July 5, 2022
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New poll reveals two-person race, Wes Moore campaign unveils ads for the final sprint
Survey conducted by Garin-Hart-Yang finds Wes Moore in a virtual tie for first with Franchot, Perez trails
New ads, poll results underscore on-the-ground momentum for Moore’s candidacy in final days of Democratic primary
BALTIMORE (July 5, 2022) – A new poll shows Democratic candidate for Maryland governor Wes Moore in a dead heat for first place, buoyed by surging support as the campaign makes an aggressive media push with the release of two new ads and gears up its dominant field operation in the final weeks of the Democratic primary.
The survey of 601 likely Democratic primary voters was conducted by Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group between June 25 and June 27. The poll found Moore’s support has surged to 20% of likely Democratic voters, while Comptroller Peter Franchot, the 37 year elected official who has enjoyed frontrunner status for most of the race, has stagnated with 21% support among likely voters. The survey had a margin of error of ±4.1%.
The poll also found that Moore’s bold media strategy and dominant ground operation is rapidly closing the gap in name recognition between Moore and Comptroller Peter Franchot. Moore’s name recognition has grown to 66% in the new poll, up from 45% name recognition in Gary-Hart-Yang’s most recent survey of the race in May. Moore opens a commanding lead with voters who are familiar with him, demonstrating unique enthusiasm for his candidacy in the electorate and a clear path of victory on election day.
“Among the two-thirds of Maryland Democrats who recognize Wes, he is leading Peter
Franchot by 30% to 21%, with Tom Perez at 18%, which suggests Wes’ potential as he gets better known,” according to a June 30 memo by Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group.
As Wes Moore and Comptroller Franchot enter the final days of the primary locked in a tie for first place, the Moore campaign today announced two new ads airing on broadcast and cable television in the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore markets. The release of the new ads reflects an aggressive media push as more voters tune into the race.
The first ad, “Different,” shows Moore in a town hall sharing his vision with voters.
Watch “Different” on YouTube »
“Okay Wes Moore, nothing ever seems to change. What would be different with you?” Moore is asked in the ad.
“You’re right, and nothing will change with the same ideas coming from the same people,” Moore responds. “My background is different.”
“I led soldiers in combat. I led one of the largest poverty fighting organizations. I know what it means to tackle big challenges with urgency,” Moore continues. “We will make sure we have the best schools. We will make sure people feel safe in their own neighborhoods. We will close the racial wealth gap. And we will leave no one behind.”
The second ad, “The Leader We Need,” highlights the unrivaled support for Wes Moore’s candidacy in Prince George’s County.
Watch “The Leader We Need” on YouTube »
“Elected officials from Prince George’s County vowed support for gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore,” the narrator says in the ad. “For Maryland governor, Maryland’s teachers endorsed Wes Moore. Congressman Steny Hoyer endorsed Moore. County Executive Angela Alsobrooks called Wes ‘the leader we need.’”
“I just feel so excited because I know Wes Moore has the integrity, the vision, the heart,” Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks says in the ad’s voice over. “We need a governor who sees all of us. Wes Moore sees us.”
As the Wes Moore for Maryland campaign launches an aggressive ad blitz in the final weeks of the campaign, Moore’s field operation is also scaling up to leverage the unparalleled enthusiasm for Moore’s candidacy as Marylanders head to the polls in the primary election.
Major top-line developments in polling and new advertisements underscore bottom-line momentum from the campaign.
The campaign has reached out to 1,507,065 voters, made 192,021 phone calls, sent 1,003,133 text messages, knocked 102,327 doors, and knocked an additional 209,584 doors with endorsers and allies.
In his bid to become the next Governor of Maryland, Wes Moore has earned the support of U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD-5); U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD-7); Former U.S. Rep. Albert Wynn (MD-4); 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; Senate President Bill Ferguson (District 46); Sen. Malcolm Augustine (District 47); Senate President Pro Tempore Melony Griffith (District 25); Sen. Arthur C. Ellis (District 28); Sen. Brian Feldman (District 15); Sen. Guy Guzzone (District 13); Sen. Antonio Hayes (District 40); Sen. Mike Jackson (District 27); Sen. Cheryl Kagan (District 17); Sen. Delores Kelley (District 10); Sen. Susan Lee (District 16); Sen. Obie Patterson (District 26); Sen. Paul Pinsky (District 22); Sen. Ron Watson (District 23); Former Sen. Nathaniel McFadden (District 45); Senate candidate C. Anthony Muse (District 26); Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates Adrienne Jones (District 10); 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. Talmadge Branch (District 45); Del. D. Antonio “Tony” Bridges (District 41); Del. Ben Brooks (District 10); Del. Frank Conaway, Jr. (District 40); Del. Debra Davis (District 28); Del. Jessica Feldmark (District 13); Del. Diana Fennell (District 47A); Del. Wanika Fisher, (District 47B); Del. Jim Gilchrist (District 17); Del. Andrea Harrison (District 24); Del. Terri Hill (District 12); Del. Rachel Jones (District 27B); Del. Anne Kaiser (District 14); Del. Cheryl Landis (District 23B); Democratic Caucus Chair Del. Jazz Lewis (District 24); Majority Leader Del. Eric Luedtke (District 14); Del. Maggie McIntosh (District 43); Del. Edith Patterson (District 28); Del. Roxane Prettyman (District 44A); Del. Susie Proctor (District 27A); Del. Mike Rogers (District 32); Del. Sandy Rosenberg (District 41); Speaker Pro Tem Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes (District 37A); Del. Emily Shetty (District 18); Del. and Baltimore City Delegation Chair Stephanie Smith (District 45); Del. Geraldine Valentino-Smith (District 23A); Del. Melissa Wells (District 40); Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (District 20); Del. Nicole Williams (District 22); Former Del. Karen Britto (District 16); Former Del. Gene Counihan (District 15); Christopher Stevenson, candidate for delegate in District 24; Joe Vogel, candidate for delegate in District 17; Washington Grove Mayor and former MCDCC Chair Darrell Anderson; Baltimore County Councilmember Cathy Bevins (District 6); University Park Councilmember and Mayor-Elect Joel Biermann; Bowie Mayor Pro Tem & Councilmember Adrian Boafo; Baltimore City Councilmember John Bullock (District 9); Hagerstown City Councilmember Tiara Burnett; Morningside Mayor Bennard Cann; Acting Cambridge Mayor Lajan Cephas; 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); Prince George’s County Councilmember Tom Dernoga (District 1); Bowie City Councilmember Michael Esteve (District 11); Prince George’s County Councilmember Mel Franklin (At Large); Kensington Mayor Tracey Furman; Prince George’s County Councilmember Danielle Glaros (District 3); Prince George’s County Councilmember Sydney Harrison (District 9); Prince George’s County Council Chair Calvin Hawkins (At Large); Gaithersburg Councilmember Lisa Henderson; 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); Laurel Mayor Craig Moe; Pocomoke City Councilmember Todd Nock (District 4); Baltimore City Councilmember Phylicia Porter (District 10); Baltimore County Councilmember Tom Quirk (District 1); Baltimore City Councilmember Odette Ramos (District 14); Poolesville Commissioner Ed Reed; Somerset Mayor Jeffrey Slavin; Riverdale Park Councilmember Richard Smith (Ward 1); Laurel Councilmember Brencis Smith (Ward 2); Baltimore City Councilmember Robert Stokes (District 12); Prince George’s County Councilmember Rodney Streeter (District 7); Prince George’s County Councilmember Deni Taveras (District 2); Baltimore City Councilmember James Torrence (District 7); Prince George’s County Councilmember Todd Turner (District 4); Forest Heights Mayor Calvin Washington; Former Prince George’s County Councilmember Derrick Leon Davis (District 6); Former Kensington Mayor Pete Fosselman; Former Gaithersburg Councilmember Yvette Monroe; Former Baltimore Mayor Jack Young; Candidate for Prince George’s County Council Eve Shuman; Former Maryland Democratic Party chairs Michael Cryor and Susie Turnbull; Former Chair of the Public Service Commission Kevin Hughes; Former Chair of the Montgomery County Planning Board Royce Hanson; Former Chair of the Prince George’s County Council and Former Circuit Court Judge Hon. Ingrid M. Turner; 3.14 Action Fund; African Americans in Howard County; The AFRO American Newspapers; Baltimore County West Democratic Club; The Baltimore Fire Officers Union Local 964; Coalition of Asian Pacific American Democrats of MD; 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 League of Conservation Voters; The Maryland State Education Association; Thurgood Marshall Democratic Club; VoteVetsPAC, one of the top veterans advocacy organizations in the country.