In former President Donald Trump’s last Republican primary victory, Maryland state delegate Dan Cox won the GOP gubernatorial nomination on Tuesday – boosting Democrats following spending more than $1 million dollars to support the Conservative candidate.
Cox narrowly beat former Commerce Secretary Kelly Schulz with 56% of the vote, despite only being able to muster 40% when The Associated Press called the race.
Incumbent GOP Governor Larry Hogan, who backed Schulz, was unable to run for office once more due to term limits.
In the weeks leading up to the primary election, Cox received a massive boost from the Democratic Governors Association, which spent an estimated $1,175,000 on ads calling him “too close to Trump” and “too conservative” to Maryland.
Cox’s anti-abortion and pro-Second Amendment views — as well as his belief that the 2020 presidential election was rife with fraud — may be popular among Republican voters, but are likely to put off moderates and independents in a state where President Biden won 65% of the vote two years ago.
Cox is now ready to face either Wes Moore or Tom Perez. The Democratic primary race has yet to be called.
In Tuesday’s Senate primary, Democratic incumbent Chris Van Hollen – who suffered a stroke in May – sailed easily to renomination, beating challenger Michelle Smith with 78% of the vote.
In the 1st Congressional District, Democratic candidate Heather Mizeur defeated David Harden with 69% of the vote to win the right to challenge incumbent Republican Rep. Andy Harris in the fall.
