Maryland governor 2026

Compare candidates running in this Maryland federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

Dan Cox

Party: Republican

Eric Felber

Party: Democrat

Wes Moore

Party: Democrat

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governor

Maryland governor

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 10, 2026
safe d— Cook Political Report / Election Desk analysis

Maryland is a deeply blue state with Kamala Harris winning by 29 points in 2024. No incumbent Democratic governor has lost re-election in Maryland since 1950. Although Moore's approval has dipped below 50% due to voter concerns about affordability and taxes, Republican candidates lack funding, statewide campaign experience, and high-profile challengers (former Governor Larry Hogan declined to run). The structural Democratic advantage and historical pattern make this a reliably safe Democratic seat.

Dan CoxR
Eric FelberD
Wes MooreD

Summary

Dan Cox is a far-right Republican former state delegate running for Maryland governor for the second time after losing resoundingly to Wes Moore in 2022 by 32.4 percentage points (Moore 64.5%, Cox 32.1%). Cox served in the Maryland House of Delegates representing the 4th District (Carroll and Frederick counties) from 2019 to 2023. He is characterized as an election denier who has continuously espoused the disproven theory that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was fraudulent. Cox is running as a conservative focused on fiscal restraint, border security, and opposing federal government overreach. However, he enters the 2026 race as a largely discredited candidate within Maryland Republican circles, having faced rejection from the party establishment and performed poorly in his 2024 congressional primary.

Eric S. Felber is a physician challenging incumbent Governor Wes Moore in the 2026 Democratic primary for Maryland governor. Felber is running as a self-described candidate focused on the needs of Maryland families and workers. He was previously a candidate for Maryland's 8th congressional district in 2024. Felber is running with running mate LaTrece Hawkins Lytes, a community activist and former candidate for lieutenant governor in 2022. Felber's campaign emphasizes his work in the medical field and his commitment to putting 'Maryland First' after what he characterizes as Moore administration's failures to adequately support federal workers and researchers who lost jobs.

Westley Watende Omari Moore (born October 15, 1978) is an American politician, businessman, author, and former U.S. Army officer, serving as the 63rd governor of Maryland since January 18, 2023. He is Maryland's first Black governor and only the third Black person elected governor in U.S. history. Moore is a Rhodes Scholar who earned degrees from Johns Hopkins University and Oxford University. He served as a combat veteran with the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan and later led the Robin Hood Foundation, an anti-poverty nonprofit that distributed over $600 million during his tenure. Before becoming governor, Moore had a long and eclectic career as an investment banker with Deutsche Bank in London and Citigroup in New York, a bestselling author (The Other Wes Moore), CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation (2017-2021), founder of BridgeEdU, and a television producer. During his 2022 gubernatorial campaign, he entered office with no prior political experience but with a clear vision focused on his 'Leave No One Behind' agenda. During his first term as governor, Moore has prioritized reducing child poverty, supporting the middle class, and investing in education. His administration has achieved measurable results including reducing violent crime (44% statewide reduction, homicides in Baltimore at 50-year lows), creating nearly 100,000 jobs, turning a projected budget deficit into a surplus, making historic investments in education, and bringing billions in private investment to the state.

View Dan Cox's Full Profile →View Eric Felber's Full Profile →View Wes Moore's Full Profile →

Campaign Promises

Economy
  • Slash taxes, fees, and the cost of living
  • Stop high inflation and federal debt burden
  • Fix state budget without raising taxes on residents
Defense
  • Secure borders and combat fentanyl trafficking
Environment
  • Reduce energy costs without overburdening electric grid
Economy
  • Support Maryland families and workers who have been left behind
  • Address Maryland's broken economy
Healthcare
  • Fix the broken healthcare system
Housing
  • Support Baltimore's safety and affordable housing
Education
  • Make Maryland's public schools the best in America through the Blueprint for Maryland's Future
Economy
  • End childhood poverty once and for all
  • Raise minimum wage to $15 per hour in 2023
Housing
  • Make Maryland more affordable and build more housing
Defense
  • Reduce violent crime and improve public safety
Environment
  • Ensure 100% clean energy by 2035

Key Issue Positions

Fiscal Management and Taxes
Believes Moore has failed through excessive taxes and spending; advocates dramatic tax cuts
Cox criticizes Moore's budget approach and argues for slashing taxes, fees, and cost of living. Points to Maryland losing AAA bond rating and criticizes 338+ consecutive tax and fee hikes.
Election Integrity
Election denier; has continuously promoted false claims about 2020 election fraud
Cox has repeatedly endorsed Trump's false claims of a stolen 2020 election and called for forensic audits of election results. He participated in arranging buses to January 6 'Save America March' rally.
Federal Government and Mandates
Opposes federal overreach and state mandates; wants to reduce burden on counties
Argues that 'Moore is passing outrageous cost increases and mandates to the counties' and promises counties would 'immediately receive a reprieve.'
Energy Policy
Provide clean energy without burdening grid; reduce energy cost increases
Criticizes Moore's energy policies and rising energy bills; advocates for clean energy solutions that don't overwhelm electric grid.
Border Security and Fentanyl
Strong focus on border security and combating fentanyl trafficking
Emphasizes securing borders to prevent fentanyl and protect communities.
Federal Worker Support
Believes Moore administration has failed to adequately support federal workers and researchers who lost jobs
Felber criticizes the Moore administration for being 'unresponsive' to federal workers and researchers affected by job losses in the federal government.
Healthcare System Reform
Healthcare system is 'broken NOW' and requires immediate action
Argues emergency rooms are inundated because of lack of community care and that the healthcare system cannot wait to be fixed.
Economic Management
Critical of Moore administration's fiscal management
Points to Maryland's loss of AAA bond rating for first time in 50 years and argues the 'Maryland economy is broken' with lost businesses and jobs.
Baltimore Safety and Housing
Support for Baltimore's safety and affordable housing needs
Emphasizes need to help Baltimore achieve safer streets and affordable housing.
Public Safety and Crime Reduction
Strong commitment to public safety through community investment and law enforcement support
Moore has achieved significant crime reductions including 44% reduction in violent crime statewide, homicides in Baltimore at 50-year lows, 25% reduction in robberies in 2025, and 26% reduction in overdose deaths in 2025. His administration supports the ENOUGH Initiative providing grants to 28 communities to address poverty at root causes.
Education and Opportunity
Major investment in education as foundation for opportunity
Proposes historic $10.2 billion K-12 education budget with $373.8 million increase over FY2026. Supports Blueprint for Maryland's Future with investments in teacher recruitment/retention, school construction, and community schools.
Affordable Housing
Expand housing supply and make Maryland more affordable
Introduced multiple housing packages to remove regulatory barriers, promote transit-oriented development, and support first-time and senior homebuyers. Has faced setbacks with 2025 Housing for Jobs Act dying in Senate despite House passage.
Energy Costs and Affordability
Address rising utility costs while transitioning to clean energy
Enacted Next Generation Energy Act in 2025 with $200 million in direct electricity bill rebates. Signed December 2025 executive order to lower energy costs and improve grid reliability. Deployed $10 million for energy assistance during federal government shutdown.
Fiscal Management
Balance budget through combination of spending controls and revenue measures
In 2025, worked with General Assembly to close $3.3 billion budget deficit through $2.5 billion in spending cuts and $1 billion+ in new taxes. Has faced criticism for tax increases impacting voter approval ratings.

Top Donors

No donor data available.

No donor data available.

Individual and National Democratic Donors
$7 million+Individual
As of early 2026, Moore's campaign had raised nearly $7 million, relying on individual donors and national Democratic supporters rather than traditional PACs and lobbyists.

Contradictions

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

Claim: Promised to fill half of estimated 10,000 vacant state government jobs in first year
Contradiction: By February 2024, Moore acknowledged the promise was 'easier made than fulfilled' and pivoted to 'rebasing' programs to pre-pandemic levels rather than pursuing aggressive vacancy filling.

What Opponents Say

Governor Wes Moore

Cox represents fringe MAGA politics incompatible with Maryland values

Moore and Democrats frame Cox as far-right extremist and election denier out of step with mainstream Maryland politics.

No opponent claims documented.

Dan Cox (Republican)

Maryland has lost its AAA bond rating for the first time in 50 years under Moore's tenure, indicating fiscal mismanagement.

Cox argues Moore has failed to manage state finances responsibly and created economic burden on families through tax increases.

Eric Felber (Democrat - Primary Challenger)

Federal workers and researchers have lost jobs with no assistance from Moore administration, which has been unresponsive to their struggles.

Felber argues Moore has not adequately supported Marylanders facing federal job losses and economic hardship.

Endorsements

Donald Trumpindividual

No endorsements listed.

Maryland State Education Association (MSEA)organization
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyerindividual
Oprah Winfreyindividual
Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooksindividual