Democrat Wes Moore elected Maryland’s first Black governor

Wes Moore, whose vibrant and organized campaign catapulted him from outsider political candidate to a rising star in Democratic politics, will be Maryland’s next governor, the first Black candidate elected to the role and only the third Black elected governor in U.S. history, The Associated Press said as the polls closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Moore's victory over Republican Del. Dan Cox returned the state capital to full Democratic control after eight years of Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, paving the way for a new progressive era in Annapolis and a potentially bright political future for the ambitious Moore.

Early unofficial results were still unavailable shortly after 8 p.m.

Moore of Baltimore has taken a circuitous route to the pinnacle of state politics.

Moore, a graduate of Valley Forge Military School in Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, and Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, worked as an investment banker in London and New York City, spent a year at the State Department as a White House Fellow, commanded paratroopers in Afghanistan, became a best-selling author, founded a production company and a business to help students, and ran one of the nation's largest anti-poverty organizations.

Moore stated that he felt he could have the most influence as governor if he ran and won this year, despite being asked to run for offices such as Baltimore mayor and U.S. Congress since his return to Baltimore a decade ago.

His agenda has included proposals to invest extensively in child care, job retraining and apprenticeship programs, public transportation, education, and more. With slogans such as "work, wages, and riches" and "leave no one behind," he attempted to appeal to a diverse group of people, who frequently cited his charisma and enthusiasm as grounds for their support.

In addition to his fundraising prowess, he gained national media attention for his campaign and his prospective future in national politics by raising and spending millions of dollars.

Cox, a 48-year-old first-term delegate from Frederick County, ran on a conservative platform that included decreasing taxes, allowing parents greater control over school curricula, and pledging not to reinstate pandemic precautions such as business shutdowns or mask and vaccine requirements. After eight years of Hogan’s style of moderate conservatism, Cox’s beliefs and his unwavering support of former President Donald Trump were supposed to make victory statewide — where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1 — an unthinkable prospect.

Cox, who had not committed to accepting the results of the election, has not conceded as of 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Moore would likely enter Annapolis the next year with a Democratic supermajority in the General Assembly, granting his party substantial authority to enact laws favorable to the Democrats. All 188 seats were on ballots across the state this week, though it was uncertain Tuesday night just how many seats Democrats and Republicans would hold.

On Tuesday night, Moore was slated to convene with supporters and other Democratic candidates at the Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore as the results started to flow while Cox was with supporters at a hotel in Annapolis.

Moore's event was set to feature Brown, Lierman, and U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who was projected to defeat Republican candidate Chris Chaffee and earn a second six-year term.

While official estimates of voter participation will not be available for many days, approximately one-fifth of registered, active voters had already cast ballots through early voting or by mail before Election Day. After Tuesday's polls closed at 8:00 p.m., the early voting results were scheduled to be published first.

Local election workers were prohibited from processing mail-in ballots until two days following primary day, postponing the results of several races by days or weeks.

Last month, a judge ruled that election officials could begin processing these ballots as soon as they were received. Eleven of the state's twenty-four voting jurisdictions opted for early processing, including the city of Baltimore and the counties of Baltimore, Montgomery, Prince George's, Howard, and Frederick.

As mail-in ballots postmarked by Tuesday can be received until November 18 and the canvassing of provisional ballots begins November 16, results will continue to be updated for weeks. According to the State Board of Elections, results cannot be confirmed until November 18.