9 GOP MD governor candidates a stark contrast to party in Larry Hogan’s day

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Nine Republican gubernatorial hopefuls are vying for the top of the ticket in November’s general election, most of whom have little name recognition.

This represents a stark contrast to the Republican Party under former Gov. Larry Hogan.

A popular Republican in deeply Democratic Maryland, Hogan made history when he was elected to serve two terms — a feat that hadn’t been accomplished since Gov. Theodore R. McKeldin in the 1950s.

So why is the current pool of Republican candidates for the June 23 primary election so wide? 

Todd Eberly, a professor of political science and public policy at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, said it’s because “in the absence of Larry Hogan,” there is “no recognizable statewide face of the party.”

“There’s simply no one who can step into that void and command everyone’s attention, and there’s no one running who would necessarily scare anyone else away from running,” Eberly said.

Flavio Hickel Jr., an assistant professor of political science at Washington College — where Hogan just announced he is launching his leadership institute — agreed that the state Republican Party is likely struggling to find its identity.

“In contrast, I think during the Larry Hogan era, Republicans in Maryland were pretty coalesced around him as a figure but also his view of the Republican Party or his approach to Republican Party politics,” Hickel said. “Since he’s left office, whatever soul-searching the Republican Party has done, they haven’t come to a clear consensus yet.”

A spokesperson for Hogan declined to comment on the wide pool of Republican gubernatorial candidates hoping to face incumbent Gov. Wes Moore.

‘Somewhat jaded’ Larry Hogan promises no more campaigns, pivots to teaching

The party’s disjointedness was on full display Tuesday, when less than half of its candidates made appearances at two separate debates. Only four showed for a debate in Hyattsville hosted by the Prince George’s County Republican Central Committee, where the audience was also sparce.

Here’s a look at the field of people who have filed and how much power and money they hold in the election so far.

Carl A. Brunner Jr.

A Facebook account bearing the name “Carl Brunner” that has posted ads related to his campaign as recently as Wednesday morning states that he is running on reducing the cost of living, supporting first responders and increasing public safety. The web address for his campaign website has expired.

Information published on the Maryland State Board of Elections campaign finance database lists his office as being located in Westminster. He has $3,368 in campaign contributions, with $2,152 in expenditures.

An interview request was not returned by the time of publication.

L.D. Burkindine

A business owner, L.D. Burkindine operates L.D. Burkindine Sheet Metal — a construction company located in Centerville. He is focusing his platform on school choice, tax cuts, in-state energy generation and cleaning the Chesapeake Bay. 

“I’m going to be your best employee,” Burkidine said Tuesday night at the debate. “I look at this like I’m putting in an application, and this is the interview, so hopefully I pass the test.”

Burkindine has $1,350 in contributions and $348 in expenditures across his main and slate accounts. His running mate, Jeremy Shifflett, has reported nearly $2,400 in contributions and $1,068 in expenditures. (The slate account is a combined one to promote them both.)

Dan Cox

An attorney, President Donald Trump loyalist and former member of the Maryland House of Delegates, Cox campaigned for governor in 2022. He was elected as the Republican nominee but lost to Moore by more than 20% in the general election. Hogan declined to endorse Cox in that race.

Cox reentered the political scene in 2024, when he ran for the seat left vacant by former Congressman David Trone, a Democrat bested by U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks in the race to replace former Sen. Ben Cardin. Cox lost that primary race to former Del. Neil Parrott. In 2026, Cox is running on a platform of tax cuts, housing affordability, aid to local government and in-state energy generation.

Cox has $27, 191 in campaign contributions and $127, 322 in expenditures. He and his running mate, Rob Krop, have $100 in contributions in their slate account.

Ed Hale

Baltimore businessman Ed Hale is the owner of the professional indoor soccer team the Baltimore Blast and former CEO of First Mariner Bank. Hale announced over the summer that he was changing his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican in an effort to secure a seat at the top of the ticket to run against Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, in the general election.

Hale is running on a platform of tax freezes, deregulation, public safety, reduced reliance on the federal government and investments in infrastructure.

Hale has $210,471 in campaign contributions and $101,625 in expenditures.

Douglas Larcomb

Douglas Larcomb is a former businessman, father of eight and grandfather to 22. He does not have an official campaign website.

However, posts on a Facebook account entitled “Douglas Larcomb – Governor Elect Candidate” state that he is a proponent of fracking in rural areas, repealing of the Climate Solutions Now Act and Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reform legislation, energy independence and removing Maryland from PJM Interconnection’s grid.

He also wants to see cuts to taxes, fees and the state budget.

Information published on the Maryland State Board of Elections campaign finance database lists his office as being located in Frederick. Larcomb has no reported campaign contributions or expenditures.

At Tuesday night’s debate, Larcomb railed against policies that Maryland’s Democratic leadership has put into place in recent years.

“These visions of grandeur … is socialism being forced upon you,” he said. “I have a saying, and that is that ‘Socialism is the identical twin to communism’ — the one to relieve you of all personal wealth — and we are well on our way from your leadership relieving you of all personal wealth.”

John Myrick

John Myrick is a former Harford County deputy sheriff, served in the U.S. Airforce Reserves and was a civilian senior intelligence officer. He is campaigning on fiscal accountability, private sector growth and public safety.

“These problems in Maryland, while they look tough, they actually, most of them, have fairly easy solutions,” Myrick said at the debate. “They just require a governor who cares enough to do it, and one not looking for the next rung up on the political ladder like the current governor and the two before him.”

Myrick has received $22,336 in campaign contributions with $34,125 in expenditures. His running mate, former Del. Brenda Thiam, has received no contributions but reports $2,272 in expenditures. Their slate has received $100 in contributions.

Michael Oakes

A Maryland native and Westminster local, Michael Oakes has no political background. In an interview with The Daily Record on Wednesday, he said he’s campaigning on eliminating all taxes and fees imposed under the Moore administration and repealing portions of the Code of Maryland Regulations that cost taxpayers money.

“There’s a lot of money wasted on that kind of stuff,” he said. “Rules and regulations are fine, but rules and regulations that are petty and … almost dictatorial, they need to be reduced, removed and common sense should take hold of what’s left.”

Oakes is also opposed to data centers cropping up in Maryland for fiscal and public health purposes.

“What people don’t understand … is the amount of water that’s used and the amount of power that’s used, and it’s all coming out of your and my pocket,” he said.

Oakes has no reported campaign contributions or expenditures.

Nancy Jane Taylor

An official campaign website for Nancy Jane Taylor could not be found, nor could any social media accounts. Information published on the Board of Elections campaign finance database lists her office as being located in Hagerstown. Taylor has no reported campaign contributions or expenditures.

An interview request was not returned by the time of publication.

Shannon Wright

Pastor Shannon Wright was the Republican nominee for Baltimore City mayor in 2020 and 2024. She also served as the former chair of the Baltimore City Republican Party and the vice chair of the Maryland GOP. Wright is campaigning on support for small businesses, community-based public safety solutions, fully funded schools and energy investments. 

“We have to get back to basic values,” Wright said at the Tuesday debate. “It ain’t about color; it’s about the content of your character and having the character and the life skills to be able to retire Wes Moore.”

With an office based in Baltimore, Wright received $173 in campaign contributions with $26,196 in expenditures. Her running mate, Reba A. Hawkins, has received $100 in contributions.