Candidates for Maryland’s 2022 Gubernatorial Race: Who’s In? Who’s Out?

Maryland Government House
PHOTO | Maryland

Candidates are starting to announce their candidacy for Maryland’s 2022 gubernatorial election. Maryland’s current governor, Larry Hogan (R), is ineligible to run for reelection due to term limits.

Here’s a look at who is in, who is out, and who is up in the air when it comes to putting their hat in the ring to try and become Maryland’s next governor.

The filing date to declare candidacy is Feb. 22, 2022.

Candidates Who Have Confirmed They Are Running, Exploring a Run for Maryland Governor

So far the race to become Maryland’s governor include nine Democrats and two Republicans. Of those who have entered the race, nine of the candidates are from Montgomery County.

• Rushern Baker (D), the former Prince George’s County Executive who ran for governor in 2018, confirmed to the Washington Post in April that he is running for governor. He does not appear to have a campaign website yet.
• Jon Baron (D)—a Bethesda resident who serves as vice president of Arnold Ventures, a Texas-based philanthropy—announced in March 2021 that he’s exploring a run for governor. Here’s a link to his campaign website.
• Robin Ficker (R), who ran for Montgomery County Executive in 2018, confirmed his candidacy in April 2020. Here’s a link to Ficker’s campaign website.
• Peter Franchot (D), the comptroller of Maryland, confirmed his candidacy in January 2020. Franchot spoke to MyMCM about his candidacy in February 2021. Here’s a link to Franchot’s campaign website.
• Doug Gansler (D), the Maryland Attorney General from 2007 to 2015 and the former Montgomery County State’s Attorney from 1999 to 2007 declared his candidacy in May. Gansler, a lifelong resident of Montgomery County, ran an unsuccessful campaign for governor in 2014. Here is a link to his campaign website.
• Ashwani Jain (D)—a former staffer in the Obama Administration who ran an unsuccessful campaign in 2018 for Montgomery County’s at-large council—announced on Jan. 27 that he was running for governor. Here is a link to his campaign website.
• John King (D), the former Education Secretary under Obama, confirmed in April that he’s joining the field of candidates vying to be Maryland’s next governor. Here’s a link to King’s campaign website.
• Wes Moore (D), who was born in Takoma Park, announced his candidacy in June. Moore is a former Rhodes Scholar, combat veteran, and former CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation. Here is a link to his campaign website.
• Tom Perez (D), the former chair of the Democratic National Committee who served as a County Councilmember from 2002 to 2006, announced in June that he is entering the race. Perez resides in Takoma Park and also served as U.S. Labor Secretary under former President Barack Obama. Here is a link to his campaign website.
• Mike Rosenbaum (D), a Baltimore entrepreneur who grew up in Montgomery County, officially entered the race in May. Rosenbaum previously worked as an economist in the Clinton White House. Here’s a link to his campaign website.
• Kelly Schulz (R), the commerce secretary of Maryland, announced her candidacy in April. Here’s a link to her campaign website.

Count These Individuals Out of Maryland Gubernatorial Race

• Boyd Rutherford (R), the current lieutenant governor of Maryland, confirmed in April that he will not seek the governorship in 2022.

Unclear Whether They’re Running for Governor

• Angela Alsobrooks (D), the Prince George’s County Executive, told reporters in March that at “this moment I’m running for re-election for county executive.” However, a recent Washington Post profile of Alsobrooks says she is “considering running for governor in 2022, and raised the most money last year of any of the known potential candidates.”
• Former Congressman John Delaney (D) of Potomac, who ran for president in 2020, said on the Montgomery Talks podcast in October 2019 that he had not given any thought to running for governor. It’s unclear if his position has changed.
• Johnny Olszewski Jr. (D), the Baltimore County Executive, said in a Twitter thread on April 11 that he’s “thoughtfully, prayerfully, and deliberately considering the 2022 election.”
• Michael Steele (R), the former lieutenant governor of Maryland turned MSNBC commentator, told the Baltimore Sun in April that he’s giving “very serious consideration” to running for governor.

This post was last updated June 24, 2021. It will be updated as candidates continue to declare their intention about whether or not to enter the race.

About Deirdre Byrne

Deirdre Byrne is a social media coordinator for Montgomery Community Media. She can be reached at dbyrne@mymcmedia.org or on twitter at @DeirdreByrneMCM.

View all posts by Deirdre Byrne