Maryland Governor's Race Among Top 10 In US: Washington Post

ANNAPOLIS, MD — A heated political climate since President Donald Trump took office a year ago has many wondering if a so-called "Trump effect" could help or hurt his party's control of Congress in the November 2018 mid-term elections. Republican control of governor's mansions nationwide could also be at stake — and Maryland's gubernatorial race is one of the top 10 seats in play, according to The Washington Post.

The newspaper named Republican Gov. Larry Hogan's bid for a second term as the No. 10 gubernatorial race nationwide among governor posts most likely to flip parties. The businessman turned governor remains widely popular in Maryland, with the most recent Goucher Poll done in September 2017 keeping his 60 percent approval rating. Hogan's standing with Marylanders remained unchanged since a February 2017 Goucher Poll. Sixty-two percent of Marylanders approved of the job Hogan is doing as governor, 16 percent disapproved, and 20 percent said they don't know.

His highest approval rating measured by the Goucher Poll — 70 percent — was registered September 2016. The high poll numbers came despite attempts by opponents to tie him to the unpopular policies of President Trump — Hogan didn't support Trump and refused to vote for him in November.

"This is one of several blue states that Republicans now control, and it won't necessarily be easy for Democrats to wrestle it back," according to the Post. "Polls show that two-thirds of the state approve of Gov. Larry Hogan (R), and Democrats are mired in a crowded and messy primary to unseat him. But anti-Trump sentiment in this liberal state may be too strong for even a politically skilled governor like Hogan to overcome. Democrats, meanwhile, hold a near-record low. Which means in 2018, the only place to go may be up for Democrats."

Could There Be A "Trump Effect" In The 2018 Midterm Elections?

A year after the Women's March on Washington and "sister marches" across the nation, anniversary events are scheduled to draw attention to the 2018 elections. The Annapolis Women's March 2018 - Mobilize Maryland! event set for Jan. 20 is intended to draw attention to the upcoming mid-term and gubernatorial elections across the United States, including Maryland.

The anniversary Women's March is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on Lawyer's Mall. Organizers say they will highlight grassroots and social justice groups to talk about their missions for 2018 and how people can get involved. March On Maryland specifically is launching March On The Polls, an initiative that begins with voter registration and engagement and culminates in marches to the polls on primary and general election days. Anyone interested may RSVP at MobilizeMaryland.com.

Speakers announced so far include: Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley, Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women - Stacy Korbelak; Progressive Maryland - Larry Stafford, Executive Director; NARAL Pro-Choice - Diana Philip, Executive Director; and MLK Jr Committee - Darius Stanton.

The 2018 race has Hogan facing a large field of Democrats, including Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker III, Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, former NAACP president Ben Jealous, state Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr., attorney James Shea, tech entrepreneur Alec Ross, and former Michelle Obama aide Krishanti Vignarajah. Baker and Jealous are seeking to become the state's first African-American governor.

Photo: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, courtesy of the governor's office