Maryland 2022 Primary: Get to know the Governor, Comptroller and Attorney General candidates
The 2022 Maryland Primary begins Thursday with early voting and vote-by mail. Election Day is July 19. There are multiple Republican and Democratic candidates vying for three of Maryland's top offices – governor, comptroller and attorney general.
Here are the candidates running for each office in each party:
Governor
Republican Candidates
Dan Cox
Cox has lived in Maryland all his life. He most recently served as a State Delegate for Frederick and Carroll Counties. He was previously the Republican nominee for Congress in Congressional District 8. He has received support from former President Donald Trump.
#TheFinal5: Dan Cox runs for MD Governor
Maryland Del. Dan Cox (R) says the same issues that propelled Glenn Youngkin to victory in Virginia are putting the GOP in the driver’s seat ahead of this year’s gubernatorial elections. He joins Jim on "The Final 5" to take a look at his candidacy and why he believes the support of former President Trump is a boon to his chances, even in a state where Trump lost decisively.
Robin Ficker
Ficker is a lifelong Marylander who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. He has also served as a state legislator. One of his main campaign platforms has been to cut Maryland's sales tax by 2 cents.
#TheFinal5: Robin Ficker runs for Maryland Governor
He’s no stranger to Montgomery County voters, but Robin Ficker is turning his sights to Annapolis. The longtime political fixture, who’s hedging his bets on a vow to cut the state sales tax by 2 cents, joins Jim on #TheFinal5 to talk about the race, what he has to say about his GOP opponents, and if his recent disbarment has changed his approach.
Kelly Schulz
Schulz was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Frederick County. She most recently served seven years in Governor Larry Hogan’s administration as the Secretary of Labor and Secretary of Commerce.
#TheFinal5: Kelly Schulz runs for MD Governor
After serving as a delegate from Frederick County, and a stint in Gov. Larry Hogan’s cabinet, Kelly Schulz is making her case for the state’s top job to #TheFinal5. Schultz, one of four Republicans running in the July primary and the only woman on either major party ticket, is running with the backing of Gov. Hogan. She shares more about her platform with Jim Lokay including fighting crime, and what she would do if the Supreme Court makes a move on Roe v. Wade.
Joe Werner
Werner's ancestors came to Fells Point, Maryland in the 1890s, according to his website. He grew up in and around Baltimore and went to Towson University. He also received his Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law.
#TheFinal5: Joe Werner runs for MD Governor
Attorney Joe Werner last faced voters in Maryland’s 1st congressional district as a Democrat. Now, he’s seeking the GOP nomination for governor. He’s one of four candidates in the Republican field. He joins Jim on "The Final 5" to talk about his top priorities, why he decided to shift parties, and whether the national political climate will find itself playing out in Maryland.
Democratic Candidates
Jon Baron
Baron has lived in Montgomery County for 27 years. He has worked as a Congressional staffer, a Clinton Administration official and been an appointee of both Democratic and Republican Presidents, being confirmed twice by the Senate. He founded the Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy, a non-partisan non-profit, in 2001 that "seeks to increase government effectiveness…"
#TheFinal5: Jon Baron runs for MD Governor
He’s never run for elected office before, but Montgomery County Democrat Jon Baron says his background in policy positions him uniquely for his foray into politics. Baron, one of several Democrats running in the July 19th primary, joins Jim on "The Final 5" to make a case for his campaign.
Peter Franchot
Franchot is the current comptroller of Maryland and has lived in Takoma Park for 40 years. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War before earning a law degree. His career in public service has included being legislative counsel to the Union of Concerned Scientists, staff director to then-Congressman, now U.S. Senator, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and one of three delegates in the 20th Legislative District.
#TheFinal5: Franchot runs for Governor
As the Maryland gubernatorial campaign continues, Jim is joined by longtime Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, who’s part of the crowded Democratic field. Franchot, who’s leading in some primary polls, lays out his vision for the office, priorities in a blue state that’s gone for a Republican governor twice, and why he says he’s uniquely qualified to reach across the aisle.
Douglas F. Gansler
Gansler is a lifelong Montgomery County resident. He served as Maryland’s Attorney General from 2007-2015 and as Montgomery County State’s Attorney before that.
#TheFinal5: Doug Gansler runs for MD Governor
He served as Maryland Attorney General and State’s Attorney for Montgomery County, but now, Doug Gansler is looking to make his return to politics. He’s one of several Democrats seeking the party’s nomination for governor in the July primary. He joins Jim to talk about his priorities for the job, plus why a key part of "The Final 5" set holds a special place in his memory.
Ralph W. Jaffe
Jaffe was born in Baltimore. His background is in teaching, and he says he is not a politician. His main campaign platform is to "stop crooked politics in government."
Ashwani Jain
Jain's website touts being the first and only statewide campaign in the United States to be "100% resident-run." He served in President Obama’s White House, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
#TheFinal5: Ashwani Jain runs for MD Governor
There has never been a millennial governor in the U.S. Former Obama-era HHS official Ashwani Jain wants to change that. Jain, 32, is part of the large crowd seeing the Democratic nomination for Maryland governor this year. He joins Jim on "The Final 5" to lay out his vision, what inspired him to run, and why he sees public service as a true calling.
John King
King was a teacher and principal before serving as President Obama’s U.S. Secretary of Education. He has also served as the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education and New York State Education Commissioner. He currently leads The Education Trust, a national nonprofit organization that "seeks to identify and close opportunity and achievement gaps" for students. He is also a professor at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Wes Moore
Moore was born in Takoma Park and served as a captain and paratrooper with the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne. He also served as a White House Fellow. He wrote "The Other Wes Moore," which is now commonly assigned reading in Maryland schools, according to his website.
#TheFinal5: Wes Moore runs for MD Governor
As Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan delivers his final State of the State address, the focus shifts to the growing field of candidates seeking to replace the two-term Republican this year. That includes former non-profit CEO, New York Times bestselling author, and combat vet Wes Moore. The first-time candidate is part of the large Democratic field. He joins Jim to talk about his candidacy on "The Final 5."
Tom Perez
Perez is a longtime resident of Takoma Park and a civil rights attorney. He served on the Montgomery County Council from 2002 until 2006, and as Council President from 2005-2006. He was appointed by President Obama in 2009 to lead the Civil Rights Division as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the Department of Justice before becoming the United States Secretary of Labor.
#TheFinal5: Tom Perez runs for MD Governor
His resume includes stints on Montgomery County Council, as Maryland and U.S. Labor Secretary, and overseeing the Democratic National Committee in a time where the party took back the White House and Congress. Now, Tom Perez is running in the crowded field for Maryland governor. He joins Jim on "The Final 5" to talk about the race.
Jerome M. Segal
Segal grew up in the Bronx. He has worked for Congressman Don Fraser of Minneapolis as a Congressional aide, served on the House Budget Committee and worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development. He also founded The Jewish Peace Lobby, which focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
UNITED STATES - AUGUST 28: Jerome Segal announces he is running for President of the United States as the Bread and Roses Party candidate during a press conference at the Natrional Press Club in Washington on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. (Photo By Bill
Comptroller
Republican Candidates
Barry Glassman
Glassman was first elected in 1990 to represent the northern district on the Harford County Council. He later won a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates and was elected to the Maryland Senate in 2010. Glassman was elected as Harford’s seventh county executive in 2014, winning a second term in 2018.
ABERDEEN MD - MAY 3 Harford County Executive Barry Glassman, center, joins local and state officials at a mass vaccination site in the parking lot of Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium on May 5, 2021 in Aberdeen, Maryland. (Photo by Michael Robinson Chav
Democratic Candidates
Timothy J. Adams
Adams grew up in New Orleans before receiving a Doctorate of Business from Bowie State University. He served as Bowie's first Black mayor, and he is the founder, president and CEO of Systems Application & Technologies, Inc., a company that provides highly specialized services for America’s national security sector.
Brooke Elizabeth Lierman
Lierman grew up in D.C. and Montgomery County. She served as a member of the Appropriations Committee in the General Assembly and assumed a leadership role on the Environment and Transportation Committee in 2019. She is also a disability and civil rights attorney.
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 08: Brooke Lierman of the Maryland House of Delegates speaks during a Mothers Day rally in support of Abortion rights at the U.S. Supreme Court on May 08, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Supermaj
Attorney General
Republican Candidates
Michael Anthony Peroutka
Peroutka was born in Baltimore, graduating from the University of Baltimore School of Law 1981. He served on the Anne Arundel County Council from 2014 to 2018, including becoming the chair in 2017.
ANNAPOLIS, MD - OCT23: Michael Peroutka, a Republican candidate for the Anne Arundel County Council District 5 seat, speaks at a candidates forum in Annapolis, MD, October 23, 2014. Until a few weeks ago he was a member of the League of the South, an
Jim Shalleck
Shalleck served as Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx, eventually becoming the Chief of the Homicide Bureau. He then became Assistant Attorney General in New York before moving to Maryland to become an attorney in the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice. He now works for a private law practice in Montgomery County.
CLARKSBURG, MD -- OCTOBER 5: Profile of Jim Shalleck, GOP candidate for Montgomery County Executive in November general election.. (photo by Andre Chung for The Washington Post via Getty Images) MAGAZINE
Democratic Candidates
Anthony G. Brown
Brown is currently serving his third term in Congress, representing parts of Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties. He is a retired Colonel in the United States Army Reserve. He served as Lieutenant Governor from 2007 to 2015 and received his law degree from Harvard Law School.
UNITED STATES July 18: Rep. Anthony G. Brown, D-Md., speaks at a press conference about President Donald Trump's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Capitol Wednesday July 18, 2018. (Photo By Sarah Silbiger/CQ Roll Call)
Katie Curran O'Malley
O’Malley was born and raised in Baltimore and still lives there today. She has worked as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Baltimore County and an Associate Judge for the First District Court of Maryland. She went to college at Towson University and to law school at University of Baltimore.
BALTIMORE, MD OCTOBER 19: Associate Judge of the District Court of Baltimore City Judge Catherine Curran O'Malley on October 19, 2010 in Baltimore, Md. (Photo by Mark Gail/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
For information on how to vote by mail and in-person, click here.