SUITLAND, Md. 鈥斅燤aryland鈥檚 governor鈥檚 race is heating up as August winds down.
Democrat Ben Jealous got the endorsement from dozens of Annapolis lawmakers鈥攊ncluding leadership in the State House 鈥� while Republican Gov. Larry Hogan announced he鈥檚 won the endorsement of the Maryland Fraternal Order of Police.
Outside of Suitland High School in Prince George鈥檚 County, dozens of Annapolis lawmakers, including Senate President Thomas 鈥淢ichael鈥� Miller and House Speaker Michael Busch, rallied around Jealous.
With teachers holding up signs behind him, Jealous pledged to raise teacher salaries by 29 percent. A jump in pay is needed, he said, to attract and retain educators who otherwise can cross over into Montgomery County or D.C. for bigger paychecks.
Among those supporting Jealous is his former opponent in the Democratic primary, state Sen. Richard Madaleno.
鈥淚f you want a governor who鈥檚 going to go above and beyond for our young people 鈥� you have one choice to make in November 鈥� and that鈥檚 Ben Jealous,鈥� declared Madaleno.
But Hogan’s deputy campaign manager, Doug Mayer, suggested that endorsements from State House leaders came late. In a statement, he noted that聽it鈥檚 been two months since the primary election, and聽鈥渢hat says all you heed to now about the state of the Jealous campaign.鈥�
Asked if the support coming now is, in fact, late in the campaign process, the House speaker said no.
鈥淭he election won鈥檛 even start until September, when people start getting back to the workplace, or kids start getting back in school,” Busch said.
Among those not yet endorsing Jealous: Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett. Montgomery County is voter-rich territory. And Leggett, an African-American and a Democrat, serves one of the largest counties in the state. Leggett spokesman Patrick Lacefield said the county executive continues to have concerns about Jealous鈥� positions on school funding, taxes, and incentives for luring Amazon’s second headquarters.
At the Jealous event in Prince George鈥檚 County, Del. Kathleen Dumais, whose district is in Montgomery County, said Leggett “has always been careful, thoughtful and methodical.鈥� While he may be withholding an endorsement so far, Dumais said that Leggett “is a true Democrat, and I am quite sure he will rally and help us through.鈥�
