Democratic Gov. Wes Moore is the projected winner in the race for Maryland governor, defeating Republican Dan Cox in a rematch of their 2022 contest, according to The Associated Press, which called the race at 8:01 p.m.
Results from across the state are expected throughout the evening. A race call will depend on whether the outstanding ballots could change the outcome.
Check back throughout the night for the latest vote totals and election-night developments.
Election information is available on the Maryland State Board of Elections website.
Preliminary vote tallies are as follows. The tables below will continue updating in real time as the state releases new vote tallies.
Moore, Maryland's first Black governor, entered office in 2023 after serving in the Army, working in business and leading the anti-poverty organization Robin Hood.
Among his early legislative victories was accelerating Maryland's increase to a $15 minimum wage, which took effect Jan. 1, 2024. The law moved up increases previously scheduled for 2025 for larger employers and 2026 for smaller employers.
Moore also pardoned more than 175,000 low-level marijuana-related convictions in 2024, saying legalization needed to be accompanied by action addressing the consequences of past criminalization.
His administration directed funding toward housing and concentrated child poverty. In July, the governor's office announced more than $1 billion in financing and tax credit awards intended to create or preserve 3,025 affordable rental homes.
In September, it announced another $32 million in ENOUGH Initiative grants for community-led anti-poverty efforts in 30 communities.
Moore's first term also brought criticism over taxes, spending and Maryland's financial outlook.
The fiscal 2026 budget he signed in 2025 included more than $1.6 billion in taxes and fees, including a 3% tax on certain technology services and higher income tax brackets for top earners, Maryland Matters reported. Republicans argued those increases outweighed the income tax relief offered to other taxpayers.
Moore and legislative leaders defended the budget as a response to a substantial shortfall compounded by federal spending and workforce cuts.
Moody's nevertheless downgraded Maryland's credit rating from Aaa to Aa1 in 2025, ending its top rating from that agency for the first time since 1973.
Cox, a lawyer who represented portions of Carroll and Frederick counties in the House of Delegates from 2019 to 2023, made affordability a central theme of his second general-election bid for governor.
His campaign platform called for cutting taxes and fees, limiting spending, easing homebuilding restrictions and reducing property taxes for seniors. He also supported expanding energy production, encouraging more competition among electricity suppliers and studying small modular nuclear reactors.
During their Oct. 6 debate, Cox pledged not to raise taxes or fees and criticized Moore over utility bills and projected budget deficits.
Moore emphasized attracting private investment and argued that Trump administration policies had made Marylanders' financial challenges worse.
The candidates also differed on data centers. Cox called for a statewide moratorium, while Moore defended increased state scrutiny and said he would seek to repeal tax breaks for the facilities.
Election information is available on the Maryland State Board of Elections website.
This story will be updated as additional results and reactions become available.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Across Maryland Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.