Prince George's County Executive Announces Candidacy For Governor

BALTIMORE (WJZ) - Just over a year away from the Democratic primary, and the field for governor is beginning to fill up.

Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III, released a video Wednesday morning announcing his candidacy to become the Democratic nominee for the office of Governor.

He also brought his campaign to Baltimore on Wednesday.

Baker has served Maryland for more than 25 years, including two terms as a Maryland State Delegate and two terms as Prince George's County Executive.

He is well known in the Maryland D.C. suburbs and is making himself known to voters here. The famous Lexington Market is a famous stomping ground for political hopefuls.

"I know Baltimore and I know this region from my time serving in the House of Delegates," he said.

And Baltimore knows Baker from this Eyewitness News special report when he shared the challenges of his wife's early onset Alzheimer's disease four years ago, while at the same time meeting the challenges in Prince George's County, the second most populous county in Maryland. Now he's aiming to energize voters here.

"Well I think it's really speaking to the issues, you know, that people care about and making them believe as we've done in Prince George's County, that you're actually going to make a difference," said Baker.

"Our next Governor should't shy away from issues that have direct impacts on children, seniors, families and entire communities," says Baker. "People deserve a Governor who has the courage to make tough calls; who knows how to bring people together to do the right thing and knows how to move us from conflicts to outcomes. I look forward to earning the support of everyone in Maryland that believes Maryland should lead and that our elected leaders should represent all of us."

This won't be an easy race to win, as the field of Democrats is growing, with Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, former Attorney General Doug Gansler, Congressman John Delaney, state Senator Richard Madeleno, and Baltimore lawyer James Shea expected to run. But Baker has his own strategy.

"You know, politicians say the right thing, but somehow the right thing never gets done," he said. "You only see them around election time, but nobody takes on the issues of how do you level the playing field during those off elections. So you have to have to come in here, spend time with people and say here's why I'm different."

Former NAACP president Benjamin Jealous and Baltimore entrepreneur Alec Ross declared their candidacies earlier this year.

The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 26, 2018.

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