Republicans are arguing that Democrats are trying to hand pick their gubernatorial opponent in Maryland’s general election.Maryland Democrats are banking on history repeating itself by using a similar strategy deployed during the 2022 gubernatorial campaign to boost Dan Cox in his race against moderate Kelly Schulz — and it worked. Democrat Wes Moore went on to trounce Cox in the general election.This year, Moore’s campaign paid for a TV ad designed to help Cox win the 2026 Republican Primary that states, “Dan is MAGA all the way.”Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Hale is furious. He and a handful of Republican supporters blasted Democrats on Wednesday for meddling in Republican politics.”This, to me, is so blatantly bad that the governor of our state is manipulating the election to get everybody out, except for Dan Cox, who he whipped badly,” Hale said. “I plan on winning, and I think that he sees me now as a threat.””Wes Moore beat Dan Cox like a rented mule in 2022 and he’ll do it again. He’s afraid of Ed Hale. He doesn’t want to run against him. So, it is important that Republicans across the state understand this strategy cannot work,” said Tyrone Keyes, Hale’s running mate.A campaign mailer paid for by the Democratic Party goes further than the TV ad, stating that Cox is too conservative for Maryland. It also called Hale a party-switcher who can’t be trusted.Hale, a longtime Democrat, switched to the Republican Party in August after internal polling showed he couldn’t beat Moore in the Democratic Primary.”We have to stop this. So, by putting up Dan Cox, supporting Dan Cox, paying for Dan Cox, what he’s doing is trying to get him in and me out,” Hale said.Cox is a long-time supporter of President Donald Trump. He rented buses on Jan. 6, 2021, to take people to the Capitol to protest the presidential election results.Maryland Democratic Party Chairman Steuart Pittman defended the TV ad and mailer, writing in a statement sent to WBAL-TV 11 News: “Marylanders deserve to know who’s running to represent them: A far-right extremist who bussed people to the Capitol on Jan. 6 and someone who is willing to switch their party and their beliefs just to win an election.”In a social media post, Cox denounced what he considers Democratic interference in the Republican primary. He called the tactic “dirty and disgusting.” He also took issue with being labeled as too conservative.As of this week, the Moore-Miller has more than $7 million cash on hand while Hale and Cox have less than $100,000 combined.Moore faces a challenger in the Democratic primary.
Republicans are arguing that Democrats are trying to hand pick their gubernatorial opponent in Maryland’s general election.
Maryland Democrats are banking on history repeating itself by using a similar strategy deployed during the 2022 gubernatorial campaign to boost Dan Cox in his race against moderate Kelly Schulz — and it worked. Democrat Wes Moore went on to trounce Cox in the general election.
This year, Moore’s campaign paid for a TV ad designed to help Cox win the 2026 Republican Primary that states, “Dan is MAGA all the way.”
Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Hale is furious. He and a handful of Republican supporters blasted Democrats on Wednesday for meddling in Republican politics.
“This, to me, is so blatantly bad that the governor of our state is manipulating the election to get everybody out, except for Dan Cox, who he whipped badly,” Hale said. “I plan on winning, and I think that he sees me now as a threat.”
“Wes Moore beat Dan Cox like a rented mule in 2022 and he’ll do it again. He’s afraid of Ed Hale. He doesn’t want to run against him. So, it is important that Republicans across the state understand this strategy cannot work,” said Tyrone Keyes, Hale’s running mate.
A campaign mailer paid for by the Democratic Party goes further than the TV ad, stating that Cox is too conservative for Maryland. It also called Hale a party-switcher who can’t be trusted.
Hale, a longtime Democrat, switched to the Republican Party in August after internal polling showed he couldn’t beat Moore in the Democratic Primary.
“We have to stop this. So, by putting up Dan Cox, supporting Dan Cox, paying for Dan Cox, what he’s doing is trying to get him in and me out,” Hale said.
Cox is a long-time supporter of President Donald Trump. He rented buses on Jan. 6, 2021, to take people to the Capitol to protest the presidential election results.
Maryland Democratic Party Chairman Steuart Pittman defended the TV ad and mailer, writing in a statement sent to WBAL-TV 11 News: “Marylanders deserve to know who’s running to represent them: A far-right extremist who bussed people to the Capitol on Jan. 6 and someone who is willing to switch their party and their beliefs just to win an election.”
In a social media post, Cox denounced what he considers Democratic interference in the Republican primary. He called the tactic “dirty and disgusting.” He also took issue with being labeled as too conservative.
As of this week, the Moore-Miller has more than $7 million cash on hand while Hale and Cox have less than $100,000 combined.
Moore faces a challenger in the Democratic primary.
