May 17, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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New poll confirms Wes Moore is the only surging candidate in the crowded race for Maryland governor
Survey conducted between May 5 and May 9 shows Moore in clear second place within striking distance of Franchot
Moore surges to a clear lead among voters who are familiar with him, showing clear path to victory and unparalleled enthusiasm
BALTIMORE (May 17, 2022) – A new poll shows Democratic candidate for Maryland governor Wes Moore as the only candidate with surging support and momentum and in clear striking distance of Comptroller Peter Franchot.
The survey of 601 likely Democratic primary voters was conducted by Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group between May 5 and May 9. The poll found Moore winning the support of 13% of likely Democratic voters, only 6 points behind Comptroller Peter Franchot. Moore has increased his support by 6% since the last survey conducted by Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group in November 2021. Franchot – the frontrunner who has been in office for 37 years, including 16 years as comptroller, remains stuck around 20 percent in every survey Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group has conducted.
“(1) Peter Franchot, while he remains the front-runner, has seen his support become stagnant with literally NO movement since last September, and (2) Wes Moore is the ONLY candidate who has increased his support and as a result he has moved into second place, within striking distance of the lead,” a memo by Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group states.
Moore is the only candidate in the race whose support has increased in past months while support for other candidates has either fallen or remained stagnant. Moore has gained 6 points since last Fall.
“The data reflect what we see in communities across Maryland – our message to build a state where we expand access to opportunity by focusing on increased work, wages, and wealth is resonating everywhere, in all 24 jurisdictions in this state,” Wes Moore said. “We have the momentum and a unique opportunity to win and build a more inclusive, safer, and prosperous Maryland, and we are going to continue connecting with voters across the state in the next two months. We will build a state that does not leave anybody behind.”
Moore – who is in a clear second place despite still only having 45% name recognition – opens a commanding lead among voters familiar with him, demonstrating a clear path to victory and passionate support as voters continue to tune in to the race in the weeks leading up to the primary. Among voters who know him, Moore wins 27% support against Franchot’s 19%.
The survey further demonstrates unique enthusiasm for Moore and demonstrates his unprecedented momentum in the race for governor. 54% of Moore’s supporters expressed strong support, while only 45% of Franchot’s supporters expressed strong support for him.
“Wes Moore for Maryland is the only campaign moving forward in the polls and we are the only campaign with the momentum, the resources, the path, the vision, and the leaders to win this primary in July and the general election in November,” campaign manager Ned Miller said.
Moore’s surging support in the polls echoes his decisive victory in the coveted straw poll at the Western Maryland Democratic Summit in Flintstone, Maryland, on May 14. Moore won a commanding 153 votes, more than doubling the second-place finisher, and clearly demonstrating the Moore-Miller campaign’s ability to leverage its unrivaled grassroots support and organizing ability with key stakeholders from all regions within the Maryland Democratic Party.
Wes Moore and his running mate former Del. Aruna Miller’s rapidly growing coalition includes endorsements from U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD-5), former Governor and former Prince George’s County Executive Parris Glendening; former Democratic nominee for Governor Ben Jealous; Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks; Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman; Former Baltimore County Executive Don Mohler; Former Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith; Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy; Sen. Guy Guzzone (District 13); Sen. Antonio Hayes (District 40); Sen. Cheryl Kagan (District 17); Sen. Delores Kelley (District 10); Sen. Susan Lee (District 16); Sen. Obie Patterson (District 26); Former Sen. Nathaniel McFadden (District 45); Del. Marlon Amprey (District 40); Del. Vanessa Atterbeary (District 13); Del. Ben Barnes (District 21); Del. Kumar Barve (District 17); Del. Lisa Belcastro (District 11); Del. Regina Boyce (District 43); Del. Chanel Branch (District 45); Del. Frank Conaway, Jr. (District 40); Del. Debra Davis (District 28); Del. Jessica Feldmark (District 13); Del. Terri Hill (District 12); Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates Adrienne Jones (District 10); Del. Anne Kaiser (District 14); Del. Cheryl Landis (District 23B); Majority Leader Del. Eric Luedtke (District 14); Del. Roxane Prettyman (District 44A); Del. Mike Rogers (District 32); Del. Sandy Rosenberg (District 41); Del. Emily Shetty (District 18); Geraldine Valentino-Smith (District 23A); Del. and Baltimore City Delegation Chair Stephanie Smith (District 45); Del. Melissa Wells (District 40); Del. Nicole Williams (District 22); Former Del. Gene Counihan (District 15); Baltimore County Councilmember Cathy Bevins (District 6); Bowie Mayor Pro Tem & Councilmember Adrian Boafo; Baltimore City Councilmember John Bullock (District 9); Hagerstown City Councilmember Tiara Burnett; Morningside Mayor Bennard Cann; Charles County Commissioner Thomasina Coates (District 2); Baltimore City Councilmember Zeke Cohen (District 1); Baltimore City Councilmember Mark Conway (District 4); Baltimore City Councilmember Eric Costello (District 11); Bowie City Councilmember Michael Esteve (District 11); Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando (At Large); Baltimore County Council Chair and Councilmember Julian Jones (District 4); Hagerstown Mayor Emily Keller; Hagerstown City Councilmember Tekesha Martinez; Prince George’s County Councilmember Johnathan Medlock (District 6); Former Gaithersburg Councilmember Yvette Monroe; Baltimore City Councilmember Phylicia Porter (District 10); Baltimore City Councilmember Odette Ramos (District 14); Somerset Mayor Jeffrey Slavin; Riverdale Park Councilmember Richard Smith (Ward 1); Laurel Councilmember Brencis Smith (Ward 2); Baltimore City Councilmember Robert Stokes (District 12); Baltimore City Councilmember James Torrence (District 7); Forest Heights Mayor Calvin Washington; former Maryland Democratic Party chairs Michael Cryor and Susie Turnbull; Former Chair of the Montgomery County Planning Board Royce Hanson; The Baltimore Fire Officers Union Local 964; Collective PAC, one of the nation’s largest organizations working to build Black representation in government; Impact, a leading national organization supporting the Indian American and South Asian community; Ironworkers Local #5, a progressive union representing over 1,000 ironworkers; The Maryland State Education Association; and VoteVetsPAC, one of the top veterans advocacy organizations in the country.
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