Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot Considering Run For Governor
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) — While most political attention is tuned into the 2020 presidential race, Maryland is looking ahead to 2022, and who will run for governor.
Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, who served in the House of Delegates before running for Comptroller, says he's "strongly considering" running for governor in 2022.
He made the statement in a fundraising email on Wednesday.
"Given our record and given the challenges and opportunities facing our great state, I am strongly considering running."
This isn't the first time Franchot has tested those waters. In the run-up to the 2014 election, Franchot polled well for a primary challenge to then Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, but changed his mind.
"It showed me with very high name iID," Franchot said. "Very high favorable, right up with the other candidates, Lt. Gov. Brown and others. But you know, it's an unpredictable race."
Franchot found himself then, as now, out of favor at times with Democratic leadership- opposing cuts to real estate exemptions and increases in the gas tax.
"I'm just concentrating on what works," Franchot said. "I could care less whether it's Republican or Democrat."
In his email, Franchot acknowledged potential pushback from the party.
He wrote that "they will surely mount an impressive effort to support their anointed candidate."
Franchot was first elected comptroller in 2006. He has been re-elected three times in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1.
Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who was re-elected to a second term last year, is term-limited.
