ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Associated Press projected Democratic Gov. Wes Moore the winner of Maryland's 2026 governor's race, Maryland Matters and WBAL-TV reported, in a rematch with Republican Dan Cox^1,2.

Maryland Matters said the call came minutes after polls closed Tuesday and that no vote totals had been posted at the time of its report¹. WBAL-TV later posted unofficial results showing Moore with 1,163,862 votes (62.7%) and Cox with 617,113 (33.3%), with 78% of votes counted².

The pair last met in 2022, when Moore won 64.5% to Cox's 32.1%, according to Maryland Matters and WBAL-TV^1,2. Cox, a former state delegate, won the June Republican primary with 43% in a nine-candidate field, Maryland Matters reported¹.

Maryland Matters said Cox sought to make the race a referendum on Moore's first term, while Moore focused on cost-of-living issues and opposition to President Donald Trump's policies¹. In a debate, Moore said, "I do want to level with you: I do know the past year and a half has been hard"¹.

Cox raised $371,822 in his latest campaign-finance report, compared with just under $17 million for Moore, Maryland Matters reported, citing State Board of Elections filings¹. Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 2-to-1 in Maryland, WBAL-TV and Maryland Matters said^1,2.

An April University of Maryland, Baltimore County poll put Moore's job approval at 48%, down from 54% in October 2024, Maryland Matters reported¹. Moore also faced Green Party nominee Andy Ellis and Working Class Party nominee Cathy White^1,2.

Separately, the AP projected Democratic Comptroller Brooke Lierman won reelection over Republican Sonya Dunn, WMAR-2 News reported³. Maryland Matters said Lierman and Attorney General Anthony Brown were expected to win but that the AP had not yet called those races in its earlier governor story¹.

WBAL-TV's table was unofficial; certified county canvasses were not in the coverage reviewed^1,2,3.

Sources

1. Maryland MattersGov. Wes Moore rolls to easy reelection win in rematch with Republican challenger Dan CoxNov 3, 8:21 PM
2. WBAL-TVElection Results: Gov. Wes Moore projected to win re-electionNov 4, 6:33 AM
3. WMAR 2Democratic incumbent Brooke Lierman wins reelection for Maryland ComptrollerNov 3, 10:44 PM

Read the original at Maryland Matters ↗