ANNAPOLIS, Maryland (AP) – Dan Cox, a far-right state lawmaker backed by former President Donald Trump, won Republican primaries for the governor of Maryland on Tuesday, defeating a moderate rival backed by outgoing Governor Larry Hogan.
Cox will face the winner of the highly competitive Democratic primaries in the November general election. Wes Moore, a best-selling author backed by Oprah Winfrey, took an early lead Tuesday night, with attention beginning to focus on mail ballots that won’t be counted until the weekend.
Despite being a victory for Trump, Cox’s victory over former Cabinet member Hogan Kelly Schulz could be a blow to Republican chances of clinging to the governor’s mansion in November. Hogan, who was barred from running for a third consecutive term, was a rare two-term Republican governor in a heavily Democratic state, and had supported Schulz as a successor to his bipartisan leadership style.
Cox has been a thorn in Hogan’s side for the past few years, demanding orders and regulations to stay at the governor’s home in the early days of the pandemic and unsuccessfully trying to dismiss him on COVID-19 orders. Cox called them “restrictive and prolonged.” . ”
Cox alluded to his struggle with Hogan in his victory speech Tuesday night, telling a lively crowd, “We will never again deliver our bodies, our churches and our businesses into a state of blockade.”
Republican primaries were seen as a power struggle between Trump and Hogan, offering very different views of the party’s future when considering the 2024 campaigns for the White House. Hogan, one of Trump’s top Republican critics, urged the party to move forward with its divisive political brand, while Trump spent much of his post-presidency raising candidates who promote their lies about the stolen 2020 elections.
One such candidate was Cox, who organized busloads of protesters to Washington for the “Stop the Steal” demonstration that preceded the Jan. 6 insurgency at the U.S. Capitol. Cox also said President Joe Biden’s victory should not have been certified and tweeted that former Vice President Mike Pence was a “traitor.” Cox later deleted the tweet and apologized.
Democrats were probably dizzy by Cox’s victory in the Republican primary. The Democratic Governors Association spent more than a million dollars behind an announcement aimed at boosting Cox, seeing him as an easier opponent in November.
Trump was also pleased and said in a statement shortly before convening the race: “RINO’s endorsement Larry Hogan doesn’t seem to be working so well for his very favored candidate. Then I’d love to see Larry present- if as president!
Cox joins Doug Mastriano in Pennsylvania and Darren Bailey in Illinois as Trump-backed ultra-conservative state lawmakers who have won their Republican nominations for governor. All three fought their governors ’COVID-19 policies, strongly opposed abortion rights, and raised questions about the legitimacy of the 2020 elections.
In Maryland, it could take days, or even longer, to determine the winners of the most contested races, including the Democratic primary for governor. Maryland law prohibits counties from opening ballot boxes by mail until the Thursday following Election Day.
In one of the first rallies of the night, Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen overcame a major challenge a few months after suffering a minor stroke. In November he is favored to win a second term against Republican Chris Chaffee, who launched a failed candidacy in Congress in 2014.
Baltimore State Attorney Marilyn Mosby, who is awaiting trial on federal criminal charges, was losing her first yields in her three-man Democratic primary as she seeks a third term.
Mosby is accused of perjury and making false statements in loan applications to buy property in Florida. He gained national prominence in 2015 when he filed criminal charges against six police officers for the death of Freddie Gray, a black man who suffered a spinal injury after police shot him, stranded him and his neck. · I hit my head in a van. None of the officers were convicted.
In the Democratic primary for governor, the top candidates included Moore, the former CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, an anti-poverty organization; Tom Perez, former U.S. Secretary of Labor and former Democratic Party chairman; and Peter Franchot, the state’s four-term state auditor.
Laura Kretchman, a 41-year-old high school teacher, said she voted for Moore, influenced in part by her endorsement of the state teachers’ union. She said she is impressed by Moore’s successes after overcoming childhood challenges and being raised by a single mother.
“I teach kids in a school who also come from difficult education, so I’d like to see maybe what it can bring to help those students who are struggling and challenging,” said Kretchman, an Annapolis resident.
Other voters said they preferred a long government service resume. That’s why Curtis Fatig, 67, voted for Perez. “He’s not a newcomer,” Fatig said.
Cox’s victory on Tuesday serves as a victory for Trump, who has a record of mixed approval in this year’s midterm elections. But in such a highly democratic state, his candidate faces a difficult battle in the face of autumn.
Some Republican voters said Trump’s endorsement persuaded them to vote for Cox. Others said it didn’t matter.
David Gateau, 63, said he voted in favor of Cox because he believes “Maryland is extremely liberal and we need to get back to some values.” Trump’s endorsement, he said, wasn’t really a factor.
“I think Hogan was more of a RINO than a Republican governor, and I think our state reflects that,” Gateau said.
Cameron Martin, 22, said Trump’s endorsement was the “main reason” he voted for Cox, but added that he feels Cox shares his Republican values and that “he will represent me better. “.
The only open seat in the Maryland Congress was in the 4th Congressional District, a heavily Democratic black-majority district. Former County Attorney Glenn Ivey won the Democratic primary, defeating former Rep. Donna Edwards, who previously held the seat.
The incumbent of the 4th District, Deputy Anthony Brown, left his seat to run for attorney general. He won the Democratic primary Tuesday night, defeating Katie Curran O’Malley, the former first lady, a former Baltimore judge, and the daughter of former Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr. Brown was Lieutenant Governor Martin O’Malley.
Candidates were voting for the 188 seats in the Democratic-controlled Maryland General Assembly.
Maryland primaries were delayed three weeks due to demands challenging state and state legislative legislative maps.
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___ Associated Press writer Michael Kunzelman in Silver Spring contributed to this report.