As the political landscape begins to take shape in Maryland, Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey is taking a step toward running for governor but has not fully committed.
Making the announcement exclusively on FOX45’s In Depth with Mikenzie Frost, Hershey said he is forming a gubernatorial exploratory committee. The Republican from the Eastern Shore has served in the General Assembly since 2011, first in the House of Delegates before being elected to the Senate in 2013.
“After a number of conversations with Marylanders across the state, I have taken the step today to formally create an exploratory committee to run for governor of Maryland,” Hershey said.
During the last legislative session, Hershey and other Republicans pushed against the tax and fee increases introduced by Gov. Wes Moore and the Democrats in control. Ensuring Maryland’s energy prices are affordable, taxes are lowered, and education outcomes improve are issues Hershey has fought for throughout his time in the General Assembly.
“I think that there has been quite a change in the perception and what Gov. Moore is doing. And at the end of the day, I think Marylanders deserve a real choice because we need to see balance in the form of government in Maryland. Right now, the General Assembly is leaning way to the left. We now have a Democratic governor who is experimenting with how far left he can actually get, and Marylanders want balance,” Hershey said. “And I thought at the end of the day, we need to be able to bring those issues up, have those conversations about important competing views, and see if we can end up running for governor and make an impression on Marylanders.”
If Hershey officially joins the race, he would join a growing list of Republican hopefuls. Most recently, Baltimore businessman Ed Hale switched parties and announced he is running for governor as a Republican after initially running as a Democrat.
“The fact of the matter is he’s a Democrat, and he’s still a Democrat. And as again, I was at the board of elections today, Ed Hale has not changed party affiliation yet,” Hershey said. “So for him to come out and say that all of a sudden ‘I’m going to enter the Republican primary because I can’t beat Gov. Moore in a Democratic primary,’ I don’t know what makes him think he can come into our party after years and years and years of being a lifelong Democrat and saying at the last minute, ‘I’m going to be a Republican and therefore embrace me.’”
Other Republican candidates vying for the gubernatorial nomination include Del. Christopher Buchat, farmer Kurt Wedekind and law enforcement veteran John Myrick.
As Moore seeks a second term, other candidates have criticized his numerous appearances on national television and argued he is more interested in running for president in 2028 than running Maryland. While pundits and donors, including George Clooney, have said Moore may be the future of the Democratic Party, he maintains he is not focused on 2028.
Hershey criticized Moore’s approach, particularly regarding the state’s interactions with former President Donald Trump.
“What Gov. Moore has done recently and what we’ve seen is that the governor from California and the governor from Illinois were getting a lot of media attention,” Hershey said. “And Gov. Moore was on the outside and not getting anything. So all of a sudden, he decided that he’s gonna pick a fight with President Trump.”
Hershey emphasized the importance of Maryland having a cooperative relationship with the federal government, noting the state’s reliance on federal support. He highlighted the relocation of the FBI building to Washington, D.C., and a halted offshore wind project as key issues.
“The Key Bridge is so vital to Marylanders and our economy that that is not something the governor should be putting out on the table as a bargaining chip,” Hershey said. “It’s very, very important that the governor has a working relationship with the President of the United States.”
The Democratic Governors Association responded:
“Stephen Hershey, Ed Hale Sr. and Larry Hogan all have one thing in common: they’re out-of-touch Republicans who will lose to Wes Moore next year. Maryland Republicans now look like they’re set to have a messy primary filled with lackluster candidates who don’t have the spine to fight Donald Trump’s agenda that is crushing Maryland’s middle class. Good luck!”
The Republican primary for the Maryland gubernatorial election will take place June 23, 2026.
Have a news tip? Contact Mikenzie Frost at mbfrost@sbgtv.com.