ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Democrat Wes Moore was elected Maryland’s archetypal Black politician Tuesday, defeating Republican Dan Cox successful a authorities wherever Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1.
Moore’s triumph flips a governor’s bureau from Republican to Democratic. Of the 36 governor’s races this year, Maryland and Massachusetts represented the champion chances for Democrats to regain a governor’s bureau astatine a clip erstwhile the GOP holds a 28-22 borderline successful governor’s seats. Republican Gov. Larry Hogan is word limited.
Only 2 different Black politicians person ever been elected politician successful the United States — Virginia’s Douglas Wilder successful 1989, and Deval Patrick of Massachusetts successful 2006. Democrat Stacey Abrams would go the nation’s archetypal Black pistillate politician if she wins her Georgia rematch against Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.
With the slogan “leave nary 1 behind,” the erstwhile combat seasoned and erstwhile CEO of 1 of the nation’s largest anti-poverty organizations campaigned connected creating adjacent accidental for Maryland residents.
“When I was an Army skipper and led soldiers into combat successful Afghanistan, we lived by a elemental principle: Leave nary 1 down … Real patriotism means bringing radical together,” Moore told a assemblage gathered successful downtown Baltimore during his triumph speech. “It means lifting each different up and improving each other’s lives.”
Moore’s moving mate, Aruna Miller, besides made Maryland past by becoming the archetypal migrant to triumph the lieutenant governor’s office. Miller, who immigrated from India, besides is the archetypal Asian-American elected statewide.
Moore, 44, defeated a first-term authorities legislator who was endorsed by erstwhile President Donald Trump, who lone received 32% of the ballot successful Maryland successful the 2020 statesmanlike election.
During their lone debate, Moore criticized Cox for attending the “Stop the Steal” rally connected Jan. 6, 2021, earlier Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. Moore described Cox arsenic “an extremist election-denier whose rhetoric and his policies are not lone unsafe and divisive, but volition instrumentality our authorities backwards.”
Kevin Holmboe, who voted for Moore successful Annapolis, Maryland, cited the candidate’s resume arsenic a erstwhile combat seasoned who served successful Afghanistan arsenic good arsenic a Rhodes student with a concern inheritance arsenic qualifications that jumped retired astatine him.
“He conscionable had each the close things to pb maine successful that direction,” Holmboe, 60, said aft voting for Moore.
The contention was marked by Hogan’s refusal to enactment Cox, whom helium has described arsenic “a QAnon whack job” unfit for office.
Republican voters who supported Cox said Trump’s endorsement of the campaigner was important to them.
“Quite frankly, he’s a MAGA Republican,” said John Jacobs, 57, who voted for Cox successful Annapolis, successful a notation to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.
While explaining his ballot for Cox, Jacobs rapidly pivoted to criticizing Hogan, who is weighing a statesmanlike bid — perchance against Trump. “And Larry Hogan, who if my beingness depended connected it I astir apt wouldn’t ballot for him, and I’m a Republican, for president.”
Cox organized autobus trips for protesters to Washington for the “Stop the Steal” rally that preceded the Jan. 6 insurrection astatine the U.S. Capitol. Cox has besides said Biden’s triumph should not person been certified and tweeted that erstwhile Vice President Mike Pence was a “traitor.” Cox aboriginal deleted the tweet and apologized.
Other candidates who ran for politician included David Lashar, of the Libertarian Party; Nancy Wallace, of the Green Party; and David Harding, of the Working Class Party.
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Anthony Brown besides is hoping to marque past by becoming the state’s archetypal Black lawyer general. Brown, a three-term congressman representing a majority-Black territory successful the suburbs of the nation’s capital, served arsenic lieutenant politician for 8 years. He mislaid the 2014 governor’s contention to Hogan earlier winning his U.S. House seat.
Brown is moving against Republican Michael Peroutka, a erstwhile Anne Arundel County Council member.
A Republican has not been elected lawyer wide successful Maryland since 1919. Edward D.E. Rollins was the past Republican to service successful the office, aft being appointed to it successful 1952.
In different unfastened statewide race, Democrat Brooke Lierman is moving against Republican Barry Glassman for comptroller, which is the state’s taxation collector. The comptroller holds 1 of 3 positions connected the state’s almighty Board of Public Works, on with the politician and authorities treasurer.
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