Morning Headlines
- It’s election day in Maryland. The Democratic primary for Governor has emerged as a highly competitive three-way race between former DNC Chair and U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, nonprofit executive Wes Moore, and state Comptroller Peter Franchot. Perez has presented himself as the most experienced politician in the field and the safest choice for the Democratic nomination, while Moore has leaned on his personal biography and charisma, and Franchot as a moderate best fit to succeed outgoing Gov. Larry Hogan (R). Perez has outspent every other candidate in the race, but recent polling shows a virtual tie between the three frontrunners.
- The Republican side of the gubernatorial primary features a battle between the GOP establishment and its right-wing flank. Governor Larry Hogan endorsed former state Commerce Secretary Kelly Schulz, who has branded herself as a moderate in the same vein as Hogan. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump endorsed first-term State Senator Dan Cox, who helped organize buses for protestors to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington, DC on January 6th, 2021. Many state Republicans view Schulz as the more electable candidate in the general election, especially considering Maryland’s status as a deeply blue state where the moderate Hogan found success as a rare two-term Republican governor. Polling shows the two candidates in a statistical tie.
- There’s a competitive Republican primary in Maryland’s sixth congressional district. Democratic Incumbent Rep. David Trone’s district was drawn more competitive during redistricting, essentially cutting the Democrat’s advantage in half. There are six Republicans in the running, but the frontrunners are State Delegate and 2020 nominee in the district Neil Parrott and journalist Matthew Foldi. Trone has the backing of several state legislators, while Foldi has captured the attention and support of Donald Trump Jr. and Larry Hogan.
Upcoming Elections
| Tues July 19 | Maryland Primary |
| MS State House 119 Special General | |
| Tues July 26 | Charlotte, NC mayoral general (rescheduled from 2021) |
| Greensboro, NC mayoral general (rescheduled from 2021) | |
| Tues Aug 2 | Arizona Primary |
| Kansas Primary | |
| KS No Right to Abortion in Constitutional Amendment | |
| Michigan Primary | |
| Missouri Primary | |
| Ohio State Legislative Primaries | |
| Washington Primary | |
| Thurs Aug 4 | Tennessee Primary |