Overview

• Announcing at Baltimore’s Canton Waterfront Park on Aug. 20, the businessman and Baltimore Blast owner said he will run for governor as a Republican.
• As of his announcement, he remained a registered Democrat and had not filed candidacy paperwork with the Maryland State Board of Elections.
• Hale said Gonzales Research polling showed no viable path against Gov. Wes Moore in a Democratic primary, prompting his party switch.
• Top Republicans signaled wariness of a recent party convert as several GOP candidates are already in the field, with analysts noting a potential Larry Hogan bid could dominate a primary.
• Hale outlined conservative-leaning priorities on taxes, juvenile crime and policing, and accused Moore of eyeing the presidency, a claim Moore has publicly denied.