Eric S. Felber / LaTrece Hawkins Lytes

Wes Moore and Aruna Miller represent a fiscally reckless administration in Maryland that has exploded spending, imposed massive tax and fee hikes, burned through surpluses, and left the state with chronic deficits and a downgraded credit rating.

• Moore inherited a strong fiscal position from former Gov. Larry Hogan, including a $5.5 billion surplus/reserves and a balanced budget approach. He quickly ramped up spending: budgets ballooned to $63+ billion, then $71 billion for FY2027 — the largest in state history.
• Critics highlight unchecked growth in areas like education (Blueprint for Maryland’s Future commitments), transportation, and social programs, with spending outpacing revenue. This led to structural deficits despite claims of fiscal discipline.
• Audits have flagged questionable spending, such as hundreds of millions in leases after Moore touted "savings."

• In 2025, facing a $3.3 billion deficit, Moore and Democrats pushed through a record $1.68 billion tax-and-fee package — one of the largest in Maryland history. This included higher income taxes on high earners (new brackets over $500k/$1M), business-to-business taxes, bullion taxes, and various fees that hit consumers and businesses.
• These increases came after Moore initially downplayed or blamed prior administrations, then shifted to "no new taxes" rhetoric for later budgets while relying on fund shifts, cuts elsewhere, and one-time maneuvers.
• Maryland already ranks poorly for tax competitiveness (near bottom nationally). Higher costs for businesses, MVA/emissions fees, and other levies add burden on working families.

• Despite tax hikes and cuts, the state faces ongoing $1.4–1.5 billion+ structural deficits into FY2027 and beyond. Projections show multi-billion shortfalls ahead, with reliance on accounting tricks, rainy-day fund raids, and program reductions (e.g., developmental disabilities).
• Moody’s downgraded Maryland’s bond rating from the perfect AAA (held for ~50 years) to Aa1 — raising borrowing costs for infrastructure and projects. Moore blamed external factors, but critics point to state spending and planning failures.
• This erodes Maryland’s long-term fiscal stability, potentially leading to more taxes or deeper service cuts later.

High taxes, housing costs, and overall affordability issues under this administration have accelerated residents and businesses leaving for lower-tax states (e.g., Delaware, South Carolina, Virginia). Maryland ranked among the worst states for domestic migration losses, with net outflows of high-income earners dragging on revenue.

Aruna Miller, as Lt. Governor and former legislator (Ways & Means/Appropriations committees), has been a reliable partner in this big-government approach — supporting major spending bills, incentives, and progressive priorities without a record of fiscal restraint.

In summary, Moore-Miller governance turned a surplus into deficits through reckless expansion, hit taxpayers with historic increases, and left Maryland less competitive and more expensive. Their "investments" prioritize expansive government over sustainability, driving people out and risking higher future burdens. This is classic tax-and-spend governance with poor results for everyday Marylanders.

L.D. (Lawrence) Burkindine (Governor candidate) and Jeremy M. Shifflett (Lt. Governor running mate) are a Republican ticket in the 2026 Maryland gubernatorial primary (June 23, 2026). They are one of several lesser-known pairs in a crowded GOP field and are not frontrunners.

• Burkindine: Sheet metal business owner (L.D. Burkindine Sheet Metal, Inc., Centreville, MD) with decades of executive experience. He emphasizes transparency, economic growth, reducing regulations, energy affordability, education reform (including school choice), cost-of-living relief, and Chesapeake Bay protection. He has a campaign site and social media presence but limited name recognition or major endorsements.
• Shifflett: Rental community/property manager (previously ran unsuccessfully for Anne Arundel County Council, District 1, in 2022 as a Republican). He is paired with Burkindine for the 2026 race.

Both appear to be political newcomers or long-shot candidates with business backgrounds rather than prior elected office.

Public records and news searches turn up no major scandals, arrests, lawsuits, ethics issues, or significant controversies for either candidate. They receive little media coverage beyond standard candidate lists, and searches for terms like "controversy," "scandal," "criticism," or "arrest" yield no relevant hits.

• They are low-profile in a primary dominated by higher-visibility Republicans (e.g., Dan Cox, Ed Hale, John Myrick). Some commentary notes their limited campaign resources compared to wealthier opponents, but this is framed neutrally or as a grassroots appeal.
• No financial red flags, criminal records, or business complaints stand out in available sources (e.g., BBB for the sheet metal company is unaccredited but shows no major issues).
• Like many minor candidates, they face challenges with visibility and fundraising, but nothing indicates personal or professional misconduct.

In summary, they present as standard small-business conservatives with policy platforms focused on economic and transparency issues. No substantive negatives appear in current public information as of mid-2026. For the latest, check official Maryland election resources or their campaign site directly, as primaries can evolve quickly.

Ed Hale and Tyrone Keys, Jr. are one of  the Republican tickets for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Maryland in the 2026 election, running under the banner of "Hale-Keys '26" with a strong emphasis on restoring affordability, economic growth, public safety, and putting Maryland first.

Ed Hale is a lifelong Marylander, successful businessman, job creator, and community leader with deep roots in the state. Born in East Baltimore and raised in a blue-collar family (son of a BGE lineman and teaching assistant), he embodies hard work and self-made success. He started in the boiler room at Bethlehem Steel, served his country as a medic in the U.S. Air Force, and built a remarkable career from the ground up.

Key accomplishments include:

• Founding and leading 1st Mariner Bank, growing it into a billion-dollar regional institution and navigating it through the 2008 financial crisis.
• Developing major real estate projects like Canton Crossing and building companies in shipping, logistics, and trucking that created thousands of jobs.
• Owning and leading the Baltimore Blast indoor soccer team for nearly 30 years, turning it into a successful franchise and source of pride for Maryland families.
• Championing tourism, real estate, and local industries while reinvesting in communities.

Hale is not a career politician—he's a pragmatic builder who understands payrolls, tough decisions, and what it takes to grow an economy. He switched to the Republican Party to offer a results-focused alternative, focusing on lowering costs, supporting small businesses and farmers/watermen (he owns a farm on the Eastern Shore), restoring public safety, and addressing issues like energy prices and taxes that are driving businesses out of Maryland.

His message: Maryland needs experienced leadership to fix mismanagement, strengthen the economy, and deliver real opportunity—no distractions, just results for families and communities.

Tyrone E. Keys, Jr. brings financial expertise, community commitment, and a passion for economic accountability to the ticket. Born and raised in West Baltimore in a hardworking, multigenerational family, he rose through determination and values centered on self-reliance and service.

Highlights of his background:

• Over 15 years in financial services, insurance, and healthcare finance.
• Respected economic analyst frequently appearing on Fox 45 News (Baltimore) and other outlets, offering insights on government accountability and fiscal issues.
• Serves on the advisory board of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
• Former board member of the Maryland Chapter of the Salvation Army; longtime member of the Saint Alfonsus Rodriguez (Woodstock) Finance Committee; U.S. Selective Service Local Board member for Maryland.
• Published author who helps families build wealth, protect assets, and create legacies while mentoring professionals in finance.

Keys has been a close confidant and ally to Hale for nearly a decade. He is praised for his data-driven approach, clear communication on affordability crises (like energy costs and taxes), and commitment to practical solutions that help Maryland families and businesses thrive.

Together, this team combines proven private-sector experience with financial savvy and a shared focus on Maryland First priorities: cutting costs for families, supporting job creators, enhancing public safety, protecting heritage industries like farming and watermen, and holding government accountable. Both candidates come from humble Baltimore backgrounds and have dedicated their careers to building opportunity and community.

They represent a pragmatic, results-oriented alternative in a state facing economic pressures—emphasizing common-sense leadership over politics as usual. For more details, visit their campaign site: haleforgov.com.

This profile highlights their strengths, accomplishments, and vision based on public campaign materials and reporting.

John A. Myrick and Dr. Brenda J. Thiam are running as the Republican ticket for Maryland Governor and Lieutenant Governor in the 2026 election. Myrick is the gubernatorial candidate, and Thiam is his running mate for Lt. Governor. They emphasize public service, practical experience, education reform, public safety, fiscal responsibility, and putting Marylanders first over career politics.

John Myrick brings decades of hands-on experience in law enforcement, military service, and national security. Key highlights of his background include:

• Law Enforcement: Early in his career, he served as a Harford County Deputy Sheriff—the only Maryland gubernatorial candidate from either party with this direct experience patrolling communities.
• Military Service: He served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force Reserves (1985–2008), retiring as a highly decorated combat veteran. His family has a nearly 250-year tradition of military service dating back to the founding of the nation.
• Intelligence and Policy Expertise: As a Civilian Senior Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Intelligence Community, he specialized in asymmetric threats (terrorism, drugs, weapons of mass destruction). He lectured at major universities, briefed Congressional committees and members, NATO leadership, and served as keynote speaker at an international counterterrorism conference hosted by the Australian Federal Police. Post-federal service, he has worked as a contract senior advisor for the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security.
• Education: Bachelor's degrees in National Security Intelligence Policy (Excelsior College) and Strategic Studies (Buxton University), plus associate degrees in flight engineering and aircraft maintenance.
• Personal: Born in Havelock, NC; raised in Maryland; Catholic; member of American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars; married with a daughter and grandchild.

Myrick positions himself as a public servant (not a politician) focused on common-sense solutions, ending wasteful spending, improving education, enhancing public safety, and creating a safer, more prosperous Maryland. He filed as the first candidate for the 2026 race and has been actively campaigning across the state.

Dr. Thiam is a dedicated educator, community leader, and former Maryland State Delegate with a strong record in public service and advocacy for children and families.

• Education and Professional Background: Born and raised in Raeford, NC. She earned a bachelor's in physical education (North Carolina Central University), master's in special education (University of Maryland, College Park), doctorate in special education leadership (Capella University), and a post-doctorate certificate in applied behavior analysis (Pennsylvania State University). She taught special education (including for students with autism) and served as an education director at a nonpublic school. She and her husband founded Oasis Community Support Services for adults with autism in Washington County.
• Legislative Service: Appointed by Governor Larry Hogan in 2020 as the first African American woman to serve in the Maryland General Assembly in the Republican Caucus (District 2B, Washington County). She served until 2023, focusing on the Judiciary Committee (family & juvenile law and public safety subcommittees), and served as Deputy Minority Whip. She was also involved with the Women Legislators of Maryland.
• Community Leadership: President of the Washington County Commission for Women; volunteer with the Commission on Aging and Partners In Care; member of the Budget Advisory Review Committee for Washington County Public Schools; active in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Maryland Federation of Republican Women; member of Zion Baptist Church.
• 2026 Priorities: As Lt. Governor, she aims to improve education by focusing on core teaching and addressing certain curricula and materials.

Thiam brings expertise in education, special needs support, and bipartisan community work, along with historic firsts in Maryland Republican politics.

Announced in spring 2025, the Myrick-Thiam team highlights their complementary strengths: Myrick’s national security, law enforcement, and executive experience paired with Thiam’s education leadership and legislative service. Their campaign stresses integrity, accountability, fixing Maryland’s challenges (budget, safety, schools), and delivering positive change for all residents.

For the latest details, visit their campaign site: johnmyrickformdgovernor.org. They are seeking the Republican nomination in the June 23, 2026 primary.

Nancy Jane Taylor (Republican candidate for Maryland Governor) and her running mate Rachel Hannah "Mohawk" Swift (Lt. Gov.) are fringe, low-visibility candidates in the crowded 2026 Republican primary. They filed in February 2026 from Washington County (Hagerstown area) and have minimal mainstream coverage or support.

They stand out primarily due to highly unconventional, rambling responses in the League of Women Voters (LWV) voter guide for Baltimore City, which have gone viral on Reddit for being incoherent, bizarre, and unprofessional.

• Bizarre LWV Questionnaire Responses: The responses (dictated-style, full of ALL CAPS, run-on sentences, odd tangents, and voice-to-text artifacts like "SAMSUNG I SAID APOLOGIZE") have drawn widespread mockery. Examples include:
  
  • Strong emphasis on denying sexual activity with minors ("She has not had any sexual activities with anyone under 18yo") — interpreted by commenters as unnecessary or a red flag.
  • Promoting "blood & kidney donations" (with some reading "live kidney donations" as predatory or odd).
  • Claims like "TRUST ME! U WILL HEAR OUR VOICES." and references to future years (e.g., 2326).
  • Email addresses like governortaylorwon.com@gmail.com (long/random-looking) and lieutenantmohawkswiftcandidate@gmail.com.
  • Reddit threads (r/maryland and r/baltimore) describe it as "unhinged," "schizophrenia-adjacent," "old people Facebook energy," or a cry for help/prank. Many question mental fitness for office.
• Rachel "Mohawk" Swift's Background: Swift has a history of quixotic presidential runs (e.g., 2024 write-in efforts, YouTube channel "PRESIDENT MOHAWK BIDEN SWIFT"). She lists herself as a courier driver with ties to Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh area code) despite the Maryland filing. Her online presence includes TikTok and Facebook under "Mohawk Swift," often eccentric or self-promotional. Listed as "related to" Taylor on official filings.
• Lack of Serious Campaign Infrastructure: No notable endorsements, fundraising visibility, or policy depth in standard sources like Ballotpedia. They appear in lists of many minor GOP tickets but are not competitive against better-known figures (e.g., Dan Cox, Ed Hale, Michael Oakes). A Pittsburgh phone area code for Maryland candidates raises questions about residency/seriousness.
• General Election Context: Maryland is heavily Democratic; even strong Republicans struggle. This ticket is viewed as non-viable protest/fringe entry with no path to the general election ballot impact.

Overall Profile: They represent the "anyone can run" side of elections—low barriers ($50 filing in MD) attract eccentric candidates. Public reaction focuses on the LWV guide as evidence of poor judgment, tech illiteracy, or instability rather than any specific scandals, fraud, or policy extremism (beyond general oddity). No major criminal or financial red flags turned up in searches, but the viral mockery serves as the primary "negative."

For the primary on June 23, 2026, they are long shots even within the GOP field. Voters typically see them as novelty entries rather than serious contenders.

Andy Ellis and Owen Silverman Andrews are the 2026 Green Party candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, respectively. They filed in September 2025 and are long-shot challengers to incumbent Democrat Wes Moore (and any major-party opponents). Their campaign emphasizes building the Green Party, achieving ~4% of the vote for ballot access and influence, public campaign financing, democracy reforms, climate/ecology, peace/justice, housing, and progressive priorities like reparations.

They are candid about low odds of winning and frame the run as movement-building rather than victory.

• Andy Ellis: Baltimore resident (Waltherson neighborhood), debate coach (Baltimore Urban Debate League, Towson University national champions), former co-chair of Maryland/Baltimore City Green Party, 2018 candidate for MD House of Delegates (lost with ~4.5%). Involved in charter review and ballot measures (e.g., opposed Question H in Baltimore). Holds a bachelor's from Towson. Lives with wife Dana; hobbyist with backyard chickens.
• Owen Silverman Andrews: Baltimore educator (teaches English to immigrants at a community college), community organizer, activist (immigrant rights, labor, campus/progressive networks). Former Baltimore City Green Party leader. Awarded TESOL Higher Education Teacher of the Year (2024). Background includes Latin American studies, advocacy trips (e.g., El Salvador), and writing.

Their fundraising is modest (tens of thousands raised so far); they aim for public matching funds.

Public information on major personal, financial, or ethical scandals is scarce to nonexistent in news coverage or searches. They appear as committed but low-profile activists in a third party that has struggled with ballot access in Maryland (often falling below 1% and needing petition drives).

Potential points of criticism from opponents or skeptics:

• Long-shot / "Spoiler" or Symbolic Candidacy: The campaign openly admits it's unlikely to win and prioritizes party-building, vote thresholds (~1% for recognition, aiming higher for impact), and debate access over governing. Critics of third parties may view this as siphoning progressive votes from Democrats without realistic governance plans.
• Green Party Track Record: Maryland Greens have had inconsistent ballot status and low vote shares (e.g., 0.73% in 2022 gubernatorial). Ellis has been a volunteer leader during this period.
• Progressive/Left Policy Positions: Strong emphasis on anti-corporate themes, ecology (e.g., proposed data center ban), public financing, and criticism of the two-party system/Democratic dominance in Maryland. Ellis has criticized Republicans like Dan Cox as ineffective opposition.
• Israel/Palestine Stance (Primarily Andrews): Andrews has a history of vocal anti-Zionist advocacy (e.g., Jewish Voice for Peace involvement, writings like "In Defense of Intolerance" on anti-Zionism and cooperative ownership, letters criticizing Israeli policies). The ticket supports ending Maryland's "complicity" and has pro-Palestine positions. This could draw opposition from pro-Israel groups or moderate voters.

No reports of corruption, legal issues, financial impropriety, or personal controversies turned up in searches for scandals/criticisms. Coverage is mostly neutral-to-positive in progressive/Green circles and straightforward in mainstream outlets (Baltimore Sun, Banner, FOX). They maintain active campaign sites, social media, and podcasts focused on issues.

For the most current or detailed views, check their site (gogreen2026.com), Ballotpedia pages, or recent local reporting. As minor-party candidates, they receive limited scrutiny compared to frontrunners.