Wes Moore Leads Democratic Candidates For MD Governor, But Race Remains Too Close To Call

Last Update: Wednesday at 5:57 p.m.

MARYLAND — Political newcomer Wes Moore is leading Maryland's Democratic primary for governor on Wednesday. The race is still too close to call as the ballot count continues.

Moore is currently ahead of former U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez and Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot.

Unofficial ballot counts show that Moore has 36.69 percent of the vote. Perez is in second with 27.42 percent of the support. Franchot is in third, carrying 19.55 percent.

Moore has 138,393 votes to Perez's 103,438. Franchot trails with 73,732 votes. About 98.84 percent of the state's precincts had reported by Wednesday at 5:54 p.m.

If the results hold, Moore's potential victory would be a slight upset. Though Moore was an Army officer and a Rhodes Scholar, this would be his first public office.

Moore would have to surpass a four-term comptroller and an Obama cabinet member to land the Democratic nomination for governor. The former CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, an anti-poverty nonprofit, was polling in second place heading into the primary election.

A recent Goucher College Poll suggested that 16 percent of Democrats planned to vote for Franchot in the primary. Moore and Perez followed just behind with 14 percent of the anticipated vote.

The winner will face the GOP nominee in the general election on Nov. 8. That victor will replace Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who is finishing his second term and cannot run again.

Vote Tally Continues

Marylanders will have to wait a little longer for the final results.

Local election offices will start counting mail-in ballots on Thursday, July 21 at 10 a.m. Mail-in ballots are those returned through the U.S. Postal Service or placed in one of the state's dropboxes.

Officials will accept mail-in ballots until Friday, July 29 as long as they were postmarked by Tuesday, July 19. Dropbox voting closed Tuesday, July 19 when polls shut down at 8 p.m.

Some local election offices could finish their mail-in tally on Friday, July 29, but others may continue into the first week of August. Workers will count the provisional ballots on Wednesday, July 27.

The Maryland State Board of Elections expects to certify the official results during the week of Monday, Aug. 8.

Gop Has Projected Victor

The Republicans, on the other hand, already have an expected winner.

The Associated Press called the GOP governor's race late Tuesday evening in favor of Dan Cox, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump. His projected victory over Kelly Schulz, who is backed by Hogan, signals a shift among Maryland Republicans.

Cox is a hardline conservative who now has 56.24 percent of the vote. Cox is the state delegate for District 4 in Frederick and Carroll Counties.

Kelly Schulz is a more moderate candidate who currently reports 40.24 percent of the support. Schulz previously served as Hogan's secretary of labor and secretary of commerce.

Related: Dan Cox Wins GOP Nomination For Governor Over Kelly Schulz, AP Projects

Moore Addresses Supporters

Moore spoke to supporters Tuesday just after 11 p.m. He pledged to invest in a world-class education system, teach children to be business owners and invest in trade programs.

"We are going to address climate change with the urgency it deserves," Moore said. "Every segment of our society is feeling its impacts right now."

The frontrunner also addressed the ongoing gun violence in the city of Baltimore.

"No child should have to grow up in fear of their own neighborhood," Moore said. "Everyone should feel safe in their own skin."

Public Safety

Patch visited the polling site at Odenton Elementary School on Tuesday to speak with voters. Democrats told us that they valued public safety, abortion rights and education during this year's election.

Francine Pratts went to the polls with her son, who is voting in his first election.

Pratts worries about her son's safety as a young Black man. She is looking for leaders who will make her family feel secure.

"My son is 19 years old, and I fear for him every day because I just don't know what's going to happen as he leaves the house," Pratts told Patch. "As good as a young man as he is, they can't find out what his character is sometimes beyond his complexion, and he has a lot to contribute to our community."

The 56-year-old Pratts also wants to see the police improve their communication with their neighborhoods. Pratts understands the controversial nature of police reform, but she thinks open dialogue can reinvigorate the relationship between Marylanders and law enforcement.

"We can't function without them, whether people want to believe it or not," Pratts said of the police. "And they can't function without us, whether they want to believe it or not. I would love to see our community come together."

Pratts did not remember who she voted for in the governor's race. She changed her vote twice after considering what each candidate stood for.

Though Pratts is a registered Democrat, she was a fan of Hogan. Pratts appreciated his bipartisan nature in such a deep blue state.

"I really loved Hogan," Pratts said. "I'm not a Republican, but I liked what he did. I can't deny that."

Pratts votes in every election. Her father instilled that value in her at a young age. Pratts hopes her son continues the family's tradition of civic engagement.

"So many people, African-Americans, died so that we would have this choice and this opportunity to vote," Pratts said. "This is our voice. If I don't cast my vote, I feel like I am letting my ancestors down. I'm letting down the future of our nation, so I have a responsibility to vote."

Abortion Rights

Skye Regensburg also votes in every election. The 36-year-old was especially motivated to vote this year because the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the Roe v. Wade precedent that previously protected the right to an abortion. Individual states now have the ability to decide whether to allow the procedures.

Regardless of opinions, abortions will likely continue in Maryland for now. The state passed a law in 1991 to protect abortion rights if Roe v. Wade was ever overturned.

Maryland also passed the Abortion Care Access Act this April to increase the number of local providers. Previously, only physicians could perform abortions in the state. The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing reported that the new law allowed nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physician assistants to perform abortions starting July 1.

Related: MD Abortion Reaction Split On Party Lines After Court Ruling

Despite these steps, Regensburg still worries that politicians may eventually outlaw abortions in Maryland as well.

"You can say it's likely going to be protected," said Regensburg, who wore a Planned Parenthood pin to the polls. "I never thought that I would ever see Roe v. Wade be overturned, and that happened."

Education

Shakira Vaughn is most concerned with Maryland’s quality of education. She works in the principal’s office at MacArthur Middle School on Fort Meade.

The 45-year-old has seen students struggle throughout the pandemic. This school year was especially tough on students as they adjusted to their return to the classroom.

Vaughn wants elected officials to understand the challenges that students and teachers have faced in recent years.

“I need them to kind of respect that teachers should really get paid,” the Democrat said. “The students need more emotional-social support because being home for almost two years is hard on a student. It really is.”

Vaughn said she voted for everybody endorsed by her union, the Secretaries and Assistants Association of Anne Arundel County. That union is a part of the Maryland State Education Association, which backed Moore’s gubernatorial bid.

Related: Moore Ahead Of Franchot, Perez In MD Governor Democratic Primary

Candidate Priorities

Moore's biggest concern is the economy. He wants to produce 150,000 new STEM graduates during his first term. He also hopes to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2023, which is two years before the existing deadline under state law. Moore additionally has an eye on education, health care and transportation.

Moore is endorsed by fellow Democrat Steny Hoyer, the majority leader of the U.S. House and the representative of Maryland's 5th Congressional District. To read up on Moore, click here.

At the top of Perez's platform lies detailed-oriented governance. He envisions responsible budgeting and major contributions to Maryland's rainy day fund. Perez similarly cares about rights for people with disabilities, criminal justice reform and empowering Black Marylanders.

Visit this website to learn more about Perez, who is endorsed by The Washington Post.

One of Franchot's top priorities is rebuilding trust in the state government. In his first six months, Franchot hopes to fill every pothole on state-maintained roads, clear all the trash off state roads and answer every Marylander’s call to state agencies within 60 seconds with a live professional. His other goals include creating 100,000 jobs in 100 weeks, bolstering the state's transportation system and improving education.

Franchot was endorsed by former Lt. Gov. Mickey Steinberg, a Democrat who served as the No. 2 leader behind former Gov. William Donald Schaefer. Additional details on Franchot are posted at this link.

Hogan's Next Move

Hogan's support is rare in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1.

The Goucher Poll found that 64 percent of Maryland Democrats have a favorable view of Hogan. Similarly, 67 percent of Republicans have a favorable view of the governor.

This bipartisan approval helped Hogan become the second Republican governor to be re-elected in the state's history.

Some think Hogan could move over to the U.S. Senate after his term is up. The governor, however, ruled out that possibility earlier this year.

Rumors have swirled that Hogan is considering a presidential run in 2024. Hogan frequently quarreled with Trump during his presidency. In a potential presidential bid, Hogan may attract moderate Republicans and deflect stronger conservatives that prefer Trump.

About 39 percent of Maryland Republicans would consider voting for Hogan in a theoretical GOP presidential primary, Goucher said. In comparison, 45 percent would not consider voting for him and 11 percent said "it depends."

The Associated Press and Patch Regional Manager Deb Belt contributed reporting to this story.