Politics

The nomination of Dan Cox as the Republican candidate for governor has some GOP candidates running away from the top of the ticket, complicating the gubernatorial nominee’s hopes of uniting his party in time for the general election. Cox, who believes the election was stolen from former President Donald Trump, once branded Vice President Mike Pence “a traitor,” and sought to impeach Gov. Larry Hogan, soundly defeated his closest rival, Kelly Schulz, in last month’s primary.

The Democratic field for Montgomery County Council continues to take shape, with six more candidates — half of them women — projected to win the nominations, an outcome that could substantially change the makeup of a nine-person council that now has only one female member. At-large incumbents Gabe Albornoz, Will Jawando and Evan Glass are projected to win the Democratic nomination for their seats, while Marilyn Balcombe, Kate Stewart and Kristin Mink are projected to win the Democratic primaries in their districts.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has been open about not supporting Republican nominee for governor Dan Cox, and the governor was asked about the upcoming election on Thursday. Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony in which a major highway project in Howard County was completed, Hogan was asked who he would support in the upcoming gubernatorial election.

Ben Wu is resigning as CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corp., a publicly-chartered nonprofit in the region’s second largest locality and one of Maryland’s economic powerhouses. Details remain unclear. An Aug. 3 press release said only that Wu gave his resignation, effective Aug. 15, and that Bill Tompkins, the agency’s chief operating officer, will take the helm.

The Wicomico County Board of Education races drew 22 candidates. The school board election is nonpartisan. The certification of mail-in ballots was pushed back to Aug. 15. This follows three canvases by the Wicomico County Board of Elections, with the last one taking place July 29. The delay is due to the Maryland State Board of Elections voting Tuesday to extend three deadlines related to the 2022 Gubernatorial Elections due to the primary being held roughly three weeks later than originally planned.

Baltimore City Del. Chanel Branch, daughter of retiring House Majority Whip Talmadge Branch, will not return to Annapolis to represent District 45 in January. According to results certified Tuesday by the Baltimore City Board of Elections, Branch, who represents Hamilton, Gardenville, Armistead Gardens and other neighborhoods, lost by an extremely narrow margin. Winners Caylin Young, the deputy director for the Baltimore City Office of Equity and Civil Rights, and Branch’s fellow incumbent, Stephanie Smith, bested her by 116 and 187 votes, respectively.