The 2022 Maryland gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the next governor of Maryland. Incumbent Governor Larry Hogan was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term. This was the first gubernatorial election in which both parties' nominees for lieutenant governor were women.
The Democratic and Republican primaries were held on July 19, with state delegate Dan Cox securing the Republican nomination, while author and former nonprofit CEO Wes Moore won the Democratic nomination. Political observers gave Moore a strong chance of defeating Cox in the general election, with Democrats outnumbering Republicans 2-to-1 in the state. Shortly after polls closed, several national news organizations called the election for Moore. Moore became the first African-American governor of Maryland after being sworn in on January 18, 2023.
This race was one of six Republican-held governorships up for election in 2022 in a state Joe Biden won in the 2020 presidential election, and one of three that voted for Biden by double-digits. Moore flipped six counties Hogan won in 2018, and his electoral strength largely came from densely populated Prince George's County, Montgomery County, and Baltimore City, where he improved on the margins of 2018 Democratic nominee Ben Jealous by roughly 20 percent. Moore won more than twice as many votes as Cox, with his landslide margin of victory the highest of any gubernatorial candidate in the state since William Donald Schaefer in 1986. He was the first Democrat to carry Anne Arundel, Frederick, Kent, and Talbot counties since that election as well.
Republican primary
Campaign
Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford, who was seen as the likely Republican frontrunner in the race, announced in April 2021 that he would not seek to succeed Governor Larry Hogan. Kelly Schulz, the Hogan administration's Secretary of Commerce and former Secretary of Labor, announced her candidacy just hours after Rutherford's announcement.
State delegate Dan Cox entered the race in July 2021, and received the endorsement of former president Donald Trump in November. Hogan endorsed Schulz in the primary soon after, setting up a proxy war between Trump and Hogan in the Republican primary. Schulz outpaced Cox in fundraising and had outspent Cox 4–1, but polling showed that the two candidates were running neck-and-neck.
In June 2022, the Democratic Governors Association spent $1.2 million for a television advertisement promoting Cox, hoping he would win the nomination and be easier for Democrats to defeat in November. Schulz and Hogan accused Democrats of meddling in the Republican primary, while Cox denied receiving any support from the DGA, saying that he had "nothing to do with the ad purchase". Some observers, including strategist Jim Dornan, said that two factors — Trump's endorsement and the DGA ad blitz — allowed Cox to advance to the general election. Other observers, including former Maryland lieutenant governor and Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele, said the ads had little impact on voters, highlighting that far-right politician and neo-Confederate activist Michael Peroutka had won the attorney general primary on the same ballot by an almost identical margin to Cox, even though the DGA did not run any ads on his behalf.
Candidates
Nominee Dan Cox, state delegate for the fourth district (2019–2023) and nominee for MD-08 in 2016 Running mate: Gordana Schifanelli, attorney
Eliminated in primary Robin Ficker, former state delegate for district 15B (1979–1983), disbarred attorney, sports heckler and perennial candidate Running mate: LeRoy Yegge, non-profit executive and bar general manager Kelly Schulz, former Maryland secretary of commerce (2019–2022), former Maryland secretary of labor (2015–2019) and former state delegate for district 4A (2011–2015) Running mate: Jeff Woolford, former assistant secretary of the Maryland Department of Health (2021–2022) Joe Werner, attorney, Democratic nominee for MD-01 in 2016 and Democratic nominee for Harford County executive in 2014 Running mate: Minh Thanh Luong
Declined Barry Glassman, Harford County executive (2014–2023) (ran for comptroller) Andy Harris, U.S. representative for Maryland's 1st congressional district (2011–present) (ran for re-election) J. B. Jennings, former minority leader of the Maryland Senate (2014–2020) and state senator for the seventh district (ran for re-election, endorsed Schulz) Allan Kittleman, former Howard County executive (2014–2018) (ran for Howard County executive, endorsed Schulz) Kim Klacik, radio talk show host and nominee for Maryland's 7th congressional district in 2020 (endorsed Cox) Boyd Rutherford, lieutenant governor of Maryland (2015–2023) (endorsed Schulz) Michael Steele, former Republican National Committee chairman (2009–2011), nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2006, and former lieutenant governor of Maryland (2003–2007)
Endorsements
Debates and forums The Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland hosted the first Republican gubernatorial candidate forum on October 15, 2021. Candidates Daniel Cox and Robin Ficker attended the event, where they informed voters of color about their policies surrounding the Black Agenda. Kelly Schulz missed the event due to a prior commitment. At the end of the forum, Darryl Barnes asked all of the attending candidates to post a Black agenda to their campaign websites by November 1; none of the Republican candidates running for governor complied with this request.
The Maryland Latino Legislative Caucus of Maryland hosted the second Republican gubernatorial candidate forum on November 8, 2021. Robin Ficker was the lone Republican candidate to attend the event, where he advocated for cutting the state sales tax, starting statewide English classes, and reopening schools.
The Maryland State Bar Association hosted individual, hour-long conversations with all running candidates from December 6 to December 10, 2021. Daniel Cox, Robin Ficker, and Kelly Schulz were invited to attend the forum. Cox was unable to attend the forum on December 10, 2021, due to the General Assembly's special session.
On December 10, 2021, the Committee for Montgomery annual legislative breakfast featured a forum with Republican and Democratic candidates for governor. The forum was moderated by Ovetta Wiggins, and the only Republican candidate to attend was Robin Ficker.
On March 8 and March 9, 2022, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters collaborated with Maryland Matters, the Baltimore County NAACP, the Maryland Sierra Club, and the Chesapeake Climate Action Network to host two gubernatorial forums that focused on the topic of climate change. Robin Ficker was the only Republican candidate to attend the forums, as candidates Dan Cox and Kelly Schulz declined invitations to attend. The first forum took place at the Riggs Alumni Center at the University of Maryland at College Park and was moderated by Josh Kurtz, Tonya Harrison-Edwards, and Rona Kobell, and the second forum took place at the Ungar Athenaeum at Goucher College and was moderated by Kurtz, Staci Hartwell, Sheilah Kast, and Stella Krajick.
On March 30, 2022, Bowie State University and the Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce hosted a gubernatorial forum for candidates to share their vision and agenda on economic development in Maryland. Robin Ficker was the only Republican candidate to attend the forum, which was moderated by Micheal McGee.
On April 30, 2022, Frostburg State University, the Allegany College of Maryland, and Garrett College hosted a gubernatorial forum at Frostburg, which was attended by candidates Dan Cox and Robin Ficker. The forum was moderated by Amanda Mangan, and questions were asked by a group of students from the three hosting universities, Allegany High School, and Bishop Walsh School.
2022 Maryland Republican gubernatorial primary debates Date Host Moderator Link Participants Participant Absent Non-invitee Invitee Withdrawn Cox Ficker Schulz Werner 1 Oct 14, 2021 Legislative BlackCaucus of Maryland Darryl BarnesFacebookFacebook AN 2 Nov 8, 2021 Maryland LegislativeLatino Caucus Patricia VilloneFacebookFacebookA AN 3 Dec 6–10, 2021 Maryland StateBar Association Robert ZirkinYouTubeYouTubeAA N 4 Dec 10, 2021 Committee forMontgomery Ovetta WigginsYouTubeYouTubeA AN 5 Mar 8, 2022 Maryland MattersMaryland LCVMaryland Sierra ClubChesapeake CANEd HatcherAngie CannonBaltimore County NAACP Josh KurtzTonya Harrison-EdwardsRona KobellYouTubeYouTubeFacebookFacebookA AN 6 Mar 9, 2022 Josh KurtzSheilah KastStella KrajickStaci HartwellYouTubeYouTubeFacebookFacebookA AN 7 Mar 30, 2022 Bowie State UniversityMaryland BlackChamber of Commerce Micheal McGeeFacebookFacebookA AN 8 Apr 12, 2022 Bowie, Maryland Gary AllenSue LiveraYouTubeYouTube AAN 9 Apr 18, 2022 Frederick CountyConservative Club Ryan HedrickAndrew LangerYouTubeYouTube AA 10 Apr 21, 2022 Republican Women ofCarroll County Scott EwartFacebookFacebook AN 11 Apr 30, 2022 Frostburg State UniversityAllegany College of MarylandGarrett College Amanda ManganVimeoVimeo AN 12 May 7, 2022 Republican Women ofCecil County Harold PhilipsYouTubeYouTube AA 13 May 31, 2022 Maryland StateBar Association Pamela WoodDick UlianoYouTubeYouTubeAA A 14 June 8, 2022 Bethesda Magazine Anne TallentYouTubeYouTube
Fundraising Primary campaign finance activity through July 3, 2022 Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand Dan Cox $689,743 $500,473 $189,270 Robin Ficker $1,163,807 $949,438 $208,743 Kelly Schulz $2,633,586 $1,899,989 $733,597 Source: Maryland State Board of Elections
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DanielCox RobinFicker KellySchulz JoeWerner Other UndecidedGoucher CollegeGoucher CollegeJune 15–19, 2022414 (LV)± 4.8%25%2%22%3%2%45%OpinionWorksOpinionWorksMay 27 – June 2, 2022428 (LV)± 4.7%21%5%27%4%1%42%Remington Research Group (R)May 1–3, 20221,047 (LV)± 3.0%76%–13%––11%Public Policy Polling (D)Public Policy Polling (D)January 28–29, 2022565 (LV)± 4.1%20%–12%––68%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BoydRutherford Steve Schuh Barry Glassman Allan Kittleman Kelly Schulz Other UndecidedChange Research (D)Change Research (D)September 29 – October 1, 2020– (V)± 7.0%19%5%3%2%2%——
Results
Democratic primary
Campaign The first two major Democratic candidates to announce were state Comptroller Peter Franchot and former Prince George's County executive Rushern Baker. Both Franchot and Baker were seen as the leading candidates in the race, but early polling showed that more than 40 percent of likely voters were still undecided. With high name recognition and a big war-chest built up over years without primary challengers as Comptroller, Franchot entered the race as the nominal frontrunner.
As the campaign progressed, more candidates began entering the race, with Franchot holding onto a solid lead in polling as the race expanded to a four-way battle between Franchot, Baker, author and former Robin Hood Foundation CEO Wes Moore, and former Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez. On June 10, 2022, Baker suspended his campaign for governor, his campaign having suffered from financial challenges and decreasing party support, creating an opening in voter-rich Prince George's County. Polling conducted later that month by Goucher College showed Franchot, Moore, and Perez in a statistical tie, with each of the three frontrunners having enough resources and endorsements to compete for undecided voters.