Maryland Governor Voter Guide: Moore, Cox, Ellis and White on Affordability and Health Care
Four candidates are on the Nov. 3 ballot for Maryland governor, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections: Democratic Gov. Wes Moore, Republican former state Delegate Dan Cox, the Green Party's Andy Ellis and the Working Class Party's Cathy White. The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares where they stand on affordability and health care.
The race is a rematch: Moore defeated Cox in 2022, when Moore won his first bid for elected office. Moore's running mate is Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller; Cox is running with Rob Krop, Ellis with Owen Silverman Andrews and White with Cathy Permut, according to the state's candidate list.
Why Affordability and Health Care Matter in the Maryland Governor's Race
The Cook Political Report rates the race Solid Democratic in its Oct. 27 governor ratings. Inside Elections (Oct. 15) rates it Solid Democratic and Sabato's Crystal Ball (Oct. 22) rates it Safe Democratic. A University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Institute of Politics poll released Oct. 6, an independent university survey of 776 likely voters, found Moore at 51 percent, Cox at 24 percent, 11 percent for other candidates and 14 percent undecided, Maryland Matters reported.
The candidates answered the same questions on the cost of living, the economy and health care in the Maryland Matters voter guide, and those answers are the main source for their positions below. Early voting ran Oct. 22 to Oct. 29.
On affordability, the TDFP video says Moore "would build affordable housing, create jobs, and combat price gouging," and Cox "would cut taxes and fees, cap property assessments, and expand power generation." It says Ellis "would make fees progressive and create public power utilities to lower bills," and White says "workers must organize for higher wages, affordable health care, and housing."
On health care, the video says Moore "supports funding rural hospitals and accessible care across Maryland," and Cox "would allow universal opt-in coverage at the same rate paid by state legislators." It says Ellis "would explore single payer, expand medical cooperatives, and strengthen the Drug Affordability Board," and White says "health care should be a human right rather than a for-profit system."
Wes Moore (Democrat, Incumbent)
Moore is Maryland's 63rd governor and its first Black governor. A combat veteran, author and former nonprofit chief executive, he was elected in 2022 in his first run for office, according to Maryland Matters. His administration says it has brought violent crime to historic lows, a claim that is his own.
On affordability, Moore told Maryland Matters: "It is our responsibility to build an economy that makes sure more Marylanders can afford to live here, buy a home, create wealth, and live a secure middle-class life. That's why we're creating jobs, building more affordable housing, and introducing legislation to combat price gouging." He says Maryland has added nearly 100,000 jobs and more than 35,000 new places of business in three years, which is his claim.
On health care, Moore said: "Your zip code shouldn't determine your level of care, or if you can access it. That's why we've fought to fund rural hospitals and create quality and accessible healthcare across the state."
Dan Cox (Republican)
Cox is a former state delegate who describes himself as a 21-year civil rights attorney, a lifelong Marylander with 10 children and a small business owner whose businesses include a natural farm. He was the Republican nominee in 2022.
On affordability, Cox told Maryland Matters: "I will lower electric bills by opening new power plants including SMRs and ending the 30% RGGI tax causing outrageous electric costs." He says he would "cut taxes and fees including car registrations, cap property tax assessments, and audit every agency," and would propose a 4.9 percent income tax rate and business tax rate, down from what he called combined rates of 9.6 percent and 8.25 percent.
On health care, Cox said he would "model Maryland after New Hampshire, which has the lowest premium and highest coverage rate," and added: "I will submit legislation to permit universal opt-in coverage at the same rate Maryland Legislators pay."
Andy Ellis (Green Party)
Ellis is a longtime Green Party activist and debate coach who recently launched his own firm, Debate Strategies LLC. Maryland Matters reported he is running against the two-party system, data centers and big money in politics.
On affordability, Ellis said fees "should be made progressive, so that someone registering a new luxury car pays more than someone registering a used car." He also backs "the creation of new public power utilities, which already operate successfully in Easton and Southern Maryland, to lower our bills."
On health care, Ellis said: "We should explore a single-payer model at the state level." He also supports "the expansion of medical cooperatives so people can receive care outside of the exploitive insurance model" and wants to "support and strengthen the Prescription Drug Affordability Board."
Cathy White (Working Class Party)
White has been a factory worker for 40 years and a caregiver for her mother and sister, according to Maryland Matters. She was the Working Class Party's 2022 nominee for lieutenant governor.
On affordability, White said: "Things aren't affordable because corporations make profit by not paying us enough and by charging high prices." She added that "workers will need to organize and fight to get the things we need, like higher wages, affordable health care and housing, and affordable and nutritious food."
On health care, White said hospitals close when they are not profitable and drugs are "over-priced to make huge profits." She said: "Health care should be a human right and not based on how much money you have."
Where to Follow the Candidates
Wes Moore: @iamwesmoore on X. Dan Cox: @dancox4maryland on X. Andy Ellis: @gogreen2026 on X. Cathy White: Working Class Party of Maryland website, sites.google.com/view/wcp-md.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Maryland voters can check their registration and polling place at elections.maryland.gov. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: Maryland State Board of Elections, 2026 general election statewide candidate list: https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2026/general_candidates/2026_GG_statewide_candidatelist.html ; Maryland Matters voter guide, Governor/Lieutenant Governor: https://marylandmatters.org/voter-guides/contests/governor-lieutenant-governor-general/ ; Maryland Matters, UMBC poll (Oct. 6, 2026): https://marylandmatters.org/2026/10/06/poll-moore-sits-with-a-comfortable-2-1-margin-over-republican-challenger-cox/ ; Cook Political Report, governor ratings: https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/governor-race-ratings ; 2026 Maryland gubernatorial election (ratings table): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Maryland_gubernatorial_election ; Wes Moore for Maryland: https://wesmoore.com/ ; Dan Cox for Governor: https://dancoxforgovernor.com/ ; Andy Ellis campaign: https://www.gogreen2026.com/
Comments