Maryland — Governor

D Democratic Wes Moore

Promotes economic growth, jobs, and wage expansion

Moore highlights state economic expansion during his term, emphasizing nearly 100,000 new jobs, over 35,000 new businesses, and major corporate investments like AstraZeneca's $2 billion expansion. His platform focuses on protecting working families, expediting the $15 minimum wage, and making the state's Earned Income Tax Credit permanent.

• Added nearly 100,000 jobs and 35,000 new businesses in Maryland since taking office
• Secured major private investments including AstraZeneca's $2 billion expansion and Sphere National Harbor
• Expedited state minimum wage increase to $15 and made the Earned Income Tax Credit permanent

“Governor Wes Moore is laser-focused on protecting our people, driving down costs for working families, and strengthening our state’s economic competitiveness.”

“In just three years, Maryland has added nearly 100,000 jobs, with the majority coming from the private sector.”

R Republican Dan Cox

Supports tax cuts and slashing state fees

Cox proposes cutting Maryland's corporate and income tax rates to 4.9% while slashing property taxes, estate taxes, and state fees. He promises to eliminate state cost mandates on counties, cut permitting burdens on builders, and offer tax credits and downpayment assistance for first-time homebuyers.

• Reduce state corporate and income tax rates to 4.9%
• Limit, cap, or eliminate property taxes for retirees and slash state fees
• Provide mortgage downpayment assistance and tax credits for young and first-time homebuyers

“Dan Cox will reverse the added, crushing fees that have been handed to us during this current administration. He plans to reduce the corporate and income tax rate to 4.9%.”

“Dan Cox's vision for America’s economic revival is lower taxes, bigger paychecks, and more jobs for American workers.”

D Democratic Wes Moore

Invests in law enforcement and violence prevention

Moore highlights substantial reductions in violent crime during his administration, attributing progress to record funding for state and local police, prosecutors, and community-based violence interdiction. He also emphasizes police accountability and pardoned 175,000 cannabis-related convictions following state legalization.

• Allocated over $50 million for Baltimore law enforcement and $124.1 million through State Aid for Police Protection
• Overseen a 44% drop in homicides statewide and a 58% reduction in Baltimore City homicides
• Pardoned 175,000 marijuana possession convictions after state legalisation

“Since he took office, homicides have dropped 44% statewide and non-fatal shootings are down 40%.”

“His administration has made record investments in public safety, including more than $50 million for Baltimore City law enforcement, $10.8 million for the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, and $124.1 million through the State Aid for Police Protection Program.”

R Republican Dan Cox

Backs police and opposes defunding bills

Cox pledges to strengthen law enforcement by protecting qualified immunity, increasing penalties for assaults on police, and deploying federal prosecutors or National Guard troops into high-crime areas. He opposes criminal justice reforms that reduce penalties for violent offenders.

• Increase funding to hire and retrain police while strengthening qualified immunity protections
• Increase penalties for assaults on law enforcement and put career criminals behind bars
• Surge federal prosecutors and National Guard forces into high-crime communities

“Dan Cox stands with the heroes of law enforcement.”

“He will work to deliver record funding to hire and retrain police officers, strengthen qualified immunity and other protections for police officers, increase penalties for assaults on law enforcement, put violent offenders and career criminals behind bars, and surge federal prosecutors and the National Guard into high-crime communities.”

D Democratic Wes Moore

Targets 100% clean energy and bay protection

Moore aims for Maryland to generate 100% clean energy by 2035 and reach net-zero emissions by 2045 through solar, wind, battery storage, and EV infrastructure. He also prioritizes fully funding the Bay Restoration Fund and modernizing transit systems with federal infrastructure grants.

• Target 100% clean energy generation by 2035 and net-zero greenhouse emissions by 2045
• Fully fund the Bay Restoration Fund and expand electric vehicle charging networks
• Modernize public transit, commuter rail, and high-speed rail capacity

“Ensure that Maryland generates 100% clean energy by 2035 by reducing energy consumption and the burden on the grid, supercharging investments in wind and solar developments, and investing in battery storage research and development to quickly bring new technologies to market.”

“Reduce 60% of dangerous greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2045 through clean energy generation targets...”

R Republican Dan Cox

Reopens power plants and opposes green mandates

Cox vows to lower electricity costs by immediately reopening closed power plants, expanding clean LNG, and exploring Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). He opposes Green New Deal policies, promises a moratorium on data centers to save farmland, and pledges an emergency order to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

• Reopen closed power plants using clean LNG and study Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
• Order an immediate moratorium on data centers on Maryland soil
• Issue an emergency order to begin rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge immediately

“Dan Cox will immediately bring power plants back online so that Marylanders are not paying the bill to bring electricity from PA and VA.”

“Dan Cox will protect Maryland farmland, waterways, and communities by ordering a moratorium on all data centers.”

D Democratic Wes Moore

Expands K-12 education funding and teacher support

Moore has enacted record K-12 education funding ($10.2 billion proposed for FY2027) and signed the Maryland Educator Shortage Reduction Act, cutting teacher vacancies by 58%. He supports full implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, expanded pre-K, and the Service Year Option for high school graduates.

• Proposed a record $10.2 billion investment in K-12 public education for FY2027
• Signed the Maryland Educator Shortage Reduction Act, reducing teacher vacancies by 58%
• Established a first-in-the-nation Service Year Option for high school graduates

“For three consecutive years, his administration has delivered record funding for K–12 education, including a historic $10.2 billion proposed investment for the 2027 Fiscal Year.”

“Governor Moore has also signed the Maryland Educator Shortage Reduction Act, helping reduce the state’s teacher vacancy rate by 58%.”

R Republican Dan Cox

Advocates for parental rights and school choice

Cox focuses on parental control over curriculum, opposing Critical Race Theory and gender ideology in schools. He proposes ending K-12 teacher tenure in favor of merit pay, cutting administration, expanding charter schools and vouchers, and instituting direct elections for school principals and boards.

• Pass Parental Rights Act and eliminate CRT and gender ideology instruction
• Abolish K-12 teacher tenure, adopt merit pay, and cut administrative costs
• Expand school choice through vouchers, tax credits, and charter school options

“No other candidate in this race has fought as tirelessly for parental rights as has Dan Cox.”

“Dan Cox will vote to reward states and school districts that abolish teacher tenure for grades K-12 and adopt Merit Pay, cut the number of school administrators.”

D Democratic Wes Moore

Supports constitutional protection for abortion rights

Moore strongly advocates for reproductive freedom, supporting Maryland's 2024 ballot amendment enshrining abortion in the state constitution. He released state funds to expand provider training and extended Medicaid postpartum coverage to one full year.

• Supported Maryland Question 1 to enshrine reproductive freedom in the state constitution
• Released state funding for reproductive healthcare provider training
• Extended Medicaid postpartum coverage for new mothers to one year

“Enshrine the right to abortion in Maryland’s Constitution and establish Maryland as a safe haven for reproductive health care.”

“Wes recognizes that all Marylanders deserve the autonomy to make their own decisions about their reproductive healthcare.”

R Republican Dan Cox

Opposes abortion and praised Dobbs ruling

Cox maintains a pro-life stance defending human life from conception to natural death. He praised the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade and previously litigated cases on behalf of pro-life activists.

• Defends the right to life from conception to natural death
• Praised the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade
• Opposes state funding and legislation expanding abortion access

“Dan Cox defends the Constitution and right to all human life, from conception to natural death.”

“President Trump’s three appointees delivered the biggest win for life in a generation in overturning Roe v. Wade...”

D Democratic Wes Moore

Supports inclusive policies and rails against ICE

Moore supports inclusive policies for immigrant communities and opposes aggressive federal enforcement tactics that disrupt Maryland families. Campaign communications highlight his opposition to ICE overreach while directing $10 million toward hate crime protections.

• Opposes aggressive federal immigration enforcement actions in Maryland
• Allocated $10 million in state protections against hate crimes

“Gov. Moore Holds ‘Massive’ Cash Advantage Over Dan Cox, Cox Accepts Moore’s Challenge To Debate, Gov. Moore Announces $10m in Protections Against Hate Crimes, Rails Against ICE”

R Republican Dan Cox

Supports border enforcement and ending sanctuary policies

Cox advocates ending sanctuary state policies, restoring 'Remain in Mexico', ending catch-and-release, and deploying resources to fund Day One deportations of illegal aliens. He links open border policies directly to drug cartel operations and human trafficking.

• End sanctuary state policies and support Day One funding for illegal alien deportations
• Restore Remain in Mexico policy and end catch-and-release
• Enact strict legislation to combat fentanyl cartels and sex trafficking

“Dan Cox will vote to restore the Remain in Mexico policy, end catch-and-release, eliminate asylum fraud, defend the right of States to close and protect their borders and fund the deportation of illegal aliens on Day One after I am sworn in.”

“Restore Parental rights, End CRT and Gender indoctrination, and end the sanctuary state.”

D Democratic Wes Moore

Supports mid-decade redistricting and voting access

Moore called on state lawmakers to consider redrawing Maryland's congressional maps in 2026 to remain competitive with other states pursuing mid-decade redistricting. He also supported state ballot measures regarding redistricting criteria.

• Urged state legislators to consider mid-decade congressional redistricting in 2026
• Supported Maryland Question 3 regarding state constitutional criteria for redistricting

“if the rest of the country is going to have this conversation about mid-decade redistricting, then so should Maryland, and so should every other state.”

R Republican Dan Cox

Demands voter ID and hand-counted paper ballots

Cox advocates overhauling election laws to require mandatory voter ID, paper ballots, hand-counting, and single-day in-person voting. He supports banning unsecure drop boxes, ballot harvesting, and private funding for election offices.

• Require voter ID, paper ballots, hand-counting, and single-day Election Day voting
• Ban unsecure drop boxes, ballot harvesting, and private money in election offices
• Mandate pre-certification election audits

“He will vote and work to reform our election laws to require voter ID, paper ballots and hand-counting, and Election Day voting, so that we verify the identity and eligibility of all voters...”

“Election integrity - audit the 2020 election, one-day voting, paper ballots and hand counting, no machines.”

D Democratic Wes Moore

Supports gun control and banning ghost guns

Moore supports gun safety legislation, including banning untraceable ghost guns and investing in community-based violence intervention programs to curb firearm violence across Maryland.

• Enacted bans on untraceable ghost guns
• Invested state funds in community-based violence intervention programs

“Swiftly and aggressively combat gun violence by building strong partnerships across state, local and federal law enforcement agencies, banning ghost guns and investing in proven community-based violence intervention programs.”

R Republican Dan Cox

Defends gun ownership and constitutional carry

Cox is a staunch defender of Second Amendment rights, supporting constitutional carry and national concealed carry permit reciprocity. He sustained vetoes against long gun restrictions and opposes firearm tracking bills.

• Supports constitutional carry and shall-issue permit reciprocity nationwide
• Sustained governor vetoes on long gun restrictions and opposes gun tracking bills
• Defends the natural right to build firearms

“Dan supports constitutional carry and shall-issue permits for full reciprocity in the U.S.”

“He will also always defend your Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms...”

D Democratic Wes Moore

Expands healthcare access and disability support

Moore views healthcare as a fundamental right, emphasizing behavioral and mental health coverage. He supports expanding the Community Options Waiver for seniors, increasing supportive housing, and backing the Prescription Drug Affordability Board.

• Expanded Medicaid coverage and empowered Prescription Drug Affordability Board
• Invested in supportive housing and Paratransit for individuals with disabilities
• Strengthened Department of Aging programs and home-based senior care

“Wes understands the need for Marylanders to have coverage that will include behavioral health, mental health, and substance disorders, not just physical health.”

R Republican Dan Cox

Supports DDA funding and medical freedom

Cox vows to fully restore budget funding for the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). He opposes all COVID mandates, supports medical freedom, opposes assisted suicide, and rejects WHO authority over American healthcare decisions.

• Fully restore funding removed from the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA)
• Stop all COVID mandates, restore medical freedom, and oppose assisted suicide
• Reject World Health Organization treaty authority over American healthcare

“Dan Cox will restore the funding that was removed from the DDA budget and ensure that every penny is actually going to the pockets of the intended recipients.”

“Dan Cox will vote to stop any and all COVID mandates and restore medical freedom...”

R Republican Dan Cox

Opposes Flock surveillance and data centers

Cox strongly opposes the deployment of Flock surveillance cameras, arguing they violate constitutional privacy rights and amount to illegal stalking. He also pledges an immediate moratorium on data center developments to protect Maryland farmland and waterways.

• Halt the rapid implementation of Flock surveillance cameras citing Fourth Amendment privacy
• Order a moratorium on data centers on Maryland soil to protect farmland and waterways

“Dan Cox believes firmly in personal privacy for all individuals and will stop the rapid implementation of Flock surveillance.”

“Dan Cox will protect Maryland farmland, waterways, and communities by ordering a moratorium on all data centers.”