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Maryland voters voice frustration with gubernatorial candidates and with taxes Maryland voters voice frustration with gubernatorial candidates and with taxes
(35 minutes later)
Maryland voters went to the polls Tuesday — in many cases reluctantly or unenthusiastically — to pick a new governor and cast votes in a host of other congressional, state and local races, only a few of which are competitive. At polling stations across Maryland on Tuesday, many voters said they were casting their ballots for governor reluctantly or unenthusiastically — often more interested in defeating one of the majority party nominees than in boosting the other to victory.
Across the state, both Democrats and Republicans expressed frustration over taxes and anxiety about the economy. Some didn’t understand why schools in their neighborhoods are still struggling when Maryland is home to some of the highest-performing schools in the country. Others were concerned about guns. And several voters said their gubernatorial selection was motivated not by confidence in one candidate but a distrust of another. On an Election Day when the contest for governor was one of just a few competitive statewide or local races, both Democrats and Republicans expressed frustration over taxes and anxiety about the economy. Some didn’t understand why schools in their neighborhoods are still struggling when Maryland is home to some of the highest-performing schools in the country. Others were concerned about guns.
Their choices: Anthony G. Brown, the Democratic nominee who has been Gov. Martin O’Malley’s deputy for the past eight years. Larry Hogan, the Republican nominee who has heavily campaigned on a promise to roll-back taxes O’Malley imposed. And Shawn Quinn, the Libertarian candidate. The candidates: Anthony G. Brown, the Democratic nominee who has been Gov. Martin O’Malley’s deputy for the past eight years. Larry Hogan, the Republican nominee who has heavily campaigned on a promise to roll-back taxes O’Malley imposed. And Shawn Quinn, the Libertarian candidate.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. Anyone in line by 8 p.m. will be permitted to vote. Polls close at 8 p.m. Anyone in line by then will be permitted to vote.
In a state with twice as many Democrats as Republicans, the gubernatorial race has become much closer than expected. The outcome could hinge on turnout in Baltimore County, where Hogan has considerable support, and Prince George’s, where Brown lives and has his deepest base. Theresa Garcia-Parks, 50, a community volunteer in Montgomery County, said she voted against her party, choosing Hogan, after she grew disenchanted by the Obama health-care rollout and government shutdown. “I was looking for a change,” she said.
Taxes and the economy became a dominant issue in the race, with criticism of tax increases during O’Malley’s tenure pushing Brown to repeatedly promise not to increase taxes any further. His pledge, however, did not appear to reach all voters. Mike Bowling, 44, said that he has always voted for Democrats but cast his ballot for Hogan because of the ever-increasing amount of taxes. Tanya Gary of Fort Washington, however, voted for Brown. “Some of the things [O’Malley] has done have gone well,” she said, blaming the rise in taxes on the need for revenue as a result of the nationwide economic crisis. “Republicans are not offering anything, they just want to tear things down.”
“I think Anthony Brown will most likely win, but I sincerely hope that he doesn’t continue to raise taxes,” Bowling said at the Greenbelt Metro station on Tuesday morning. In a state with twice as many Democrats as Republicans, the gubernatorial race could hinge on turnout in Baltimore County, where Hogan has considerable support, and Prince George’s, where Brown lives and has his deepest base.
Camilla McArthur, 61, of Silver Spring, voted for Brown, but she wants him to know that she “didn’t care for” the tax hikes under the O’Malley-Brown administration. “The Democrats need to know that even the faithful are tired of the taxes,” she said. The other statewide contests on the ballot strongly favor Democrats. In the race for attorney general, Sen. Brian E. Frosh (D-Montgomery) has a large lead in polls over Jeffrey N. Pritzker, a Towson lawyer. Frosh, chairman of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, has touted his work in the legislature on gun control and other issues, while Pritzker has offered himself as a counterbalance to a state government dominated by Democrats.
But Norman Constantine, 64, said that he doesn’t believe the hype that Marylanders are over-taxed. He’s registered as a Democrat, but voted for Quinn, the Libertarian candidate. Meanwhile, Comptroller Peter Franchot (D) is favored to win over Republican challenger William H. Campbell, a former chief financial officer of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Coast Guard and Amtrak. Campbell, a Howard County resident, lost to Franchot, a former Montgomery County delegate, in 2010.
“I don’t believe that at all,” said Constantine, a teacher who lives in Bowie. “Those taxes pay for things we need and use every day.” All eight Maryland congressional incumbents are expected to win reelection, and Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) and Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) also are favored to secure another term.
Several voters said they still didn’t know much about any of the candidates or what they would do in office, and a few complained about the barrage of negative television ads. In explaining their votes, some Marylanders commented more about what they didn’t like about the candidate who didn’t receive their vote. Voters statewide are expected to pass a measure creating a “lockbox” for transportation funding, while Prince George’s voters are deciding whether to limit officials there to three terms in office rather than two.
Under fire for tax hikes during O’Malley’s tenure, Brown has pledged repeatedly not to increase taxes any further. His pledge, however, did not appear to reach all voters. At Lutherville Elementary in Baltimore County, Jim Lotfi said that he isn’t sure that Hogan will be able to cut taxes — but he doesn’t trust Brown to not raise them.
“Hopefully the taxes will go down if Hogan’s elected,” said Lotfi, 49. “But they’ll definitely go up if Brown is.”
Camilla McArthur, 61, of Silver Spring, voted for Brown, but wants him to take criticism of the tax hikes to heart. “The Democrats need to know that even the faithful are tired of the taxes,” she said.
In Baltimore County, 27-year-old Jessica Baldwin voted for Hogan because she has seen it become increasingly difficult for her friends to find well-paying work in the state. Meanwhile, she said, taxes have become too much.
“There’s just this feeling that there’s always something else and you don’t see a return from it a lot of the time,” said Baldwin, who sells books and voted at Lutherville Elementary School.
Frustration with taxes was not the only concern that voters brought with them to the polls.
In Greenbelt, Jeffrey Harden, 54, said he wants to see major improvements in the Prince George’s school system. His 9-year-old son attends Robert Goddard French Immersion, one of the best schools in the state — and an exception in the county.
“I believe they’re lacking in so many ways, and that they need to put more emphasis on our kids,” said Harden, who works at the Medstar Hospital Center. “We’re finding that our children are behind ... compared not only to other states but other countries.”
Gun regulations were at the top of the list for David Walton, a 69-year-old who lives in Dundalk and threatened to leave the state if gun owners were not given more rights.
“I am planning my escape route,” Walton said. “As long as they’ve got a state here hell-bent on disobeying the Constitution, I’m not going to stick around to try and repair it. I’m moving to Tennessee, where there are low taxes and it’s firearm-friendly.”
Brown has hammered Hogan for originally opposing Maryland’s year-old gun-control law, which bans 45 types of weapons and imposes registration requirements for handgun owners. Brown’s campaign aired a barrage of television ads claiming Hogan had a “dangerous” agenda for Maryland, including on guns.
Hogan insisted that he had no plans to roll back the law. But the issue became harder to deflect when the National Rifle Association endorsed him late in the campaign and awarded him a grade of A-minus on their issues, based in part on a questionnaire that Hogan refused to make public.
Several voters said they still didn’t know much about any of the candidates or what they would do in office, and a few complained about the barrage of negative television ads.
Ronald Cohen, a 77-year-old retired journalist who lives in Potomac, said that he usually votes for Democrats but would occasionally pick a Republican. But no longer, he said, because the “two-party system has been undercut by the Republicans” who refuse to compromise on anything.Ronald Cohen, a 77-year-old retired journalist who lives in Potomac, said that he usually votes for Democrats but would occasionally pick a Republican. But no longer, he said, because the “two-party system has been undercut by the Republicans” who refuse to compromise on anything.
Cohen recounted when Hogan’s father, former Republican Congressman Lawrence Hogan Sr., went against his party and voted to impeach President Richard M. Nixon during the Watergate scandal. He doesn’t think the younger Hogan would do the same.Cohen recounted when Hogan’s father, former Republican Congressman Lawrence Hogan Sr., went against his party and voted to impeach President Richard M. Nixon during the Watergate scandal. He doesn’t think the younger Hogan would do the same.
“I think if the current Mr. Hogan had been as willing to modify some of his views, as his father had, I would have considered him,” Cohen said.“I think if the current Mr. Hogan had been as willing to modify some of his views, as his father had, I would have considered him,” Cohen said.
Jerry Lewis, a retired computer specialist who lives in Burtonsville, said he “voted more against Hogan” than for Brown.Jerry Lewis, a retired computer specialist who lives in Burtonsville, said he “voted more against Hogan” than for Brown.
“I just think the Republican Party is way out of touch with reality, and they’re not here to help the middle class,” said Lewis, 62. “They’re just here to promote the rich.”“I just think the Republican Party is way out of touch with reality, and they’re not here to help the middle class,” said Lewis, 62. “They’re just here to promote the rich.”
Harry Werner, who works for an IT contractor, didn’t vote for either candidate. Harry Werner, who works for an IT contractor, didn’t vote for either candidate. “Hogan is a little too far right for me,” said Werner, 63, as he arrived at the Greenbelt Metro station. “I don’t think Brown has any substance.”
“I don’t like either one of them, and I didn’t vote for either one of them,” said Werner, 63, as he arrived at the Greenbelt Metro station on Tuesday morning. “Hogan is a little too far right for me. I don’t think Brown has any substance.”
Brown started the day by voting in Upper Marlboro with wife, Karmen, and mother, Lilly Brown. “We’re confident,” he said, “but we will never be complacent.”Brown started the day by voting in Upper Marlboro with wife, Karmen, and mother, Lilly Brown. “We’re confident,” he said, “but we will never be complacent.”
A short time later, Hogan also stopped in Prince George’s, to greet commuters at the Greenbelt Metro station — rattling off statistics about the number of tax increases under the O’Malley-Brown administration, jobs lost and how the state’s economy ranks nationally. A short time later, Hogan also stopped in Prince George’s, to greet commuters at the Greenbelt Metro station.
The other statewide contests on the ballot strongly favor Democrats. In the race for attorney general, Sen. Brian E. Frosh (D-Montgomery) has a large lead in polls over Jeffrey N. Pritzker, a Towson lawyer. Frosh, chairman of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, has touted his work in the legislature on gun control and other issues, while Pritzker has offered himself as a counterbalance to a state government dominated by Democrats.
Meanwhile, Comptroller Peter Franchot (D) is favored to win over Republican challenger William H. Campbell, a former chief financial officer of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Coast Guard and Amtrak. Campbell, a Howard County resident, lost to Franchot, a former Montgomery County delegate, in 2010.
All eight Maryland congressional incumbents are expected to win reelection, and Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) and Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) also are favored to secure another term.
Voters statewide are expected to pass a measure creating a “lockbox” for transportation funding, while Prince George’s voters are deciding whether to limit officials there to three terms in office rather than two.
The governor’s race could depend on several factors, including African American turnout, which is vital to Brown’s chances. Other keys in the race include how many Democrats are motivated to vote in Montgomery, the state’s largest jurisdiction, and whether Hogan can appeal to blue-collar Democrats in Baltimore County the same way the last Republican to win the governorship, Robert Ehrlich, did in 2002.The governor’s race could depend on several factors, including African American turnout, which is vital to Brown’s chances. Other keys in the race include how many Democrats are motivated to vote in Montgomery, the state’s largest jurisdiction, and whether Hogan can appeal to blue-collar Democrats in Baltimore County the same way the last Republican to win the governorship, Robert Ehrlich, did in 2002.
Hogan is seeking to replicate a winning path blazed by Ehrlich in 2002, when he became the first Republican to win the governorship in Maryland in more than 30 years. Ehrlich succeeded by winning over a sizable chunk of disaffected Democrats and a healthy majority of independent voters.Hogan is seeking to replicate a winning path blazed by Ehrlich in 2002, when he became the first Republican to win the governorship in Maryland in more than 30 years. Ehrlich succeeded by winning over a sizable chunk of disaffected Democrats and a healthy majority of independent voters.
Hogan’s narrow focus on economic issues was designed to court enough of those voters to win while maintaining the enthusiasm of a Republican base unaccustomed to capturing statewide offices. He steadfastly sought to avoid talking about social issues, such as abortion and same-sex marriage, saying he considered those to be matters of settled law.Hogan’s narrow focus on economic issues was designed to court enough of those voters to win while maintaining the enthusiasm of a Republican base unaccustomed to capturing statewide offices. He steadfastly sought to avoid talking about social issues, such as abortion and same-sex marriage, saying he considered those to be matters of settled law.
Brown promised to build on O’Malley’s accomplishments while at the same time maintaining some distance from the Democratic governor, whose popularity plummeted over the past year as voters were reminded of a string of tax hikes passed during his tenure. During his first debate with Hogan, Brown emphatically pledged not to raise taxes if elected.Brown promised to build on O’Malley’s accomplishments while at the same time maintaining some distance from the Democratic governor, whose popularity plummeted over the past year as voters were reminded of a string of tax hikes passed during his tenure. During his first debate with Hogan, Brown emphatically pledged not to raise taxes if elected.
Brown also promised to create the nation’s best business climate — an area critics accused O’Malley of neglecting — and trumpeted plans to gradually expand pre-kindergarten to all 4-year-olds in Maryland, a measure Hogan criticized as a too-costly campaign gimmick.Brown also promised to create the nation’s best business climate — an area critics accused O’Malley of neglecting — and trumpeted plans to gradually expand pre-kindergarten to all 4-year-olds in Maryland, a measure Hogan criticized as a too-costly campaign gimmick.
Both campaigns went negative from the outset. On the day after his June 24 primary win, Hogan released a Web ad calling Brown “the most incompetent man in Maryland.” It was a reference in part to his role in the state’s botched rollout of its online health insurance marketplace.Both campaigns went negative from the outset. On the day after his June 24 primary win, Hogan released a Web ad calling Brown “the most incompetent man in Maryland.” It was a reference in part to his role in the state’s botched rollout of its online health insurance marketplace.
Brown, meanwhile, launched a barrage of television ads claiming Hogan had a “dangerous” agenda for Maryland, including on guns. One ad showed an assault rifle resting against a swing set, highlighting Hogan’s opposition to a year-old gun-control law that banned 45 types of those weapons and included new fingerprinting and registration requirements to own a handgun. Miles Parks, Jonathan Hunter, Kathryn Le Dain, Arelis R. Hernández and Katherine Shaver contributed to this report.
Hogan insisted that he had no plans to roll back the law, but the issue became harder to deflect when the National Rifle Association endorsed him late in the campaign and awarded him a grade of A-minus on their issues, based in part on a questionnaire that Hogan refused to make public.
(Related: Where the candidates for governor stand)
Miles Parks, Jonathan Hunter, Kathryn Le Dain and Katherine Shaver contributed to this report.