2014 Maryland gubernatorial election


The 2014 Maryland gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Maryland. Incumbent Democratic Governor Martin O'Malley was term-limited and could not run for reelection to a third consecutive term.
Gubernatorial candidates pick their running mates, with the two then running together on the same ticket. Primary elections were held on June 24, 2014. The Democrats nominated incumbent lieutenant governor Anthony G. Brown and Howard County Executive Kenneth Ulman, while the Republicans nominated former State Secretary of Appointments Larry Hogan and former State Secretary of General Services and former Assistant U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for Administration Boyd Rutherford.
Brown predicted that winning the general election would be just "a little bit of a molehill", but he lost to Hogan by a margin of 65,510 votes in the Democratic-leaning state. The Washington Post called the result "a stunning upset" and Republican Governors Association Chairman Chris Christie called it "the biggest upset in the entire country."

Background

Maryland is considered one of the most Democratic states in the country, and Bob Ehrlich, elected in 2002, had been the only Republican elected Governor of Maryland since Spiro Agnew in 1966. Ehrlich was defeated for reelection in 2006 by Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley and lost a rematch with O'Malley by a wider margin in 2010.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Polling

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Polling

Results

General election

Candidates

Hogan heavily criticized Brown for his handling of Maryland's health care exchange as a part of the Affordable Care Act, labeling him as "the most incompetent man in Maryland." The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange enrolled fewer than 4,000 people.
Hogan avoided social issues by promising not to touch the state's abortion or gun control laws. Campaign ads were a significant part of the first debate, culminating in Hogan's call for Brown to "apologize to the women of Maryland for trying to scare them."
Brown pledged no new taxes, no increased taxes, and a look at state spending if elected. Hogan responded by citing Brown/O'Malley's same claim in the 2010 election and how that claim was followed by "40 consecutive tax hikes." Brown said there have been times he has disagreed with O'Malley, like on mortgage reduction. "Brown did not stay to take questions from reporters" and both candidates accused the other of not telling the truth.

Debates

Polling

By county

Source:
CountyBrownVotesHoganVotesOthersVotesTotals
Allegany22.60% 4,629 75.25% 15,410 2.14% 439 20,478
Anne Arundel32.16%58,001 66.10% 119,195 1.74% 3,142 180,338
Baltimore 75.50% 106,213 21.92% 30,845 2.58% 3,628 140,686
Baltimore 38.89% 102,734 59.03% 155,936 2.07% 5,473 264,143
Calvert29.11% 9,579 69.11% 22,739 1.78% 586 32,904
Caroline20.97% 1,931 77.58% 7,144 1.44% 133 9,208
Carroll16.07% 10,349 82.20% 52,951 1.74% 1,119 64,419
Cecil20.43% 5,467 77.33% 20,699 2.24% 600 26,766
Charles51.83% 24,601 46.91% 22,268 1.26% 600 47,469
Dorchester30.51% 3,252 68.26% 7,276 1.24% 132 10,660
Frederick34.57% 27,682 63.34% 50,715 2.09% 1,675 80,072
Garrett17.80% 1,634 79.71% 7,319 2.49% 229 9,182
Harford21.66% 19,814 76.52% 69,986 1.82% 1,660 91,460
Howard46.68% 49,227 51.54% 54,353 1.78% 1,873 105,453
Kent33.56% 2,603 64.58% 5,009 1.86% 144 7,756
Montgomery61.81% 163,694 36.75% 97,312 1.44% 3,813 264,819
Prince George's84.23% 184,950 14.86% 32,619 0.91% 2,003 219,572
Queen Anne's19.34% 3,757 79.46% 15,436 1.20% 233 19,426
St. Mary's25.20% 8,203 72.72% 23,675 2.09% 679 32,557
Somerset31.86% 2,135 66.38% 4,448 1.16% 786,701
Talbot29.03% 4,420 69.72% 10,616 1.25% 190 15,226
Washington24.89% 9,661 73.33% 28,469 1.78% 691 38,821
Wicomico34.07% 8,833 64.30% 16,669 1.63% 422 25,924
Worcester28.85% 5,521 69.35% 13,271 1.80% 345 19,137

By congressional district

Hogan won 5 of the state's 8 congressional districts, including 4 that are heavily Democratic in presidential races.
DistrictHoganBrownRepresentative
77.96%20.41%Andy Harris
56.59%41.27%Dutch Ruppersberger
54.99%42.93%John Sarbanes
33.72%65.16%Donna Edwards
47.23%51.31%Steny Hoyer
58.27%39.85%John Delaney
38.30%59.58%Elijah Cummings
49.71%48.70%Chris Van Hollen
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