2018 Maryland gubernatorial election
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| 2018 Maryland gubernatorial election | |
|---|---|
| Election name | 2018 Maryland gubernatorial election |
| Country | Maryland |
| Type | Gubernatorial |
| Previous election | 2014 Maryland gubernatorial election |
| Previous year | 2014 |
| Next election | 2022 Maryland gubernatorial election |
| Next year | 2022 |
| Election date | November 6, 2018 |
| Nominee1 | Larry Hogan |
| Party1 | Republican Party |
| Running mate1 | Boyd Rutherford |
| Popular vote1 | 1,275,644 |
| Percentage1 | 55.4% |
| Nominee2 | Ben Jealous |
| Party2 | Democratic Party |
| Running mate2 | Susan Turnbull |
| Popular vote2 | 1,000,639 |
| Percentage2 | 43.5% |
| Title | Governor |
| Before election | Larry Hogan |
| Before party | Republican Party |
| After election | Larry Hogan |
| After party | Republican Party |
2018 Maryland gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2018, concurrently with the 2018 United States Senate elections and the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections. Incumbent Larry Hogan sought re-election against Democratic nominee Ben Jealous in a campaign that attracted national attention from the Republican and Democratic establishments, advocacy groups such as Planned Parenthood, NRA, and major media outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN. The election resulted in Hogan winning a second term, an outcome analyzed by commentators from Politico, The Atlantic, and FiveThirtyEight.
Background
The election followed Hogan's 2014 victory over Anthony Brown amid shifting dynamics involving the Democratic leadership in Maryland Democratic Party politics, the influence of figures like Martin O'Malley and Ben Cardin, and policy debates over the Affordable Care Act and federal actions under Donald Trump. Maryland's electoral landscape in 2018 included simultaneous contests for the United States Senate seat held by Benjamin Cardin, as well as the state's delegation to the House of Representatives, against a backdrop of activism from organizations such as Working Families Party, MoveOn, and EMILY's List.
Candidates
Major candidates included incumbent Larry Hogan (Republican) with Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford and challenger Ben Jealous (Democrat), former executive director of the NAACP and a prior Democratic National Committee surrogate, running with Susan Turnbull. Other Republican figures considered or mentioned included Hogan administration officials and state legislators like Ross C. Pierpont and David R. Craig; on the Democratic side, potential candidates linked with Maryland Attorney General duties and statewide profiles included Doug Gansler and Katherine Pugh. Third-party and independent participants involved activists from Green Party, Libertarian Party, and local civic figures associated with Common Cause and regional League of Women Voters chapters.
Primary elections
The Republican primary was effectively uncontested as Hogan secured the nomination, with campaign organization support from state chairs and endorsements from national figures such as Mitch McConnell-aligned allies and donors associated with Club for Growth. The Democratic primary produced Jealous as the nominee after a contest involving candidates with connections to Maryland General Assembly, city halls in Baltimore, and state institutions; primary dynamics reflected endorsements from labor unions like the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and progressive groups linked to Bernie Sanders supporters, as reported by outlets including The Baltimore Sun and MSNBC.
General election
The general election pitched Hogan's moderate-conservative platform of fiscal restraint and bipartisan appeals against Jealous's progressive platform emphasizing civil rights, healthcare expansion, and criminal justice reform rooted in his tenure at the NAACP and activism connected to figures like Al Sharpton and Stacey Abrams. National implications tied to control of the United States Senate and the 2018 United States elections cycle elevated funding from national committees including the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee, as well as independent expenditure groups such as Priorities USA Action and American Crossroads.
Campaign
Hogan's campaign emphasized his record on taxes and job growth, drawing comparisons to policies from administrations of Larry Hogan allies and state-level leaders like Bob Ehrlich, while Jealous focused on progressive initiatives similar to platforms advanced by Elizabeth Warren and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez allies. Major campaign issues included healthcare debates tied to the Affordable Care Act, infrastructure proposals referencing the Baltimore Washington Parkway and transit plans tied to MARC Train and MTA projects, and criminal justice reforms influenced by advocacy from NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and ACLU. Outside spending from groups aligned with Sheldon Adelson-style donors and progressive philanthropists such as the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative affected advertising buys tracked by OpenSecrets and data analysis from Ballotpedia.
Debates and endorsements
Debates featured Hogan and Jealous at venues including Towson University and forums organized by the League of Women Voters and local broadcast partners such as WBAL-TV and WJZ-TV, with moderators from The Baltimore Sun and WBFF. Endorsements split with national Democratic figures including Bernie Sanders-aligned activists and endorsements from labor leaders, while Hogan received endorsements from law enforcement groups, business chambers like the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, and conservative figures including Chris Christie allies; media endorsements came from outlets such as The Baltimore Sun and opinion pages at The Washington Post.
Results and aftermath
Hogan won re-election with a decisive margin, carrying suburban counties around Baltimore County and making inroads in parts of Montgomery County while Jealous prevailed in core urban areas including Baltimore City and certain precincts in Prince George's County. Analysts from FiveThirtyEight, Cook Political Report, and the Brookings Institution assessed the result as evidence of Hogan's cross-party appeal amid a Democratic-leaning electorate, influencing subsequent state policy debates involving the Maryland General Assembly and setting the stage for the 2022 gubernatorial campaign season where figures like Wes Moore and Angela Alsobrooks later emerged. The election's fundraising, turnout patterns, and demographic splits were studied by scholars at Johns Hopkins University and commentators at The Atlantic for insights into midterm dynamics during the Donald Trump presidency.