Candidates gear up for 2018 Md. elections

Only four months remain until the primary elections for Maryland’s gubernatorial race. Seven Democrats have announced their candidacy for governor and plan to run against Republican Governor Larry Hogan, who is expected to seek re-election. 

Larry Hogan founded real estate conglomerate The Hogan Companies as well as Change Maryland, a campaign opposing tax increases. His running mate is Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford, who served as Associate Administrator for the U.S. General Services Administration.

Rushern Baker serves as the County Executive for Prince George’s County, the state’s second-largest jurisdiction. He earned his Bachelor’s degree and law degree from Howard University. His running mate is Elizabeth Embry, the chief of the criminal division of the Maryland Attorney General’s Office. 

Ben Jealous was the former president and chief executive officer of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He graduated from Columbia University and pursued graduate studies at Oxford University. Susan Turnbull, the former state Democratic Party chair, is his running mate. 

Kevin Kamenetz has served as the County Executive for Baltimore County since 2010. Previously, he worked as a prosecutor for the Baltimore City State’s Attorney Office. He graduated from Hopkins and the University of Baltimore School of Law. 

Richard S. Madaleno is a Maryland state senator and an outspoken proponent of LGBTQ rights. He was the first openly gay state senator in Maryland. Madaleno earned his Bachelor and Master’s degrees at Syracuse University. Luwanda Jenkins, his running mate, worked for the Martin O’Malley administration.

Alec Ross graduated from Northwestern University and worked on Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and served as Hillary Clinton’s senior advisor for innovation when she was Secretary of State. Julie Verratti, an openly lesbian Maryland craft brewery owner, is his running mate.

Jim Shea, a lawyer, is Chairman Emeritus of Venable, a law firm. He is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of Virginia School of Law. Baltimore City Councilman Brandon Scott will be his running mate. 

Krish Vignarajah, a lawyer, served as Michelle Obama’s policy director. With Obama, she spearheaded the Let Girls Learn Initiative, which supports education for young girls both in the U.S. and abroad. Vignarajah attended Yale University, where she earned her undergraduate and law degrees.