Governor of Maryland

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Maryland Governor

Seal of Maryland.jpg

General information
Office Type:  Partisan
Office website:  Official Link
Compensation:  $180,000
2024 FY Budget:  $16,174,921
Term limits:  2 consecutive terms
Structure
Length of term:   4 years
Authority:  Maryland Constitution, Article II, Section I
Selection Method:  Elected
Current Officeholder

Governor of Maryland Wes Moore
Democratic Party
Assumed office: January 18, 2023

Elections
Next election:  November 3, 2026
Last election:  November 8, 2022
Other Maryland Executive Offices
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Comptroller • Treasurer • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Secretary • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Secretary of Labor • Public Service Commission

The Governor of the State of Maryland is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch and the highest state office in Maryland. The governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is limited to two consecutive terms.[1]


Maryland has a Democratic trifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.


Maryland has a Democratic triplex. The Democratic Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

See also: Maryland State Legislature, Maryland House of Delegates, Maryland State Senate

Current officer

The current Governor of Maryland is Wes Moore (D). Moore assumed office in 2023.

Authority

The state Constitution addresses the office of the governor in Article II, the Executive Department.[2]

Under Article II, Section I:

The executive power of the State shall be vested in a Governor...[2]

Qualifications

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A candidate for the governor's chair must be:[2]

  • at least 30 years old
  • a U.S. citizen
  • a resident and registered voter in Maryland for the five years preceding the election

Elections

Maryland elects governors in the midterm elections, that is, even years that are not presidential election years. For Maryland, 2018, 2022, 2026, 2030, and 2034 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the third Wednesday in the January following an election.

In the event of a tie, the state Senate and House of Delegates shall meet and cast ballots to choose the governor and the lieutenant governor.

2022

See also: Maryland gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022

General election

General election for Governor of Maryland

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Maryland on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Wes Moore
Wes Moore (D)
 
64.5
 
1,293,944
Image of Dan Cox
Dan Cox (R) Candidate Connection
 
32.1
 
644,000
Image of David Lashar
David Lashar (L) Candidate Connection
 
1.5
 
30,101
Image of David Harding
David Harding (Working Class Party)
 
0.9
 
17,154
Image of Nancy Wallace
Nancy Wallace (G) Candidate Connection
 
0.7
 
14,580
Image of Kyle Sefcik
Kyle Sefcik (Independent) (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
596
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
4,848

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,005,223
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Maryland

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Maryland on July 19, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Wes Moore
Wes Moore
 
32.4
 
217,524
Image of Tom Perez
Tom Perez
 
30.1
 
202,175
Image of Peter Franchot
Peter Franchot
 
21.1
 
141,586
Image of Rushern Baker III
Rushern Baker III (Unofficially withdrew) Candidate Connection
 
4.0
 
26,594
Image of Douglas F. Gansler
Douglas F. Gansler
 
3.8
 
25,481
Image of John B. King Jr.
John B. King Jr.
 
3.7
 
24,882
Image of Ashwani Jain
Ashwani Jain Candidate Connection
 
2.1
 
13,784
Image of Jon Baron
Jon Baron
 
1.8
 
11,880
Image of Jerry Segal
Jerry Segal
 
0.6
 
4,276
Image of Ralph Jaffe
Ralph Jaffe
 
0.4
 
2,978

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 671,160
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Maryland

Dan Cox defeated Kelly Schulz, Robin Ficker, and Joe Werner in the Republican primary for Governor of Maryland on July 19, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Dan Cox
Dan Cox Candidate Connection
 
52.0
 
153,423
Image of Kelly Schulz
Kelly Schulz
 
43.5
 
128,302
Image of Robin Ficker
Robin Ficker Candidate Connection
 
2.8
 
8,268
Image of Joe Werner
Joe Werner
 
1.7
 
5,075

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 295,068
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

See also: Maryland gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018

General election

General election for Governor of Maryland

Incumbent Larry Hogan defeated Ben Jealous, Shawn Quinn, and Ian Schlakman in the general election for Governor of Maryland on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Larry Hogan
Larry Hogan (R)
 
55.4
 
1,275,644
Image of Ben Jealous
Ben Jealous (D)
 
43.5
 
1,002,639
Image of Shawn Quinn
Shawn Quinn (L)
 
0.6
 
13,241
Image of Ian Schlakman
Ian Schlakman (G)
 
0.5
 
11,175
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
1,813

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,304,512
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Maryland

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Maryland on June 26, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ben Jealous
Ben Jealous
 
40.9
 
231,895
Image of Rushern Baker III
Rushern Baker III
 
30.3
 
171,697
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Jim Shea
 
8.6
 
48,647
Image of Krishanti Vignarajah
Krishanti Vignarajah
 
8.5
 
48,042
Image of Richard Madaleno
Richard Madaleno
 
6.0
 
34,184
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Alec Ross
 
2.4
 
13,780
Image of Ralph Jaffe
Ralph Jaffe
 
1.7
 
9,405
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
James Jones
 
1.6
 
9,188

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 566,838
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Maryland

Incumbent Larry Hogan advanced from the Republican primary for Governor of Maryland on June 26, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Larry Hogan
Larry Hogan
 
100.0
 
210,935

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 210,935
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2014

See also: Maryland gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2014
Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngLarry Hogan/Boyd Rutherford 51% 884,400
     Democratic Anthony Brown/Ken Ulman 47.2% 818,890
     Libertarian Shawn Quinn/Lorenzo Gaztanaga 1.5% 25,382
     Nonpartisan Write-in votes 0.3% 4,505
Total Votes 1,733,177
Election results via Maryland State Board of Elections

Term limits

See also: States with gubernatorial term limits

Maryland governors are restricted to two consecutive terms in office, after which they must wait one term before being eligible to run again.[2]

Maryland Constitution, Article II, Section 1

a person who has served two consecutive popular elective terms of office as Governor shall be ineligible to succeed himself as Governor for the term immediately following the second of said two consecutive popular elective terms.[2]

Partisan composition

The chart below shows the partisan breakdown of Maryland governors from 1992 to 2013.
Governor of Maryland Partisanship.PNG

Vacancies

See also: How gubernatorial vacancies are filled

Details of vacancy appointments are addressed under Article II, Sections 6 and 7.

Regarding the governor-elect, if that individual dies or resigns, the lieutenant governor shall become the governor for the full term. If the governor-elect fails to take office for any other reason, the lieutenant governor shall take over with the title of 'Acting Governor' only until the vacancy is permanently filled.

When the governor is temporarily unable to discharge the office, whether or not he or she is able to communicate that in writing to the lieutenant governor, the latter shall become the acting governor. Before resuming her or his duties, the governor must inform the lieutenant governor in writing of the fact.

At any time, by a three-fifths vote, the General Assembly may declare the governor, or the lieutenant governor, mentally or physically unfit to hold the office. For purposes of taking such a vote, a member of the Assembly may call both chambers into a joint session. If such a resolution concerning the governor's fitness for office is adopted, it shall be delivered to a Maryland Court of Appeals, which shall, in turn, make a decision. The same process applies to a governor-elect or a lieutenant governor-elect.

If the governor's seat becomes otherwise vacant, the lieutenant governor shall assume the office and complete the term. After the lieutenant governor, the President of the Senate is next to succeed. He or she shall, as acting governor, retain the title of 'Senate President', but the Senate shall nominate another member to execute the actual tasks of that office.

Under circumstances when the governor-elect fails to take office, the Maryland Court of Appeals has exclusive jurisdiction in settling disputes and issues that arise from that situation.

With respect to Article III, Section 26 of the Constitution, the legislature may remove and impeach the governor or the lieutenant governor.

Duties

Maryland
Maryland Governor Organizational Chart as of July 9, 2013.

Because of the extent of his or her constitutional powers, the governor of Maryland has been ranked among the most powerful governors in the United States.

The governor is the commander-in-chief of all Maryland's naval and militia forces, though he or she may not take direct command without the consent of the legislature.

With the consent of the Senate, the governor nominates and appoints all civil and military officers whose manner of appointment is not otherwise provided in law. However, under §10 and 10A, "lame duck" governors lose that privilege. Specifically, a governor who has lost a primary or a general election in a re-election bid in the span between the election he lost and the inauguration loses appointment prerogatives. The same applies to a term-limited governor in the span between Election Day and Inauguration Day. The only exception is for emergencies, which require the governor to file a statement of emergency with the Maryland Secretary of State; such appointments may be revoked by the succeeding governor.

At his or her pleasure, the governor may remove any appointee for incompetence or misconduct. Rare among governors, Maryland's chief executive may also suspend any military officer and may, further, initiate a court martial. (§ 15)

At least twice each year, the governor must, under oath, examine the treasurer and the Comptroller of Maryland, and review the state's books. (§ 18) Under § 19, the governor also gives a periodic address to the legislature on the condition of the state and makes recommendations.[2]

Other duties and privileges of the office include:

  • Convening extraordinary session of the legislature, or the Senate alone, as well as moving the location of the legislature's meeting under special circumstances (§ 16)
  • Vetoing all bills from the legislature, including appropriations bills, subject to a legislative override (§ 17)
  • Granting pardons and reprieves, saves in cases in impeachment, and forfeiting fines, provided he follows a certain protocol for notifying lawmakers and citizens of such action (§ 20)
  • Reorganizing the Executive Branch, including establishing and abolishing entire departments, offices, and agencies (§ 24)

Divisions

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Governor of Maryland has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

Role in state budget

See also: Maryland state budget and finances

The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[3]

  1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in June of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year.
  2. State agencies submit their budget requests to the governor between August and October.
  3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature on the third Wednesday in January.
  4. The legislature typically adopts a budget by the 83rd day of the session. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The fiscal year begins July 1.

Maryland is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[3][4][5][6]

The governor is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the legislature is required to adopt a balanced budget.[3]

Governor's office budget

The Office of the Governor's budget for fiscal year 2024 was $16,174,921.[7]

Compensation

See also: Comparison of gubernatorial salaries and Compensation of state executive officers

The salaries of the governor and lieutenant governor are decided upon by the Governor’s Salary Commission, a seven-member commission created by a 1976 amendment in Section 21A of the Maryland Constitution. The commission includes three members appointed by the President of the Senate, and three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates. Appointees serve a four-year term.[2]

The commission may not recommend, and the legislature may not amend, the salary to be lower than that most recently received by the incumbent governor. Whatever the outcome, the decided-upon salary takes effect with the beginning of the next gubernatorial term. If either the commission or the Assembly fails to take action, the same salary already in place applies.[8]

Maryland Constitution, Article II Section 21A

(c) Within 10 days after the commencement of the regular session of the General Assembly in 1978, and within 10 days after the commencement of the regular session of the General Assembly each fourth year thereafter, the commission shall make a written recommendation to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and other members of the General Assembly as to the salary of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

(e) The commission may not recommend salaries lower than that received by the incumbent Governor at the time the recommendation is made.[2]

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $180,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]

2021

In 2021, the governor received a salary of $180,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]

2020

In 2020, the governor’s salary was increased to $170,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]

2019

In 2019, the governor’s salary was increased to $170,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]

2018

In 2018, the governor’s salary was increased to $170,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]

2017

In 2017, the governor’s salary was increased to $170,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]

2016

In 2016, the governor’s salary was increased to $170,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]

2015

In 2015, the governor received a salary was $150,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]

2014

In 2014, the governor earned a salary of $150,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]

2013

In 2013, the governor's salary remained at $150,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]

2010

In 2010, the governor was paid $150,000 a year, the 11th highest gubernatorial salary in America.

Gubernatorial residence

Pursuant to Section 20, Maryland is one of the few states where the state's Constitution actually requires that the sitting governor reside at the official residence.

Historical officeholders

There have been 63 Governors of Maryland since 1777. Of the 63 officeholders, 10 were Republican and 36 were Democratic at one time.[19]

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

Who Runs the States Project
See also: Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States and Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States, Maryland
Partisan breakdown of the Maryland governorship from 1992-2013

From 1992 to 2013, in Maryland there were Democratic governors in office for 18 years while there were Republican governors in office for four years, including the last seven. Maryland is one of seven states that were run by a Democratic governor for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. Maryland was under Democratic trifectas for the last seven years of the study period.

Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82%) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27%) from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Maryland, the Maryland State Senate and the Maryland House of Delegates from 1992 to 2013.

Partisan composition of Maryland state government(1992-2013).PNG

SQLI and partisanship

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Maryland state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Maryland experienced two long periods of Democratic trifectas, between 1992 and 2002 and again between 2007 and 2013. The state cracked the top-10 in the SQLI ranking in three separate years (2002, 2006, and 2008), twice under a Democratic trifecta and once under divided government. Maryland ranked lowest on the SQLI ranking in two separate years (1992 and 1995), in which the state placed 25th under a Democratic trifecta. Maryland has never had a Republican trifecta.

  • SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 16.35
  • SQLI average with Republican trifecta: N/A
  • SQLI average with divided government: 10.75
Chart displaying the partisanship of Maryland government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

State profile

Demographic data for Maryland
 MarylandU.S.
Total population:5,994,983316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):9,7073,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:57.6%73.6%
Black/African American:29.5%12.6%
Asian:6%5.1%
Native American:0.3%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
Two or more:3%3%
Hispanic/Latino:9%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:89.4%86.7%
College graduation rate:37.9%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$74,551$53,889
Persons below poverty level:10.7%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Maryland.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Maryland

Maryland voted for the Democratic candidate in all six presidential elections between 2000 and 2020.


More Maryland coverage on Ballotpedia

Contact information

100 State Circle
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Phone:(410) 974-3901
Toll Free:1-800-811-8336

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Office of the Maryland Governor, "Governor of Larry Hogan," accessed January 18, 2021
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Maryland Manual On-Line, "Constitution of Maryland," accessed January 18, 2021
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
  4. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
  5. ↑ Maryland Secretary of State, "Ballot Question Summaries," accessed January 26, 2024
  6. ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "Official 2020 Presidential General Election results for All State Questions," accessed January 26, 2024
  7. ↑ Maryland General Assembly, "House Bil 200," accessed December 8, 2023
  8. ↑ Report of the Governor’s Salary Commission, "Governor’s Salary Commission," January 2014
  9. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
  10. ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
  11. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 18, 2021
  12. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 18, 2021
  13. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 18, 2021
  14. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 18, 2021
  15. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
  16. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
  17. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed November 25, 2014
  18. ↑ Council of State Governments, "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries," June 25, 2013
  19. ↑ National Governors Association, "Former Maryland Governors," accessed January 18, 2021
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