with a respectable 21.36%, and businessman Peter James is bringing up the rear at 1.81%.

Marc Elrich

Republican voters are showing more of a consensus in early results. Businessman Reardon Sullivan is currently cruising to victory over attorney Shelly Skolnick, with 62.83% of the vote. 120 of 258 election day precincts have been counted statewide so far.

Reardon Sullivan

Donald Trump-endorsed Dan Cox leading in GOP governor race in early Maryland election results, Perez staking lead among Democrats

President Donald Trump is showing he may be more popular now among Maryland Republicans than ever before, at least in the precincts where votes have been counted as of this hour. Trump's hand-picked candidate, Delegate Dan Cox, is leading in the GOP race for governor in early election results. Cox's strength is showing across the board, in both early voting and today's in-person results. There is electricity at the Cox Election Night party in Emmitsburg; as of 10:40 PM, Cox is leading Kelly Schulz 50.63%% to 42.25% for the Republican nomination.

Tom Perez

On the Democratic side, Tom Perez is racing out to a massive early lead over his crowded field of competitors. Like Cox, Perez is dominating in both today's tally from polling places, and in the early voting results. He holds a 46.70% lead over Wes Moore, who is currently in a distant second place with 23.09%. Peter Franchot, long considered the frontrunner in the race, is struggling to rack up even half of Moore's total so far.

"So far" is the operative phrase, of course. Only 85 of 258 election day precincts have been counted statewide so far. Depending which counties are further ahead in their counts, the results may change by morning, and into the rest of the week. 

Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin endorses Marc Elrich for Montgomery County Executive

Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin (D - 8th District) has endorsed incumbent Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich for reelection in this Tuesday's Democratic primary contest. Raskin made the announcement at a get-out-the-vote canvassing event yesterday, standing side-by-side with Elrich. “I had quite a week defending democracy against the coups, and the insurrections, the political violence, and the attempt to usurp the will of the people,” Raskin told the crowd, "so I thought I would just swing by to tell everybody that I'm voting for Marc Elrich, who is making democracy work here in Montgomery County."

Raskin and Elrich have a long history together. Both are from the highly-politically-active Takoma Park community, where Elrich served on the City Council, before being elected to the Montgomery County Council (At-Large) in 2006. “I have known Marc for most of my life," Raskin said yesterday. "He's always the same Marc. You know what you're going to get with Marc Elrich. We can count on him, and we counted on him through COVID-19, where Montgomery County became one of the leading counties in America to get people vaccinated and promote public health, And for that reason alone, we owe you a debt of gratitude."

COVID-19 has been a hot topic in this year's election, as some parents and businesspeople have organized behind Elrich's opponents on the very issue of pandemic policies that were instituted or proposed during his term in office, such as school closures, intervention in private school operations, and lockdowns of businesses. Others felt Elrich's policies were on-target, and have praised him for limiting the impact of the virus on the community before vaccines were widely available.

Raskin also saluted Elrich's successful efforts to raise the minimum wage, and his support of abortion rights. “There are two kinds of politicians out there," Raskin said. "There are power politicians, and there are justice politicians. Marc Elrich has always been the quintessential justice politician."

The endorsement comes at a key moment in a contentious race at the top of the County ballot. Elrich is facing three opponents in the July 19 primary: businessman David Blair, County Councilmember Hans Riemer and businessman Peter James. Blair has poured millions into his two campaigns, and Riemer has a campaign chest of grassroots donations and public matching funds that top $1 million.

Raskin has never had more name recognition among the public than today, thanks to his high-profile TV role in the impeachments of President Donald Trump, and on the January 6 Select Committee in Congress. The voters who support his work on those committees are very much in play in this Tuesday's election, giving Elrich a needed last-minute boost from another progressive who has the ear of his target voter.

“I am honored to have Congressman Raskin’s support in our campaign for re-election; he has been a fearless defender of democracy at the national level, and tireless in helping his constituents back home,” Elrich said in a statement this afternoon. “I thank Congressman Raskin for his relentless defense of democracy. I am grateful for his vote and support. I look forward to continuing our work together on behalf of Montgomery County residents.”

Donald Trump slams Hogan on COVID test debacle, casts doubt on Maryland election integrity on Dan Cox tele-rally

"I don't believe the elections are

straight in the state," Trump says of

Maryland

President Donald Trump bashed nemesis - and potential 2024 rival - Gov. Larry Hogan (R), and cast doubt on election integrity in the state of Maryland, in a wide-ranging stump speech on a tele-rally for Republican gubernatorial hopeful Dan Cox last night. Settling political scores from coast-to-coast, Trump had just finished campaigning against another never-Trump GOP critic, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, in Alaska. Turning his attention back to Hogan in Maryland, Trump zeroed in for the first time on one of the most-controversial issues in Hogan's term, the governor's purchase of South Korean COVID-19 testing kits. The kits arrived with much fanfare, as Hogan suggested he was providing what Trump would or could not, but were later deemed an $11.9 million bust by state health officials who found them unusable.

36,735 voters joined the tele-rally by phone last night, the Cox campaign reports. At the conclusion of the call, a poll was taken in the Maryland governor race. Perhaps not surprisingly on a Cox phone event, Cox won the poll with 85.2% of the vote. More surprisingly, Trump drilled down with more-specific criticism of Hogan's tenure, and for the first time challenged Maryland election integrity.

Cox opened the call by challenging the narrative that he will not have bipartisan appeal in the general election. He argued that his support stretches "across party lines. [E]ven the Democrats, thirty percent of them are saying that this is exactly what they want. Because, why? Because their issues are children, careers, and community safety. That is what is driving us right now. That's what our economy is showing everyone. They go to the pump, and they see that their careers are in jeopardy, they're paying a third of their income for gasoline right now. They're looking at rising taxation, and they're looking at the inflation that's eating up their grocery budget.

"And then they look at their children going to school here in Maryland, and what do you have? You have really egregious things being taught behind the parents' backs. They have women's sports being degraded. They have really a problem with divisive anti-Americanism."

"Our great police officers are under attack. I've been defending them in the [Maryland House] Judiciary Committee. I passed, I helped pass, the bill for $10 million dollars for more police in Baltimore City with Hopkins University."

"That's why I am so honored, and just privileged beyond belief, that President Donald J. Trump would join us tonight. [H]e's stood for us. He's a patriot. He's a gentleman who has graciousness to everyone, and unbelievable fortitude. He stands for our values, our liberties, and our freedom."

Cox then turned the call over to Trump, who began by speaking warmly of the Old Line State. "Hello, Maryland. It's a great state. I have so many friends there. I love the place. We're going to work really hard to do something special with Dan."

Trump exhorted voters to turn out at the polls Tuesday, in what is expected to be a low turnout primary amidst summer vacations. "I'd like each of you to get out and vote, bring your friends and bring everybody you can." As expected, Trump lashed current Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who has hammered Trump and is exploring a potential run against him in the 2024 presidential race. 

"You'll get rid of a lousy governor," Trump said of Hogan, who was in New Hampshire this week to lay the groundwork for a 2024 campaign. "You're gonna get rid of somebody that was just, I think he was absolutely terrible, the job he did. He's just absolutely terrible, and a terrible representative of the state."

Trump again lauded Cox as a "respected and tough lawyer, a smart businessman." And he again denounced Hogan-endorsed Republican candidate Kelly Schulz as a "RINO. Her boss, Larry Hogan, locked down your state, destroyed your freedoms and turned his back on the great people of Maryland. He did it as bad as the Democrats. He locked the place up."

"You don't want his annointed successor," Trump warned. "He's working hard to get her in. And anybody he wants, frankly, I'd be against just on that basis alone."

Trump touted new poll results favorable to Cox, which he said he had just seen before the call. "Dan, I'm happy to tell you the poll is very good," Trump said. "But we can't rely on that. You have to get out and vote. He's the only candidate who has my complete and total endorsement. I've gotten to know him. He's a winner and he's a great guy. He loves the state, and he loves the country."

"Dan will work hard to stop inflation, bring back lower gas prices - can you believe what's happened?" Trump asked, reflecting on how low gas prices were during his term. "We were at $1.87. Now it's going to be well over $5.00, I understand, over the next couple of weeks...But we had it down to the right number, and everybody was happy. Everybody was happy about everything."

Trump then segued into further reminiscing about his time in the Oval Office versus the current state of affairs. "Even if you talk about Russia going into Ukraine, that would have never happened if I was in office...So many things have happened, so bad." He bashed President Joe Biden's botched withdrawal from Afghanistan. "We left Americans behind, thirteen soldiers were killed, many, many horribly injured. And, of course, leaving $85 billion dollars' worth of the best military equipment in the world [in the hands of the Taliban]." 

"We were independent, everybody was happy," Trump recalled of America's energy output during his term. "Right now, as we speak, [Biden is] going to Saudi Arabia begging - a country that is unthinkable that he would go to - begging for oil."

Trump promised that, as governor, Cox would "stand up to the radical left-wing mayors and local officials who are destroying your Democratic-run cities, and restore law and order to Maryland. He'll cut taxes - very big. I gave you the largest tax cut in the history of our country, larger than even the Reagan tax cuts." Trump then further touted his own record of cutting regulations, record job growth, and reaching reciprocal trade agreements with foreign partners.

While dicussing foreign trade, Trump reflected on his relationship with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated last week. Trump called Abe "a wonderful gentleman...a great, great gentleman. He was a fantastic man, I'm so sad to see that happen."

Turning back to Maryland, Trump assured callers that Cox would "stop the radical left's war on the American family. He'll ban critical race theory. He'll champion school choice, and he'll keep men out of women's sports. A lot of people - and it's not politically correct to say that, but we'll say it - he'll keep men out of women's sports."

Cox would call for a "full, forensic audit" of the 2020 presidential election, Trump said, before casting doubt on election integrity in Maryland. "I know the state so well, I know so many people. I don't believe the elections are straight in the state...Dan's looking into it very strongly."

"I know him. I like him. He loves that state, and he loves our country, and he'll work harder than anybody you've seen, and he's going to do a fantastic job," Trump said in making a closing argument for Cox, before turning his ire back to Hogan. "You're losing somebody who is not a good representative of your state, and certainly not a good Republican," he said of Hogan. "I can tell you that from personal experience."

Trump said his administration had provided much to Hogan during the pandemic, "and we got nothing but negative statements [in return]." He noted Hogan's controversial purchase of COVID-19 tests from a South Korean firm that turned out to be virtually useless. "What he did with the testing, how bad it was, and where the tests came from, from South Korea - there's a whole lot of things that Hogan did that are terrible, and he was just not a good representative. Dan Cox will be fantastic."

"I'll see you soon, we love your state. Bye, everybody," Trump said before leaving the call.

Photo courtesy WhiteHouse.gov

Donald Trump to join Republican Maryland governor hopeful Dan Cox for tele-rally Wednesday

President Donald Trump, who has endorsed Delegate Dan Cox for Maryland governor in the July 19, 2022 primary, will join Cox for a tele-rally tomorrow, Wednesday, July 13 at 7:30 PM. The phone number to join the audience and hear Trump and Cox speak will be 301-822-2946. Trump is making the final push to help Cox, who polling has found is essentially tied with Kelly Schulz, who has been endorsed by incumbent Gov. Larry Hogan. 

If Trump's last call into a big Cox rally in Hampstead is any indication, expect him to again lower the boom on Hogan, with whom he has feuded for several years. Hogan is expected by many to challenge Trump for the GOP nomination for president in 2024. Trump sees the Maryland race as an opportunity to add another notch to his endorsement victory belt with Cox, while dealing Hogan a blow ahead of the presidential contest.

Maryland governor candidate Doug Gansler calls for gun safe zones similar to New York state legislation

Maryland gubernatorial candidate
Doug Gansler speaks to reporters in
Chevy Chase

Former Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler, a Democratic candidate for governor, is calling for new legislation to restrict the right to carry a concealed firearm in designated areas. The U.S. Supreme Court recently affirmed concealed carry as a right under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. In response to that decision in a New York case, NY Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation on July 1 that would place new barriers and hurdles to acquiring a concealed carry license in that state, and restrict the right to concealed carry in specified locations.

Gansler said he supports passing similar restrictions in Maryland, at a press conference at an early voting site in Chevy Chase Thursday. Areas where licensed citizens would still be prohibited from carrying a concealed weapon in New York state include transit stations and vehicles, parks, theaters, stadiums, museums, bars, casinos, and "sensitive areas" such as Times Square. 

Current Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) this past week ordered the Maryland State Police to comply with the Supreme Court directive, making the state a shall-issue jurisdiction. Gansler said Hogan had no choice but to follow the new law, but argued that he should have ensured Maryland had the type of limitations that New York now has.

“We need to have safeguards, because no one wants to have guns in schools, in libraries, on the Metro, on the bus, on playgrounds, at polling places, at places where alcohol is being served,” Gansler said outside the Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center, as early voting got underway. “Those are easy to do. For whatever reason, Governor Hogan decided not to do that. We need to have a groundswell of support to make sure that we have limitations in place to keep people safe.”

New York's new restrictions are expected to be challenged in court, as they would make it very difficult to exercise the right to concealed carry from a practical standpoint. The remaining areas where one could carry a firearm are few, and many of the designated areas are precisely where gun rights advocates say an individual would most want a self-defense capability. Gun rights advocates also note that concealed carry license holders have not been shown to be a major source of gun-related crimes in America. “You rarely hear of an instance where a CCL holder is using their firearm in an unlawful manner,” an Illinois State Police spokesman told the Chicago Tribune in 2018. “They’re generally law-abiding citizens, and they’ve gone to great lengths to get to where they’re at to have a CCL. And they’ve taken training to get there. And most of them, they understand what the requirements are to use force to defend themselves.”

Hans Riemer TV ad makes closing argument he is the "Best Guy" for Montgomery County Executive

Montgomery County Councilmember Hans Riemer (D - At Large) is launching an ad blitz on cable, streaming services, and - tomorrow - broadcast television, to make the closing argument that he is the "best guy" to serve as Montgomery County Executive. Interspersed with scenes of Riemer with family and meeting constituents around the county, the ad takes some sharp swipes at his opponents in the July 19 Democratic primary, businessman David Blair and incumbent County Executive Marc Elrich.

"Blair's tryin' to buy it," the narrator says over an image of a business-suited Blair, who has spent record amounts of his own money in his two campaigns for the executive seat. According to The Washington Post, Blair has spent $2.5 million on this year's campaign, and dropped $5.4 million in his 2018 run in which he lost to Elrich by only 77 votes. The most expensive County-level campaigns in history earn him a "Rich Guy Blair" moniker in Riemer's ad.

"Current Guy" Elrich let bars stay open late, while schools were forced to stay closed, the ad recalls from recent pandemic history. The spot hones in on education issues through the narrative that Riemer is the only executive candidate with children in County public schools, that he will support univeral pre-K. Riemer will keep schools open, the narrator promises, while providing mental health services to address the widely-acknowledged impact of the pandemic and closures on children. Elrich is also criticized in the ad for blocking forced vaccinations for County employees.

Riemer, the ad concludes, is the "Best Guy" for the job. "Good thing we've got Hans Riemer," the narrator states, as a quote from the Post is superimposed on the screen citing Riemer as a "principled...progressive leader."

The Post, as many expected, once again endorsed Blair. But its endorsement editorial was also effusive in praise of Riemer, and notably did not criticize him, weakening its argument for Blair in the context that both men are neck-and-neck in what little polling has been done. The Post has had incredible sway over Democratic voters since it was purchased by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos; prior to Bezos' acquisition, voters had often ignored the Post's endorsements. While the harshly anti-labor editorial board's Ahab-like pursuit of its nemesis Elrich fell short in 2018, the razor-thin margin again showed the grip the Post now has on many voters. When the Post editorial board says, "Jump!" a surprising number of voters these days ask, "How high?"

Along with the question of the Post's influence on the election result will be the impact of Republican and independent voters who plan to vote in this Democratic primary. An informal movement in 2018 has become more organized in 2022, and has been given a push by backers of Blair, a former Republican himself. Switch to the Democratic Party for July, then switch back to GOP or independent affiliation in August, voters are being told online. The suggestion has been appealing this time around for many public and private school parents furious over pandemic school closures, and County interference in the operations of private schools during that period.

Polling has suggested these party-switching voters are currently splitting their vote between Blair and Riemer. Elrich - the most popular politician in Montgomery County by total votes over the years - appears to be retaining his base of progressives and residents concerned about the overwhelming influence of developers on County zoning and planning decisions, such as the controversial Thrive 2050 plan, which would allow replacement of single-family houses with duplexes, triplexes and small apartment buildings.

The ad buy is critical for Riemer. Blair has been hitting the local TV airwaves hard for several weeks. Riemer's campaign feels it is in a good position to respond now, with a $1 million fundraising haul comprised of small donors and corresponding public financing.

“Our campaign plan is right on schedule. I’m confident that voters will pick Hans when introduced to him in what’s clearly a three way race,“ Riemer campaign manager Aziz Yakub said in a statement. “David Blair has $6 million and Marc Elrich has insider special interest groups. We have people power and motivated voters, and that will matter most on July 19th.” Upcounty businessman Peter James is also running in the Democratic primary. Early voting begins July 7.

Donald Trump phones in to rally for GOP Maryland governor candidate Dan Cox

Maryland governor hopeful Delegate Dan Cox (R) got an assist from his highest-profile endorser, President Donald Trump, at a rally this past weekend in Carroll County. "We're going to get rid of the stench of Larry Hogan," Trump vowed to rallygoers by speakerphone, referring to the current Maryland governor, who has been one of the most prominent never-Trump Republicans in America over the last six years. Hogan was again on Trump's mind, as he praised Cox as his choice over Hogan-endorsed Kelly Schulz in the contest.

"Dan is MAGA all the way and I say that very strongly," Trump said on the call, "unlike his opponent named Kelly Schulz who is, along with Larry Hogan, bad news. And I'll tell you, Larry Hogan is bad news. He's a RINO." Trump promised that Cox would do "a full forensic audit" of the 2020 election, and cut taxes and regulations. "I’ve known Dan for awhile and he’s a great, highly respected lawyer, he’s tough and smart, and as a businessman very successful. He fought really hard to expose the 2020 election scam," Trump added.

Trump also praised Cox's running mate, Gordana Schifanelli, calling her "fantastic," and the Republican nominee for governor of Pennsylvania, Doug Mastriano, who was the headlining guest of the rally. He also complimented the boisterous crowd, who chanted, "Trump, Trump, Trump!"

"Go out and get Dan Cox elected," Trump exhorted attendees at the Hampstead rally. "You’ve got to go out and you’ve got to vote for Dan Cox. I love you all and Dan, to Dan I say, you’re a great, courageous patriot, you’re going to win, and you’re going to win big." “It was a tremendous honor to host the President of the United States at my campaign Rally via live telephone," Cox said in a statement, "and once again President Trump provided a momentous point in our campaign." Former delegate Robin Ficker and attorney Joe Werner are also running for the GOP nomination in the July 19 primary. Early voting begins July 7.

Photo via WhiteHouse.gov

UPDATED: Donald Trump-endorsed Maryland governor hopeful Dan Cox to hold car rally in Bethesda

UPDATE - June 25, 2022, 10:11 PM: A representative of the Cox campaign said she has been in touch with the event organizers, and that they have not mentioned any change in plans for Sunday's rally as of this hour.

UPDATE - June 25, 2022, 8:38 AM: A public relations firm representing Westfield Montgomery Mall issued the following statement regarding Sunday's rally: "We were just made aware of this event—permission to use the property was never requested or granted. We have contacted the organization hosting the rally to let them know they need to find an alternate location." Stay tuned for further updates.

Concerned Americans Seeking Truth will host a car rally for Maryland Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Cox at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda this Sunday, June 26, 2022 at 10:00 AM. "Bring your cars, vans, SUVs, trucks and parade with us to support Dan Cox for governor of the great state of Maryland," the event announcement reads. Cox, a Maryland state delegate from Frederick County, has been endorsed by President Donald Trump. He faces Gov. Larry Hogan-endorsed Kelly Schulz, attorney and former state delegate Robin Ficker, and attorney Joe Werner in the July 19 GOP primary.

Reardon Sullivan earns police union endorsement in Montgomery County Executive race

Republican Reardon Sullivan has been endorsed by the Montgomery County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35 in the primary election for County Executive. Increasing crime countywide has become a hot-button issue in the campaign for both of the major political parties. The police union criticized County leaders last year for defunding 27 police officer positions, amid a spike in armed carjackings that has continued through this year. 

Amidst local and nationwide anger over police-involved deaths, and calls from some Democrats in 2020 to "defund the police," County Police Chief Marcus Jones said morale among his force was the lowest he had ever seen during his career here. Officer retirements are up, and recruitment of new officers has been difficult. Where applications once numbered in the thousands, the 2021 recruit class numbered only 14. This past January, the chief told the County Council that he is losing an average of 4 officers per month to retirements.

Reardon has zeroed in on this crisis in his campaign messaging, promising to "fully fund the police," and to "give the men and women of law enforcement the respect they deserve." He has also vowed to return Student Resource Officers to public schools, where several violent incidents including a shooting have led to calls for bringing SROs back to campuses. "We all know that crime is on the rise in the County," Sullivan said in a statement. "The time for change and new leadership is now. We need leaders that can bring common sense back to our local government."

Hans Riemer raises $1 million in Montgomery County Executive race

Montgomery County Councilmember Hans Riemer (D) has passed the $1 million fundraising mark in the race for County Executive, his campaign announced this morning. The million-dollar haul caps a week of good news for Riemer. A Data for Progress poll last week found that, while incumbent Marc Elrich (D) had the most support at 33%, Riemer is tied for second with businessman David Blair at 14%. Blair is self-funding his campaign, and spent $5.7 million in his 2018 bid for the same office; he can't be pleased to find he is tied with a candidate who is using public financing with $250 maximum individual contributions.

Riemer's campaign noted that his fundraising total of $1.04 million through June 12 now exceeds the amount spent by Elrich, Roger Berliner, Rose Krasnow, George Leventhal, and Bill Frick in the 2018 Democratic primary race for executive. He also holds the new record for most individual contributions in a campaign for County Executive in a primary in the past decade.

"This report puts numbers behind what I see everyday on the campaign trail -- our supporters are fired up to bring new leadership to Montgomery County,” Riemer said in a statement this morning. “Enthusiasm determines who wins and loses primaries,” Riemer campaign manager Aziz Yakub said. “With this fundraising milestone, we will have the resources to reach voters with a powerful media campaign. Although we’ll keep raising, I am confident that we’ll have enough to win despite what any other candidate may spend."

Blair has hit the airwaves with a barrage of ads on local broadcast TV stations over the last week, showing what his budget will allow. That will put pressure on Riemer, Elrich and businessman Peter James (D) to boost media exposure in the final weeks before the July 19 primary. Republicans Shelly Skolnick and Reardon Sullivan are also running for executive, as is Devin Battley for the Green Party.

Maryland governor candidate Kelly Schulz launches Law Enforcement for Kelly coalition

Republican Maryland governor candidate Kelly Schulz launched a Law Enforcement for Kelly campaign coalition yesterday. "No other candidate in the race has received such strong and explicit backing from law enforcement leaders like Kelly Schulz has," a statement issued by the campaign said. "With the backing of seven current sheriffs, law enforcement across the state know that Kelly Schulz is the only candidate who will take action to address violent crime and who will undoubtedly stand up for and support them."

Schulz's plan to address rising violent crime includes increased funding for hiring and training of additional police officers, and for their equipment. She would seek legislation to keep violent criminals behind bars, and create new penalties for those convicted of illegal gun crimes. 

The coalition will be steered by a committee made up of seven sheriffs from across Maryland:  Sheriffs Craig Robertson of Allegany County, Jim Fredericks of Anne Arundel County, Mike Evans of Calvert County, Jim DeWees of Carroll County, Jeffrey Gahler of Harford County, Gary Hoffman of Queen Anne’s County, and Tim Cameron of St. Mary’s County. "Kelly Schulz is just the lady who can get the job done," Gahler declared in a video released by the campaign. Additional law enforcement professionals are invited to join the coalition via an online form.

“For me it is simple: as governor I will treat members of law enforcement like heroes and criminals like criminals,” Schulz said in a statement. “I always have and always will stand firmly with the brave men and women in law enforcement who put their lives on the line to protect us. It is humbling to have earned the trust and support of so many of these heroes from across the state – they deserve a governor who has their back, and that’s what they’ll have when I’m elected.”

Maryland governor candidate Doug Gansler releases Safe Maryland plan to tackle rising crime

Former Maryland Attorney General and current Democratic candidate for governor Doug Gansler released a detailed plan to address surging crime in the state at a news conference in Baltimore yesterday. Called "Safe Maryland," the 21-point plan provides a framework for Gansler's stated goal of "bringing crime down and justice up." The City of Baltimore is the state's most crime-afflicted jurisdiction, but the plan would also bring policies and resources to bear in the suburban counties around D.C. "Carjackings and other crimes are on the rise in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties," the plan's introduction notes.

The introduction also points to the lower homicide rate in Montgomery County when Gansler, a County resident, was State's Attorney there. It mentions some of his prominent and successful prosecutions of notorious criminals like the D.C. sniper, who terrorized the D.C. Metro area in 2002. Gansler cites the troubling statistic that "you have a better chance of getting away with murder in Baltimore than you do of going to jail," referring to the 41% closure rate of homicide cases in the city.

In contrast, Gansler's plan would set a goal of solving every murder. He would provide resources to hire 1000 police officers statewide, and establish better training, including tactics of de-escalation of violent confrontations between police and civilians or suspects. Gansler would prioritize gun crimes and pursuit of gun traffickers. His plan would put more armed police into schools across the state, a "first line of defense" in the event of a school shooting.

Carjackings would be another area of focus. The Safe Maryland plan calls for 10,000 new streetlights in Baltimore, and surveillance cameras across the state, both of which Gansler argues would help to catch carjackers and other offenders. He would also employ technology not only in cutting edge forensic tools, but to reduce traffic stops by having ticket-issuing dash cams in police cruisers.

Gansler would target hate crimes, and hold social media companies accountable for their role in criminal and violent activity. He referred to his past experience in applying pressure to websites like Myspace and Craigslist on issues like sex trafficking and cyberbullying as examples.

In addition to a focus on criminality, the plan would also address some of what Gansler sees as the root causes of crime and recidivism in Maryland. Safe Maryland calls for fast-track funding for infrastructure, social services and recreation programs in high-crime areas. It would prioritize employment opportunities for those released from prison, and establish drug courts in every jurisdiction. Community prosecutors would be assigned to work with community police to handle all crimes in a particular neighborhood. A "papering" policy would subject all charging documents to immediate prosecutorial review.

Gansler would also fund community programs that have shown statistical success in lowering crime rates elsewhere. His plan refers to a study of the impact of non-profits on crime rates. That study concluded that for every 10 organizations that focus on crime and community life in an area of 100,000 people, the murder rate dropped by 9% there. Greening vacant lots into park space has been shown to reduce crime rates in the surrounding neighborhood, the plan states. 

Safe Maryland would also set a goal of zero police shootings, and reduce "overpolicing" of African-Americans. It would provide more mental health resources for law enforcement personnel statewide.

"Crime is what is on everyone's mind," Gansler told reporters assembled in front of Baltimore City Hall. "People sit at the red light wondering whether they're going to be the next victim of a carjacking or not, and there is no other person in either party that is running for governor right now who has a scintilla of a background in criminal justice." In addition to highlighting his own extensive resume as a prosecutor, State's Attorney and Attorney General, Gansler was joined by Baltimore City State’s Attorney candidate Thiru Vignarajah and the Rev. Al Gwynn of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance at the news conference, in support of the ideas Gansler is putting forth.

Gansler's running mate, former Hyattsville Mayor Candace Hollingsworth, also spoke. She referred to the now-discredited crime policies of the 1990s, and how the Safe Maryland plan would go in a different direction. "The two of us are focused on building safe communities with an attention to justice," Hollingsworth said.

Surging Wes Moore, Donald Trump-endorsed Dan Cox top Google searches in Maryland governor race

Democrat Wes Moore (left) and
Republican Dan Cox top Google searches
in Maryland governor race

The lack of polling in the Maryland race to decide who will succeed Republican Larry Hogan as governor is leaving pundits, candidates and voters alike in the dark. On the Democratic side of the contest, all prognosticators have had to look at recently are a straw poll, a tracking poll obtained by WUSA 9, and a poll conducted for the Wes Moore campaign by a well-known polling firm; no major polling data has been released on the Republican side of the race. One other data point we can look at is Google search data in Google Trends. It doesn't tell us who voters will cast their ballots for, but it does indicate whom the voters want to know more about, and which candidates' names are on the minds of the public.

Wes Moore (red) vs. Dan Cox (blue) in 
Google searches over the last year

Democrat Wes Moore is by far the most-searched for candidate in the governor race over the last year, according to Google Trends data. Among Republicans, Delegate Dan Cox is the most-searched for by a wide margin. Democrat Tom Perez is very competitive with Cox over the last year, making him the second most-searched for Democrat. Moore easily tops all Democrats, although it is difficult to get an accurate result for John King, as searches for the CNN journalist of the same name are mixed in with those for the gubernatorial candidate. "John King, Jr" produces a trend line far below that of Moore's.

Wes Moore (blue) vs. Democrats Tom Perez (yellow), 
Peter Franchot (red), Doug Gansler (green) and
Rushern Baker (purple)

Each of the three boast big-impact endorsers, and their popularity in Google search is consistent over the last year, less dependent on events to spike interest. All three also benefit from having a national profile. While Republican candidate Kelly Schulz is well-known in Maryland GOP circles, she is still introducing herself to voters outside of the party, including a six-figure radio and TV ad buy this month in the Baltimore and Washington markets. 

Dan Cox (blue) vs. Republicans Kelly Schulz (red),
Robin Ficker (yellow), Joe Werner (green)

Google Trends won't tell us definitively who the actual frontrunners are, or who is likely to win. But they tell us who is on the minds of the voters, and who they want to know more about. They provide another intriguing view of the race for political junkies, and another data point to synthesize with what little else is out there - fundraising totals, endorsements, event turnout, etc. - to give us some insight into one of the most competitive and fog-shrouded horse races for Maryland's top office in recent history.

Dan Cox (blue) neck-and-neck with Tom Perez (red)
in Google searches over the last year

Wes Moore (blue) vs. Democrats John King, Jr. (red),
Jon Baron (yellow), Ashwani Jain (green) and
Jerome Segal (purple)

Wes Moore (blue) vs. Kelly Schulz (red)

Pennsylvania's Doug Mastriano to campaign for Donald Trump-endorsed governor candidate Dan Cox in Maryland

Fresh off his victory as the Republican nominee for Pennsylvania governor Tuesday, State Senator Doug Mastriano is coming to Maryland on June 25, to campaign for fellow Donald Trump endorsee Dan Cox in his run for Maryland governor. Mastriano will headline a rally for Cox, a state delegate in the Maryland House, at Leaping Greenly Farm in Hampstead. In addition to having Trump's endorsement in Maryland, Cox sees himself in a similar position as Mastriano in another way, taking on the establishment of his state party and being attacked as a result.

Mastriano has energized the GOP base in Pennsylvania like no statewide candidate since Rick Santorum in the mid-1990s. Unlike many Trump-backed hopefuls, Mastriano was already well-positioned for victory before receiving the Mar-a-Lago endorsement. A retired colonel in the U.S. Army who holds a PhD., Mastriano's ability to mobilize the religious right in his state has resulted in dozens of negative media reports describing him as a "Christian nationalist." He has been a focus of controversy for his efforts on behalf of Trump's "stop-the-steal" campaign in Pennsylvania after the 2020 election, and for his proposed changes to election laws, controversies that have only boosted his appeal among Republican voters.

Most controversial has been Mastriano's proposal to require all Pennsylvania voters to re-register to vote, to weed out inactive names on the state's voter rolls. Election integrity is sure to come up at the June 25 Cox rally in Maryland, as "voter integrity advocate" Captain Seth Keshel is also on the list of speakers for the event. Integrity of elections was also a central theme when Mastriano announced his endorsement of Cox last year.

Like the Trump endorsement, the Mastriano appearance is likely to thrill the large number of Maryland Republicans who still support the former president. Establishment Republican operatives concerned about relitigating the 2020 election when Gov. Larry Hogan-endorsed candidate Kelly Schulz is seen as most-likely to hold Hogan's broad coalition together in November 2022 are less intoxicated. Hogan and surrogates have unleashed attacks against Cox, while Schulz has touted her successful work as Commerce Secretary, which was bolstered further this week with Greenland Technologies Holding Corporation's announcement it will build an industrial vehicle manufacturing plant in White Marsh. Greenland's decision, like those of Hitachi and United Safety Technology to build Maryland plants, was made during Schulz's tenure at Commerce.

Cox is counting on high-profile endorsers like Trump and Mastriano, and the enthusiasm they generate, to outmaneuver the advantages Schulz may have. Polling of the GOP race in Maryland has been minimal compared to Pennsylvania, meaning that there is little sense of where likely voters stand on the Republican hopefuls, who also include former state delegate Robin Ficker and attorney Joe Werner. 

The June 25th Cox rally with Mastriano is currently described as "free admission," and sponsorships are going for as high as $6000. An announcement says all attendees must register online to gain admission, however.

Photo via Dan Cox for Governor

Doug Gansler endorsed by 8 current and former Maryland State's Attorneys in governor race

Former Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler picked up another round of endorsements in the Democratic race for Maryland governor on Thursday. Underlining his campaign theme of "bringing crime down and bringing justice up," Gansler was joined by eight current and former State's Attorneys from across Maryland for a press conference to receive their endorsement of his campaign in a crowded Democratic field. He was also joined by running mate Candace Hollingsworth, who served six years as the first black mayor of Hyattsville, and founded Our Black Party after the death of George Floyd.

Current Anne Arundel State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess said she has known Gansler for over twenty years, and has modeled her office operations after the way Gansler ran his when he was State's Attorney of Montgomery County. "There is no other candidate on either side of the ticket that has the experience that he has — the 22 years in law enforcement on three different levels," she noted. "[H]e has gained the trust of the voters over the years because he works hard and gets the job done.”

“It’s my pleasure to be here, because as with Anne, I’ve known Doug Gansler for almost a quarter-century now – from the time he started as State’s Attorney in Montgomery County where he was for eight years and his eight years as Attorney General for the state of Maryland," current Talbot County State’s Attorney Scott Patterson said during the press conference. "I also know that he is someone, as he indicated, [who believes] we have too many people in jail, and I know that he believes that the people that should be in prison and jail are the ones that are violent offenders that make it unsafe for the citizens to live their lives peacefully, raise families, and conduct their businesses — which is a major emphasis for him. And that’s the progressive part of him," Patterson added.

"There is no candidate I would trust more to make Maryland safe,” former Somerset County State’s Attorney Kristy Hickman said of Gansler, arguing that no gubernatorial ticket could match the experience of the Gansler-Hollingsworth team. She said she was confident the Eastern Shore would be "stronger and safer" under their leadership.

Former Worcester County State’s Attorney Joel Todd kept the focus on the Eastern Shore, a critical area for Gansler to do well in if he is to win the primary on July 19, and among the most receptive regions of the state to the tough-on-crime message that has set his candidacy apart from others in the Democratic field. "Doug will be a governor the Eastern Shore can put their trust behind, and I am proud to endorse his candidacy," he said, recalling that Gansler "has always been a champion of the Eastern Shore and our community needs."

Gansler was also endorsed by four other past State's Attorneys, Michelle Barnes (Dorchester County), Chris Eastridge (Cecil County), Leonard C. Collins, Jr. (Charles County), and Dario Broccolino (Howard County).

“I’m honored to be endorsed by eight current and former State’s Attorneys who trust me to make Maryland safe, and to do so in a way that is fair,” Gansler said. “As the only candidate in this race with a background in criminal justice – specifically, 22 years of experience as Attorney General, Montgomery County State’s Attorney, and a federal prosecutor – I am prepared to bring crime down and justice up across the state on Day One. I have prosecuted some of the state’s worst criminals, including the Beltway Sniper, and was the first office in the nation to successfully incorporate community prosecution. As governor, I will hire 1,000 additional police officers across the state, will put 10,000 lights in Baltimore, and will get guns out of the hands of violent offenders. Furthermore, crime disproportionately impacts communities of color and underserved communities. We need to make Baltimore safe for Baltimoreans, not just tourists or people who want to do business there.” 

Maryland governor candidate Kelly Schulz launches Women for Kelly coalition at Ellicott City event

Kelly Schulz, a Republican candidate for Maryland governor, helped launch a new Women for Kelly coalition at an event in Ellicott City last night. The event was held at Manor Hill Brewing, a farm brewery in Howard County. Schulz, who has been endorsed by incumbent Gov. Larry Hogan (R), served as Secretary of Labor and Secretary of Commerce in Hogan's administration over the last seven years. 

Schulz announced this afternoon that she has been endorsed by Taneytown Mayor Bradley Wantz. Delegate Dan Cox, former Delegate Robin Ficker and attorney Joe Werner are also competing for the Republican nomination in the July 19, 2022 Maryland gubernatorial primary.

Photos via Kelly Schulz for Governor campaign

Wes Moore only Democratic candidate for Maryland governor surging in new poll, 42% still undecided

A new poll in the Maryland Democratic primary race for governor conducted for Wes Moore for Maryland by Garin Hart Yang Research Group could be seen as a positive for many candidates ahead of the July 19 vote. With 42% of Maryland Democratic primary voters still "undecided," there are a lot of votes out there for the taking in the next eight weeks. And despite a very quiet spring, Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot finished first in the poll with 19%. But Moore's campaign, which has been gaining momentum in endorsements and straw polls in recent weeks, is energized by the finding that Moore is the only candidate to surge in the results since GHYRG's November 2021 poll; Moore increased his support from 7% to 13%, giving him a second place finish.

"Wes Moore is the ONLY candidate who has increased his support and as a result he has moved into second place, within striking distance of the lead," the polling firm wrote in a memo to the Moore campaign. The memo declares Franchot's campaign "stagnant, with literally NO movement since last September." Poll results show former Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker holding steady at 11% in third place, and former U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez, former Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler, and former U.S. Education Secretary John King essentially tied for fourth, within the +/-4.1% margin of error.

The firm surveyed 601 likely Democratic primary voters between May 5 and May 9, 2022, with the exception of Mother's Day. Results also showed that Moore's voters are more committed (54%) than Franchot's (45%) to supporting their candidate "strongly" in the primary. And among voters who have heard of Moore, he is beating Franchot 27% to 19%. 

“Wes Moore for Maryland is the only campaign moving forward in the polls and we are the only campaign with the momentum, the resources, the path, the vision, and the leaders to win this primary in July and the general election in November,” Moore's campaign manager Ned Miller said in a statement. “We have the momentum and a unique opportunity to win and build a more inclusive, safer, and prosperous Maryland, and we are going to continue connecting with voters across the state in the next two months," Moore said after his campaign released the poll results. 

Poll graph courtesy Garin Hart Yang Research Group

Marc Elrich endorsed by transit union in Montgomery County Executive race

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) has been endorsed by the Amalgamated Transit Union  Local 689 in his run for reelection in the July 19, 2022 Democratic primary. It is the latest labor endorsement for the incumbent, who is already backed by the Montgomery County Education Association, the Service Employees International Union 32BJ and Local 500, and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 868. 

"I am very grateful for their support and trust in my leadership," Elrich said in a statement. "ATU Local 689 is comprised of over 13,000 members and retirees performing occupations within the many skilled transportation crafts for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), and MetroAccess, among others. I have been committed to supporting our workers and expanding and improving transit opportunities is part of that commitment." Elrich is running against Democrats David Blair, Peter James and Hans Riemer in the primary. Shelly Skolnick and Reardon Sullivan are running for the Republican nomination in the race.

Wes Moore wins, Doug Gansler a surprise second in Western Maryland Democratic Summit straw poll

Wes Moore (right) and running mate
Aruna Miller after winning 2022
Western Maryland Democratic Summit
straw poll in MD governor race

Democrat Wes Moore continues to gain momentum as he attempts to break away from a crowded field in the July 19 Maryland gubernatorial primary, taking first place with 153 votes in what many consider the first major contest in a statewide race, the 2022 Western Maryland Democratic Summit straw poll. That might not have been too shocking, but the real surprise was the second-place finish by former Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler, who beat once-assumed-to-be-frontrunner Peter Franchot 7 to 1 in the poll with 71 votes.

Former Montgomery County Councilmember and U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez took a distant third place with 48 votes, John King with 45 votes, Peter Franchot in a big dropoff at only 10 votes, Ashwani Jain at 5 votes, Rushern Baker and Jon Baron tied at 2 votes apiece, and Jerome Segal bringing up the rear with a single vote.

"Today's straw poll results from the #WesternMaryland #DemSummit2022 speak for themselves," Moore tweeted after the vote. "Our movement is strong statewide, and Marylanders are excited about the opportunity our vision presents. Together, we will build a state where we leave no one behind."

Doug Gansler

The Gansler campaign was thrilled with the result, which it did not find as surprising, because their candidate has been gaining notice locally for having a presence west of Hagerstown in this campaign. “Candidates like former Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler, a Democrat, and Kelly M. Schulz, a Republican, former state delegate and labor secretary under Gov. Larry Hogan, have come through the region during the course of the campaign” the Cumberland Times-News editorial board opined. “[M]ost [of the other candidates] have been ghosts, relegated to the eastern half of the state, more a series of pictures and words than person.” 

Gansler and running mate Candace Hollingsworth, a former mayor of Hyattsville, thanked voters for the strong show of support at the Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Flintstone, Maryland. “I’m grateful to all the Western Maryland Democrats who cast their vote for Candace and me in today’s straw poll, and as governor I will make sure the rural parts of Maryland help lead the way as we build a better, safer and greener future for our state,” Gansler said in a statement. “This is a two-person race, and crime is the number one issue voters care about. As a former prosecutor and attorney general, I am the candidate best-equipped — in fact, I am the only candidate at all equipped — to address the massive rise in crime across our state and make Maryland safe.”

“Peter Franchot’s entire rationale for his candidacy just completely fell apart; he is not the candidate who runs strongest statewide. Doug beat Franchot 7 to 1 in a region of the state where Franchot himself claims to be strong,” Gansler campaign manager Shaun Daniels said after the vote. “This is the first public poll where Democrats put pen to paper to publicly declare their choices. Doug Gansler placed second, far outpacing the next place finishers. It is obvious the field is narrowing. We have more than a million dollars on hand and every Democrat in Maryland is going to know that Doug and Candace are the best candidates, not just to take on Kelly Schulz in November, but to keep us safe.”

Gansler has been endorsed by Western Maryland’s only Democratic Senator, Sen. Ron Young.