# Governor / Lieutenant Governor  
**In one sentence:** This race determines who will lead Maryland's state government, with voters selecting one candidate for governor and their running mate for lieutenant governor.  

## The candidates  
### Wes Moore and Aruna Miller (Democratic)  
**Background:** Wes Moore is Maryland’s 63rd governor and the state’s first Black governor. He previously served as a military officer and nonprofit leader. Aruna Miller is Maryland’s first immigrant and woman of color to serve as lieutenant governor.  

**Top stated priorities:**  
- **Affordability:** Reducing energy costs, expanding childcare access, and addressing housing shortages.  
- **Safety:** Lowering crime rates, improving road safety, and investing in infrastructure.  
- **Economy:** Attracting private investment, expanding industries like AI and life sciences, and supporting small businesses.  

**Record or experience relevant to this office:**  
- Moore’s administration claims to have reduced roadway fatalities by 18% and cut overdose deaths to a ten-year low.  
- Miller led efforts to improve road safety and expand healthcare access.  

### Dan Cox and Rob Krop (Republican)  
**Background:** Dan Cox is a former state delegate and attorney. Rob Krop is a real estate investor and owner of a shooting range. Krop was acquitted in 2024 of federal charges related to illegal gun acquisitions.  

**Top stated priorities:**  
- **Lower taxes and fees:** Opposing tax increases and criticizing Moore’s “high-cost” policies.  
- **Energy independence:** Banning data centers and shifting to locally produced energy.  
- **Crime reduction:** Prioritizing law enforcement and opposing “federal overreach.”  

**Record or experience relevant to this office:**  
- Cox has criticized Moore’s data center policies, calling them harmful to communities.  
- Krop’s business experience focuses on real estate and property management.  

### Andy Ellis and Owen Silverman Andrews (Green)  
**Background:** Andy Ellis is a Baltimore-based activist; Owen Silverman Andrews is a longtime Green Party member.  

**Top stated priorities:**  
- **Environmental justice:** Transitioning to renewable energy and protecting natural resources.  
- **Economic equity:** Addressing housing insecurity and expanding public services.  

**Record or experience relevant to this office:**  
- Ellis and Andrews have emphasized climate action and social justice in past campaigns.  

### Cathy White and Cathy Permut (Working Class Party)  
**Background:** Cathy White is a Montgomery County resident; Cathy Permut is a Baltimore City resident.  

**Top stated priorities:**  
- **Worker protections:** Advocating for fair wages and labor rights.  
- **Healthcare access:** Expanding Medicaid and reducing healthcare costs.  

**Record or experience relevant to this office:**  
- Details about their policy records are limited in sources checked.  

## Where they differ  
1. **Energy and data centers:**  
   - *Moore/Cox:* Moore supports renewable energy and infrastructure investment; Cox opposes data centers, vowing a “permanent ban” [1].  
   - *Cox:* Claims Moore’s policies increase energy costs and rely on “federal overreach” [2].  

2. **Tax policy:**  
   - *Moore:* Emphasizes fiscal responsibility and avoiding tax hikes.  
   - *Cox:* Promises to lower taxes and fees, criticizing Moore’s “high-cost” approach [3].  

3. **Environmental regulation:**  
   - *Moore:* Focuses on expanding solar and wind energy.  
   - *Cox:* Opposes data centers, citing environmental and community concerns [1].  

## If you care most about...  
- **Affordability -> FOR: Moore** (proposes energy rebates and healthcare expansion; *AGAINST: Cox* (opposes tax increases but cites high costs) [2].  
- **Safety -> FOR: Moore** (claims reduced roadway fatalities; *AGAINST: Cox* (prioritizes law enforcement) [2].  
- **Energy independence -> FOR: Cox* (bans data centers; *AGAINST: Moore* (supports renewable energy) [1].  
- **Economic growth -> FOR: Moore* (attracts private investment; *AGAINST: Cox* (focuses on lowering taxes) [3].  

## Who supports and who opposes  
- *Moore/Miller:* Endorsed by Maryland League of Conservation Voters, Maryland REALTORS®, and unions [4].  
- *Cox/Krop:* Supported by conservative groups; opposed by environmental advocates [2].  
- *Ellis/Andrews:* Backed by Green Party networks; no major endorsements noted.  
- *White/Permut:* Supported by Working Class Party allies; no detailed endorsements found.  

## What we could not verify  
- Specific details about the Working Class Party’s policy platforms.  
- Exact financial plans from all candidates.  

## Confidence  
**High** for Moore and Cox due to multiple verified sources. **Medium** for Green and Working Class candidates due to limited publicly available information.  

## Sources  
[1] *Dan Cox vows data center ban in Maryland* - WBAL (https://www.wbaltv.com)  
[2] *Governor’s debate sparks tensions over data centers* - CNS Maryland (https://cnsmaryland.org)  
[3] *Dan Cox for Governor – Issues* - https://dancoxforgovernor.com  
[4] *Wes Moore for Maryland* - https://wesmoore.com