Wes Moore, a Democrat, celebrity author and former nonprofit executive, won Maryland’s election for governor, according to The Associated Press, defeating a far-right Republican and becoming the first Black governor of the state.
Mr. Moore was declared the winner over Dan Cox, a state legislator who won the Republican primary with support from former President Donald J. Trump but found little backing among the independent and moderate Democratic voters that have, in the past, propelled Maryland Republicans to statewide office.
A newcomer to politics, Mr. Moore, 44, emerged in July from a crowded primary packed with political veterans, relying on his biography and an endorsement from Oprah Winfrey.
He campaigned on the standard Democratic platform, calling for an end to child poverty in Maryland and more state investment in public transit and renewable energy projects.
An Army veteran, Mr. Moore had been known primarily for writing a best-selling book, in which he claimed to be a Baltimore native, even though he is not. But neither his Democratic primary rivals nor Mr. Cox found much traction among voters in attacking Mr. Moore on that issue.
Though Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, led the state for the past eight years, Mr. Cox received little help from the party’s establishment. Mr. Hogan refused to endorse him and major Republican donors in the state defected to support Mr. Moore.
Source: Elections - nytimes.com
