The 2018 Maryland gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2018. The date included the election of the governor, lieutenant governor, and all members of the Maryland General Assembly. Popular incumbent Governor Larry Hogan and Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford, both Republicans, were elected to a second term in a landslide against Democrat Ben Jealous, the former NAACP CEO, and his running mate Susan Turnbull. This was one of eight Republican-held governorships up for election in a state carried by Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.
Hogan became the second Republican governor of Maryland to win re-election, and the first since Theodore McKeldin in 1954. He also became the first Republican to win over 55% of the vote in a statewide election in Maryland since U.S. Senator Charles Mathias in 1980. This was the first election since 1974 in which Maryland simultaneously elected a gubernatorial nominee and a U.S. Senate nominee of opposite parties. This was the first and only Maryland gubernatorial election in which both major party candidates received over one million votes. As of 2025, this is the last time that a Republican won a statewide election in Maryland.
Background At the presidential level, Maryland is a staunchly Democratic state due to the large number of Democratic voters in the Washington metropolitan area and Baltimore City. Maryland had not seen a Republican presidential candidate win its votes since 1988, and the state had not been within 15% since 2004; Hillary Clinton won the state by 26 points over Donald Trump (60% to 34%) in 2016, Barack Obama defeated Mitt Romney by 26 points in 2012 (62% to 36%), and Obama defeated John McCain by 25 points in 2008 (62% to 37%).
Hogan was elected governor in 2014, defeating then-lieutenant governor Anthony Brown by a margin of 51% to 47%; the result was considered one of the biggest election upsets that year. Prior to Hogan's victory, Bob Ehrlich, elected in 2002, had been the only Republican elected as Governor of Maryland since Spiro Agnew. However, Ehrlich was defeated for reelection in 2006 by Martin O'Malley and defeated again in 2010, when he faced O'Malley in a rematch.
In April 2018, Hogan had a 68% approval rating, the second-highest approval of any governor in the country, only behind Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, who had a 71% approval rating. Despite the state's Democratic leaning, Hogan had a high approval rating among all partisan groups (65% approval from Democrats, 64% of Independents, and 81% of Republicans).
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominated Larry Hogan, incumbent governor
Declined Barry Glassman, Harford County Executive John Grasso, Anne Arundel County Councilman
Endorsements
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominated Ben Jealous, former president and CEO of the NAACP Running mate: Susie Turnbull, former chair of the Maryland Democratic Party and former vice chair of the Democratic National Committee
Eliminated in primary Rushern Baker, Prince George's County executive Running mate: Elizabeth Embry, former Maryland Attorney General Crime Division Chief and candidate for mayor of Baltimore in 2016 Ralph Jaffe, perennial candidate Running mate: Freda Jaffe, sister of Ralph Jaffe James Jones II Running mate: Charles Waters Richard Madaleno, State Senator Running mate: Luwanda Jenkins, businesswoman and former Maryland Special Secretary for Minority Affairs Alec Ross, author and former State Department official Running mate: Julie Verratti, co-founder of Denziens Brewing Co, former senior advisor at the Small Business Administration, and LGBT political activist. Jim Shea, attorney Running mate: Brandon Scott, Baltimore City Councilmember Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, former policy director to former First Lady Michelle Obama and former State Department official Running mate: Sharon Blake, former president of the Baltimore Teachers Union
Deceased Kevin Kamenetz, Baltimore County Executive (deceased May 10, 2018) Running mate: Valerie Ervin, senior advisor to the Working Families Party and former Montgomery County Councilmember (Because of Kamenetz' death, Valerie Ervin became a candidate for governor. See under "Withdrew" heading for more information.)
Withdrew Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, policy consultant and wife of U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings Valerie Ervin, former senior advisor to the Working Families Party and former Montgomery County Councilmember Running mate: Marisol Johnson, former vice chair of the Baltimore County Board of Education and small businesswoman (Valerie Ervin, who had been the running mate of Kevin Kamenetz before he died on May 10, became a candidate for governor with Marisol Johnson as running mate on May 17. This came too late to change the primary ballot, so notices were posted at polling places informing voters that votes for Kamenetz and Ervin would be counted as votes for Ervin and Johnson. On June 12, Ervin withdrew from the race.Wiggins, Ovetta (June 12, 2018). "Valerie Ervin drops out of Md. governor's race, will endorse Rushern Baker". The Washington Post.)
Declined John Delaney, U.S. Representative (ran for President in 2020,) Peter Franchot, State Comptroller Brian Frosh, attorney general Doug Gansler, former attorney general and candidate for governor in 2014 Ike Leggett, Montgomery County executive Maggie McIntosh, state delegate Heather Mizeur, former state delegate and candidate for governor in 2014 Joseline Peña-Melnyk, state delegate and candidate for MD-04 in 2016 Thomas Perez, chair of the Democratic National Committee, former United States Secretary of Labor, and former Maryland Secretary of Labor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, former mayor of Baltimore David Trone, businessman and candidate for MD-08 in 2016 (running for MD-06) Kenneth Ulman, former Howard County executive and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RushernBaker ValerieErvin BenJealous KevinKamenetz RichardMadaleno JimShea KrishVignarajah Other UndecidedGonzales ResearchGonzales Research June 4–10, 2018 505 ± 4.5% 25% 7% 23% – 9% 6% 5% 2% 22%OpinionWorksOpinionWorks May 29 – June 6, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 16% 5% 16% – 4% 4% 4% 7% 44%University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland May 29 – June 3, 2018 532 ± 6.0% 16% 8% 21% – 6% 4% 4% 2% 39%Mason-DixonMason-Dixon February 20–24, 2018 500 ± 4.5% 26% – 14% 15% 4% 3% 2% 3% 32%Goucher CollegeGoucher College February 12–18, 2018 409 ± 4.8% 19% – 10% 12% 2% 2% 2% 6%Alec Ross 3%, Ralph Jaffe 1%, Other 2% 47%Gonzales ResearchGonzales Research December 27, 2017 – January 5, 2018 501 ± 4.5% 24% – 14% 14% 5% 1% 2% 8% 33%Mason-DixonMason-Dixon September 27–30, 2017 400 ± 5.0% 28% – 10% 11% 3% <1% 1% 1% 46%Goucher CollegeGoucher College September 14–18, 2017 324 ± 5.4% 13% – 6% 8% 2% 2% 1% 22% 44%
Results
Green nomination
Candidates
Declared Ian Schlakman, entrepreneur and former co-chair of the Maryland Green Party Running mate: Annie Chambers, reverend and Baltimore City Resident Advisory Board member
Results Following the Maryland Green Party's nominating procedure, the delegates of the Coordinating Council, which is the party's State Central Committee, made the decision to nominate the gubernatorial ticket as no other candidate had filed by the party's March 30, 2018, deadline. More than one ticket seeking the nomination would have required the party to conduct a primary, an obligation not mandated by the State Board of Elections for non-principal parties.
Green State Central Committee Designation CandidateDelegates in favorDelegates againstDelegates not votingIan Schlakman / Annie Chambers1505
Libertarian convention Candidates Declared Shawn Quinn, nominee for governor in 2014 and nominee for the House of Delegates in 2010 Running mate: Christina Smith
CandidateVotes in favorVotes againstNot votingShawn Quinn / Christina Smith3210
General election Debates Larry Hogan and Ben Jealous met for their one and only scheduled debate on September 24. The debate was livestreamed in the evening by the Maryland Public Television.
Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political Report October 26, 2018The Washington Post November 5, 2018FiveThirtyEight November 5, 2018Rothenberg Political Report November 1, 2018Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2018RealClearPolitics November 4, 2018Daily Kos November 5, 2018Fox News November 5, 2018Politico November 5, 2018Governing November 5, 2018
Polling
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LarryHogan (R) BenJealous (D) Other UndecidedUniversity of MarylandUniversity of Maryland October 4–7, 2018 648 LV ± 4.5% 58% 38% 0% 3% 814 RV ± 4.0% 56% 36% 0% 2%Gonzales ResearchGonzales Research October 1–6, 2018 806 ± 3.5% 54% 36% 2% 9%Mason-DixonMason-Dixon September 24–26, 2018 625 ± 4.0% 52% 37% 2% 9%Goucher CollegeGoucher College September 11–16, 2018 472 ± 4.5% 54% 32% 2% 9%Gonzales ResearchGonzales Research August 1–8, 2018 831 ± 3.5% 52% 36% 1% 11%Garin-Hart-Yang (D-Jealous)Garin-Hart-Yang (D-Jealous) July 10–14, 2018 601 ± 4.0% 49% 40% – 11%Gonzales Research June 4–10, 2018 800 ± 3.5% 51% 34% – 14%University of Maryland May 29 – June 3, 2018 968 ± 4.5% 51% 39% – 10%Goucher CollegeGoucher College April 14–19, 2018 617 ± 3.9% 44% 31% – 22%Mason-DixonMason-Dixon February 20–22, 2018 625 ± 4.0% 50% 33% – 17%Gonzales ResearchGonzales Research December 27, 2017 – January 5, 2018 823 ± 3.5% 49% 36% – 15%Mason-Dixon September 27–30, 2017 625 ± 4.0% 49% 33% – 18%
with Rushern Baker Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LarryHogan (R) RushernBaker (D) UndecidedGonzales Research June 4–10, 2018 800 ± 3.5% 48% 37% 15%University of Maryland May 29 – June 3, 2018 968 ± 4.5% 51% 39% 9%Goucher College April 14–19, 2018 617 ± 3.9% 44% 31% 22%Burton Research & Strategies (R)Burton Research & Strategies (R) March 4–11, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 54% 29% 15%Mason-Dixon February 20–22, 2018 625 ± 4.0% 51% 36% 13%Gonzales Research December 27, 2017 – January 5, 2018 823 ± 3.5% 47% 37% 16%Mason-Dixon September 27–30, 2017 625 ± 4.0% 46% 39% 15%
with Richard Madaleno Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LarryHogan (R) RichardMadaleno (D) UndecidedGonzales Research June 4–10, 2018 800 ± 3.5% 50% 36% 14%University of Maryland May 29 – June 3, 2018 465–497 ± 6.0–6.5% 50% 40% 10%Goucher College April 14–19, 2018 617 ± 3.9% 45% 27% 26%Mason-Dixon September 27–30, 2017 625 ± 4.0% 49% 30% 21%
with Alec Ross Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LarryHogan (R) AlecRoss (D) UndecidedUniversity of Maryland May 29 – June 3, 2018 465–497 ± 6.0–6.5% 55% 31% 13%Goucher College April 14–19, 2018 617 ± 3.9% 46% 26% 26%
with Jim Shea Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LarryHogan (R) JimShea (D) UndecidedUniversity of Maryland May 29 – June 3, 2018 465–497 ± 6.0–6.5% 53% 35% 13%Goucher College April 14–19, 2018 617 ± 3.9% 47% 27% 25%
with Krish Vignarajah Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LarryHogan (R) KrishVignarajah (D) UndecidedUniversity of Maryland May 29 – June 3, 2018 465–497 ± 6.0–6.5% 54% 35% 11%Goucher College April 14–19, 2018 617 ± 3.9% 45% 25% 27%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LarryHogan (R) GenericDemocrat Other UndecidedGoucher CollegeGoucher College February 12–17, 2018 658 ± 3.8% 47% 43% – 10%GBA Strategies (D)GBA Strategies (D) November 14–18, 2017 600 ± 4.0% 45% 35% – –OpinionWorksOpinionWorks October 25 – November 7, 2017 850 ± 3.3% 43% 28% 4% 24%Washington Post/University of MarylandWashington Post/University of Maryland March 19–22, 2017 914 ± 4.0% 39% 36% 3% 22%Washington Post/University of MarylandWashington Post/University of Maryland March 16–19, 2017 914 ± 4.0% 41% 37% 2% 20%
with Valerie Ervin