BALTIMORE — Wes Moore, whose vibrant and organized campaign catapulted him from outsider candidate to a rising star in Democratic politics, will be Maryland’s next governor, the first Black person to lead the state and only the third Black elected governor in U.S. history, based on The Associated Press call of the race as the polls closed.
Moore defeated Republican Del. Dan Cox to return the state capital to full Democratic control after eight years of Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, setting the stage for a new progressive era in Annapolis and a potentially bright political future for the ambitious Moore.
In early returns at 9:20 p.m., Moore led Cox 67% to 30%. Campaign spokespeople for both Moore and Cox declined to comment after the AP call, though attendees at Moore’s party at the Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore were celebrating.
