Watch CBS News

Krishanti Vignarajah, Former Michelle Obama Policy Director, To Run For Md. Governor

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A former aide to Michelle Obama is running for governor of Maryland.

Krish Vignarajah announced Wednesday she is entering the race for the Democratic nomination. She has scheduled an official campaign kick-off for Sept. 19.

She says she's running because she is worried her daughter won't have the same opportunities she has had.

She's the first woman to enter the race. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, wife of Rep. Elijah Cummings, has said she is thinking about running.

Vignarajah was policy director for former first lady Michelle Obama. She also was a senior adviser at the state department.

She joins an increasingly crowded primary field. It includes state Sen. Richard Madaleno, Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker, former NAACP president Ben Jealous, entrepreneur Alec Ross and lawyer Jim Shea.

Follow @CBSBaltimore on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook

(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.