Former Education Secretary Under Obama Announces Bid for Maryland Governor

The field of candidates for Maryland’s 2022 gubernatorial election continues to grow.

Most recently, John King, the former Education Secretary under President Barack Obama, put his hat in the ring and is putting education at the forefront of his campaign.

King, a Silver Spring resident, announced his candidacy Tuesday morning on social media, with a campaign announcement video. The video opens with former President Obama’s narration discussing King’s lifelong experience as an educator.

King says in the video that education saved him after his parents died when he was young, and it also inspired him to become an educator.

“The great thing about the idea of a teacher as governor is that teachers know we have to start with listening to our students, seeing each of our students as whole people. That’s how a governor should think,” King says in the video.

The launch video also touts the historical potential of King’s candidacy; if elected, he would be the first Black governor of Maryland. In the video, King is seen visiting a cabin on a farm in Gaithersburg, where his great-grandfather was enslaved.

King is the latest Democrat from Montgomery County to enter the 2022 gubernatorial race, which also includes Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot of Takoma Park philanthropist Jon Baron of Bethesda. Two Republicans have also entered the 2022 race—former Montgomery County Executive candidate Robin Ficker and Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly Schulz.

 

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Deirdre Byrne

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.

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