MOORE WINS DEM NOMINATION FOR GOV: Surrounded by supporters in the campaign’s Baltimore field office, author and former nonprofit executive Wes Moore declared victory Saturday afternoon in Maryland’s Democratic primary race for governor. Pamela Wood and Hallie Miller/The Baltimore Banner.
- Moore has lived quite a few lives. Rhodes scholar. U.S. Army officer who saw combat in Afghanistan. Investment banker. Bestselling author. Leader of a massive anti-poverty nonprofit organization. And now, as a first-time candidate for elected office, his next role may very well be governor of Maryland. Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun.
COX V. MOORE: A STUDY IN CONTRASTS: The race between Del. Dan Cox and Wes Moore to become Maryland’s next governor will be a showcase of contrasts, a chance for Democrats to flex the muscle of their dominant registration advantage as Republicans attempt to hold onto outgoing Republican Gov. Larry Hogan’s gains and not retreat in Annapolis. Ovetta Wiggins and Erin Cox/The Baltimore Sun.
- Moore wasted no time trying to draw contrasts between himself and Cox. “The choice could not be more clear,” he said, accusing Cox of fomenting divisiveness and promoting “cynical policies of conspiracy theories and fear.” Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
COX CONUNDRUM: PUSH BACK OR STAY QUIET: After far-right gubernatorial hopeful Dan Cox’s win in Maryland’s primary election Tuesday, the approach to the general election for some Republican candidates is simple and typical: “I’ll support my party’s nominee, absolutely,” said state Sen. Bob Cassilly, the Republican nominee for Harford County executive. But for the many who backed Cox’s opponent, former state commerce secretary Kelly Schulz, strategy is suddenly complicated, and risks higher. Scott Dance and Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun.
FRANCHOT CONCEDES: Peter Franchot, who deferred seeking a fifth four-year term as state comptroller to run for governor this year, conceded in the Democratic primary on Friday as results showed he had little chance of catching Wes Moore and Tom Perez in the ongoing vote count. Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun.
- Franchot has not lost a political campaign since 1988. He has held office in Annapolis since 1987, first in the House of Delegates, then as comptroller for the last 16 years. Danielle Gaines and Bruce DePuyt/Maryland Matters.
HOGAN’s NEXT ACT IN QUESTION: Asked Sunday about his presidential ambitions after Maryland voters elevated a Trump-aligned candidate to succeed him, Gov. Larry Hogan said he planned to “double down” on his long-term fight to pull the Republican Party in a different direction. “I can tell you I’m not giving up,” Hogan told Jake Tapper on CNN. Erin Cox/The Washington Post.
- Even before Hogan-endorsed Kelly Schulz, a former state commerce secretary, lost to Trump-backed Dan Cox, analysts said it was difficult to say when — or if — Hogan’s moment would come in a national party whose base remains enthralled by the twice-impeached 45th president Hogan has often opposed. Jeff Barker and Jean Marbella/The Baltimore Sun.
MODERATE REPUBLICAN GLASSMAN FACES TOUGH ROAD: Republican Barry Glassman may find himself out on a bit of an island in his race for comptroller. For weeks, Republicans across Maryland fretted over what became a reality Tuesday, a Dan Cox victory in their party’s gubernatorial primary. On top of that, Republicans nominated Michael Peroutka, a one-term Anne Arundel County councilman with past ties to a group that advocates for southern states secession as their nominee for state attorney general. Bryan Sears/The Daily Record.
2nd, 3rd, 7th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT GOP RACES DECIDED: Three Maryland Republican primary contests for congressional seats were decided late Friday. 3rd Congressional District Republican candidate Yuripzy Morgan won her primary, earning 33% of the vote in a 5-person race and will face Democrat and eight-term U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes. Nicolee Ambrose led the pack of Republicans vying to defeat U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger to represent the 2nd Congressional District. Scott M. Collier took the 7th Congressional District’s Republican primary and will face U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume. Brenda Wintrode/The Baltimore Banner.
BATES WINS B’MORE STATE’S ATTY RACE: Defense attorney Ivan Bates has won the Democratic primary for Baltimore’s top prosecutor, defeating incumbent State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, who will leave the office after two terms. The Associated Press called the race Friday evening in favor of Bates. Alex Mann and Lee O. Sanderlin/The Baltimore Sun.
- After the latest count of mail-in ballots was posted Friday afternoon, Bates, 53, of Locust Point, had 26,660 votes (39.83%) — at least 6,300 more than his nearest opponent. Thiru Vignarajah, 45, of Federal Hill, moved into second place with 20,349 votes (30.40%), while Mosby, 42, of Reservoir Hill, dropped to last with 19,931 votes (29.77%). Dylan Segelbaum and Justin Fenton/The Baltimore Banner.
- Among five things to know about Ivan Bates is that he is a 53-year-old criminal defense lawyer, Locust Point resident and father of a 6-year-old daughter. A U.S. Army veteran, he is the managing partner of Bates & Garcia, a law firm Bates co-founded in 2006. Lee O. Sanderlin and Alex Mann/The Baltimore Sun.
MOSBY A POLARIZING FIGURE: In 2014, Baltimoreans, frustrated with violent crime, elected a 34-year-old insurance attorney who had never tried a homicide or rape case to be the city’s top prosecutor. Eight years and more than 2,500 homicides later, the city’s Democratic voters ousted Marilyn Mosby as Baltimore state’s attorney, choosing defense attorney Ivan Bates in Tuesday’s primary. Her time in office was polarizing, and will be remembered for her progressive prosecution policies and prosecution of police officers as much as for the investigations into her conduct. Lee O. Sanderin/The Baltimore Sun.
OPINION: MOSBY’s DERELICTION OF DUTY: Baltimore’s murders are typically committed by criminals with lengthy rap sheets, who often serve minimal time or are released early. These repeat offenders should be locked up but aren’t, thanks to the dereliction of progressive prosecutors like Marilyn Mosby. Sean Kennedy/The Wall Street Journal.
SHOEMAKER WINS CARROLL ATTY GEN SPOT: David Ellin conceded the Republican primary for Carroll County State’s Attorney Friday to his opponent, Del. Haven Shoemaker. Ellin said the vote count shows that the race is over for him. Shoemaker had declared victory on Wednesday, just one day after the July 19 primary. Sherry Greenfield/The Carroll County Times.
SHELLENBERGER CONTINUES TO LEAD RIVAL: Incumbent Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger remained ahead in the Democratic primary for his office after mail-in votes were added Saturday, extending his lead over progressive challenger Robbie Leonard to just under 1,800 votes in the latest accounting of mail-in ballots. Taylor DeVille and Hallie Miller/The Baltimore Banner.
LEONARD SKOLNICK, POLITICAL KINGMAKER, DIES AT 85: Leonard R. Skolnik, former chairman of the city Board of Liquor License Commissioners who was active in Democratic politics and had been a developer and apartment manager, died from heart failure July 12 at Sinai Hospital. The longtime Mount Washington resident was 85. Fred Rasmussen/The Baltimore Sun.
