69ÂÜÀò

The race grows ever more crowded as Moore hits the campaign trail to stump for Democrats in other states, signaling presumed presidential aspirations.

But Maryland and Moore both face new challenges from President Donald Trump, who is implementing tougher, more conservative policies during his second non-consecutive term.

Moore has said Trump’s agenda is likely to exacerbate the state’s already precarious fiscal situation that the governor and General Assembly wrestled with during the 2025 legislative session. They closed a $3.3 billion budget deficit through $2 billion in cuts and a plan to rake in over $1 billion more through new and increased taxes and fees, leaving some gubernatorial hopefuls with the feeling that there may be an opening for a fresh face at the Maryland State House.

Here’s a look at the field, including Moore, as we hit 2025’s halfway mark.

Democrats

Wes Moore, the incumbent

In spite of his limited political background, Gov. Wes Moore swept his gubernatorial election competitor, former Del. Dan Cox, a Frederick County Republican, after at least 13 other hopefuls put their hats in the ring during the 2022 gubernatorial election. As he approaches his first gubernatorial reelection campaign, the 46-year-old popular Maryland governor has campaign funds clocking in at nearly $5 million.

A rising star in the Democratic Party, Moore has enjoyed the national spotlight during his first term in situations both ideal and tragic.

The governor, who has enjoyed the company of political heavy-hitters, including former President Joe Biden, and spoke at the 2024 Democratic National Convention as the party prepared to tap Vice President Kamala Harris as its nominee. He has also received recognition from Hollywood icon George Clooney, who said on CNN that Moore could be a viable presidential candidate.

Moore has publicly said he is not interested in running for president in 2028.

The nation’s eyes were also on Moore in the aftermath of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024, which in its wake killed six and crippled activity at the Port of Baltimore. Through a coordinated effort with state and federal officials, he was able to reopen the port three months later.

Though gaining prominence within the Democratic Party, Moore, a military veteran, faced national criticism for incorrectly claiming on a 2006 White House fellowship application that he was a Bronze Star recipient.

Moore has also seen a recent dip in his approval rating after forging a plan with leadership in the Maryland General Assembly to increase taxes in his attempt to fill the state’s recent $3.3 billion structural budget deficit.

Ed Hale

The 78-year-old Democratic Baltimore businessman and former banker Edwin “Ed� Hale Sr. announced his plans to run for governor in early May, despite not filing his official paperwork to do so yet. The Sun reported that Hale’s campaign is centered around curbing juvenile crime and improving Maryland’s business landscape, noting that Six Flags America in Prince George’s County is closing permanently, the Washington Commanders are likely leaving the state, and Trump upended plans to build the FBI’s new headquarters in Greenbelt as previously planned in reference to Maryland’s current business environment.

The founder and former head of the First Mariner Bancorp, the holding company of the Baltimore-based Mariner Bank, Hale is a businessman who established trucking and shipping companies.

He is the current owner of the Baltimore Blast, the city’s indoor professional soccer team.

Republicans

Christopher Bouchat

Republican candidate Del. Christopher Bouchat, a self-proclaimed “conservative� representing Carroll and Frederick Counties, recently told The Sun he plans to run for governor, though he has yet to file with the State Board of Elections. Among his campaign priorities are “limited government,� “personal freedom� and “economic free markets.�

An occasional lightning rod for controversy, Bouchat is rounding out his first term in the Maryland House of Delegates. He is the chairman of Bouchat Industries, Inc., a metal and welding business he founded in 1994. Previously, Bouchat served on the Board of Carroll County Commissioners and the Carroll County Board of Health.

John Myrick

Republican John Myrick is the only candidate who has officially filed to run, listing former state Del. Brenda Thiam, the first Black woman Republican to serve in the Maryland House of Delegates, as his running mate.

The 60-year-old candidate is a former senior federal intelligence officer, Harford County deputy sheriff and member of the U.S. Air Force Reserves. Myrick’s campaign centers on improving business development in the state, and he aims to create a combination of private and public sector jobs, improve the education system, public safety, and address the budget deficit.

Myrick ran an unsuccessful primary campaign against popular former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan in the 2024 race to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, a Democrat.

Kurt Wedekind

A 60-year-old Carroll County farmer, Kurt Wedekind plans to center his campaign on lowering the high taxes that he said forced his family and friends out of the state.

After contracting Lyme Disease, Wedekind opened Wedekind Farms in Westminster, where he and his family sell natural grass-fed beef and pork. Because of his condition, he plans to prioritize improving health outcomes, and said he shares various sentiments with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Wedekind also plans to platform on reducing government spending.

“Our campaign represents a majority of people who live in this state,� he told The Sun. The farmer said he will launch a website soon and is looking for a running mate.

The Green Party

Andy Ellis

Andy Ellis is a 48-year-old Green Party candidate and a resident of Northeast Baltimore. He stresses the importance of healthy debate in his campaign messaging and calls for Maryland Public Television to change its “arbitrary� debate rules to support the inclusion of all gubernatorial candidates. Ellis is prioritizing the creation of a “multiparty democracy.� He also wants to declare a climate emergency in the state, invest in community organizations, and develop an alternative “solidarity economy.�

Ellis has a unique focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, advocating for the United States to “end all military, economic, and diplomatic support for Israel and push for peace, democracy and justice for all people in Israel and Palestine.� He told The Sun in late May that he hadn’t filed to run because he was still in the process of choosing a running mate.

Ellis previously worked at Nielsen, a media data and analytics company, and has coached debate teams at the Baltimore Urban Debate League and Towson University.

Another possibility?

Former Gov. Larry Hogan

Former Gov. Larry Hogan, Moore’s 69-year-old, popular Republican predecessor, served as Maryland’s governor from 2015 to 2023, during which time he publicly battled Trump and led the state through the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. He lost the 2024 race to replace outgoing U.S. Senator Ben Cardin against Democrat Angela Alsobrooks.

Hogan declined to discuss any possible plans for another gubernatorial run last week.

“I’m enjoying retirement,� Hogan said.

----------

Reporter Hannah Gaskill contributed to this report.

--------------

©2025 The Baltimore Sun. Visit at . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.