By H. R. Harris, Special to the AFRO
Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer
Report For America Corps Member
Army veteran, author, TV producer and former CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, Westley Watende Omari Moore is moving closer to the Democratic nomination for Governor in the State of Maryland.
But not yet.
As of 8:30 p.m. on July 20, all ballots had been turned in but votes were still being counted. So far, Moore received 138,393 votes for 36 percent of the ballots cast, Perez secured 103,438 or 27 percent of the vote and Franchot scored 73,732 votes or 19.6 percent of the vote.
On Twitter, Moore was dancing hard to the sounds of “Ain’t no stopping us now we are on the move “and when he emerged at his campaign party he told supporters, “I am feeling good right now. How are you all?”
Baltimore City 41 percent 26 percent 23 percent
Moore received the highest number of votes from Prince George’s County, but he also did well in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel and Howard County. Perez won Montgomery County with 45 percent of the vote.
2022 Results of top three Maryland Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates as of July 20, 2022
County Wes Moore Tom Perez Peter Franchot
Prince George’s 50 percent 18 percent 16 percent
Montgomery 24 percent 45 percent 11 percent
Baltimore County 40 percent 23 percent 26 percent
Anne Arundel 37 percent 26 percent 22 percent
Howard 36 percent 30 percent 18 percent
Retrieved from Maryland Board of Elections 7/20/2022. Election data is revised as new results are added.
If he is ultimately successful, Moore will face Dan Cox, a Maryland State delegate and conservative Republican endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Cox defeated Kelly Schulz, Governor Larry Hogan’s choice to succeed him as Governor.
For decades, Maryland’s Governors have been primarily homegrown. Still, Maryland State Comptroller Peter Franchot couldn’t convert his years in Annapolis, Md. into votes in a race where he faced opponents endorsed by celebrity Oprah Winfrey and former President Barack Obama.
In the race for Maryland Attorney General, Katie Curran O’Malley, wife of former Governor Martin O’Malley, lost to Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD) who served as Martin O’Malley’s Lt. Governor from Jan. 17, 2007 to Jan. 21, 2015 .
As Brown decided to vacate his fourth Congressional District seat to run for Attorney General, former Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD-4) decided to make a run for her old job, but was challenged and upended by former Prince George’s State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey.
In a heated race with both candidates spending millions, Ivey beat Edwards who held the seat between 2008 and 2017. With 61 percent of the votes cast, Ivey won 51 percent or 25,214 votes and Edward’s got 17,277 ballots for 35 percent of the votes. Ivey was aided by thousands of dollars of outside money, pouring in to support his bid for office.
In the race for Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman, a Maryland State Delegate and civil rights attorney defeated former Bowie Mayor Tim Adams. Adams complemented Lierman in his concession speech, saying he would support her once all the votes were counted.
Based on the State Board of Elections results, Lierman acquired 64 percent or 229,863 votes between Early Voting and Election Day while Adams obtained 36 percent or 129,062 votes.
According to her website, we can expect Lierman to “champion policies” and prioritize partnerships that encourage “economic equity” in her role as comptroller if victorious at the General Elections.
“We are really excited about how many people have gotten out to vote,” said Lierman, in an interview with the AFRO on Primary Election Night. “There’s so much that we can do from the Comptroller’s office to meet the economic challenges that so many families are facing.”
Lierman will go up against Barry Glassman, the Republican candidate who ran unopposed, on Nov. 9.
Veteran Political Scientist Alvin Thornton wasn’t surprised with the outcome of the elections. He said, “Wes Moore was able to benefit from Rushern Baker dropping out of the race.”
“Most of the Council members moved toward Wes Moore as well as Angela Alsobrooks and Aisha Braveboy,” he added.
Charles Robinson, a veteran political reporter for Maryland Public Television, said that “in the closing weeks of the campaign you must be surging in order to win. This didn’t happen with Franchot.”
A winner has not yet been determined for State’s Attorney. Still, Attorney and Army veteran Ivan Bates holds a proper lead over incumbent Marilyn J. Mosby. Recent controversy may have stifled Mosby’s run, lending to her current second-place position.
Bates received 41 percent or 19,487 votes according to the State Board of Elections. Mosby achieved 32 percent or 15,389 votes and Thiruvendran “Thiru” Vignarajah gained 27 percent or 12,662 votes.
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