Maryland voters oppose any increase in taxes to deal with a looming $2.7 billion state deficit as the Maryland General Assembly convenes Wednesday, according to a new poll from Gonzales Research & Media Services.
Opponents of raising the state’s income tax, sales tax or property tax include large majorities regardless of political party, gender, race or region. Strongest opposition comes from Republicans and independents.
Opponents also include the 61% of voters who approve of the job Democratic Gov. Wes Moore is doing.
“Given the economic concerns among voters highlighted constantly throughout the recent presidential campaign, not much enthusiasm exists among Marylanders for raising taxes as a way to deal with the deficit,” pollster Patrick Gonzales wrote in his synopsis of poll findings.
Here are the full results of the Gonzales poll, including cross tabs.
“Voters constantly express a willingness to pay taxes for needed services like transportation and public safety, but not for a problem they believe their elected representatives created,” said Gonzales. He went on:
“Only 17% say they support an increase in the state income tax to deal with the deficit, while 76% oppose this … 60% ‘strongly’ oppose.”
“Twenty-three percent support an increase in the sales tax, with 73% opposing a sales tax hike … 55% ‘strongly’ oppose.”
“And finally, a mere 18% of Maryland voters say they support, as a way to deal with the deficit, an increase in the state property tax, while 77% oppose – 65% ‘strongly’ oppose.”
The poll did not ask about changing and increasing the corporate income tax, one of the proposals floated to raise more revenues.
Moore’s approval
Moore gets his highest marks from Democrats with 79% approving of the job he is doing; 53% of independents also approve Moore’s performance, while 52% of Republicans disapprove.
With speculation that former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan might challenge Moore’s reelection next year, the poll found 52% of voters statewide say they’d vote for Moore while 38% say they would vote for Hogan, with 10% undecided. These poll numbers are similar to the election results two months ago, when Hogan ran for the open Senate seat in Maryland won by Democrat Angela Alsobrooks.
“Former Governor Hogan has enjoyed a very distinguished career in politics, but his neither fish nor fowl style that served him so well during his tenure in office has become a touch passé in the current day political gestalt,” Gonzales said.
“His prospects next year, should he decide to run, will be determined largely by events beyond his control. If an aggressive ‘tax enhancement’ package is passed and signed into law this session, voters come New Year’s Day 2026 might be very resolute in their desire for a return to Gov. Hogan’s eight years in office.”
Gonzales conducted this poll from December 27, 2024 through January 4, 2025. A total of 811 registered voters in Maryland, who indicated they are likely to vote in the next election, were queried by live telephone interviews, using both landline and cell phone numbers. A cross-section of interviews was conducted throughout the state, reflecting general election voting patterns.
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