Wes Moore Wins Democratic Primary, Will Face Repeat Candidate Dan Cox In General Election

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Democratic Gov. Wes Moore won the Democratic primary on Tuesday, June 23, winning 87.8% of the vote and every county in the state.

Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller beat out challengers Eric S. Felber and LaTrece Hawkins Lytes (12.2%) to continue on to the general election this November.

Moore and Miller will face off against Republican Dan Cox and running mate Rob Krop in a rematch of the 2022 gubernatorial election. Cox won 45.2% of the Republican vote statewide, beating Ed Hale Sr. and John Myrick.

Cox was endorsed by President Donald Trump in the 2022 governor’s election and is running in 2026 on a platform of lower taxes, affordable living, safety, opportunity and accountable leadership. His primary areas of focus are schools, public safety and economic growth.

Moore released a statement from his campaign website following the primary victory, citing successes such as a drop in violent crime, lower taxes for the middle class, an increased minimum wage and business growth.

“I’m asking Marylanders to reelect Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller and me so we can continue the progress we’ve seen throughout Maryland,” Moore said in the statement. “We have the opportunity to push back against Washington and the reckless policies that have made everything from gas to groceries more expensive for hard-working people and push forward to ensure more Marylanders can live an even safer, more secure middle-class life. We must keep growing our economy, driving down crime and investing in our public schools, because the past several years have shown us what happens when we work together to do just that. There is more work to do, but what we’ve done together is just the beginning of what it looks like to build a Maryland that leaves no one behind.”

The general election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

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