Maryland

Per the State of Maryland: ANNAPOLIS, MD—Following Tuesday’s gubernatorial election, Governor Larry Hogan today met with Governor-Elect Wes Moore to discuss the smooth and orderly transition to the incoming administration. Following a private meeting in the governor’s office at the State House in Annapolis, the governor and governor-elect took questions from the media.

“I was very pleased to have the honor of welcoming Governor-Elect Wes Moore to the State House and we had a really productive one-on-one conversation—and we also had our teams meeting simultaneously to review and hand off transition documents,” said Governor Hogan. “Our entire administration is going to do everything we possibly can to not only ensure a peaceful transition of power, but to help them get up to speed with anything they will need.”

Current Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, who has been rumored to seek the Republican nomination for President of the United States in 2024, has told CBS News reporter Robert Costa that last night’s election results move him closer to a 2024 bid. Costa tweeted that Hogan told him “I felt like I was on a lifeboat all by myself” in the GOP “with everybody on the Trump Titanic. Now, we need a bigger boat” and is looking to lead the return of “normal Republicans.”

Costa went to to tweet, “Hogan said he was “getting calls all night” from donors and GOP officials. “They were saying it’s a good night for Larry Hogan,” he recalled with a laugh.” “I think there is a battle for which direction the Republican Party will go. My side of the party had a really good night. Trump’s side did not,”

Maryland voted to legalized recreational marijuana use Tuesday night, according to a projection by The Associated Press. The question was “Do you favor the legalization of the use of cannabis by an individual who is at least 21 years of age on or after July 1, 2023, in the State of Maryland?” According to the Maryland State Board of Elections, as of 9:35pm there were 481,436 votes (64.94%) for the constitutional amendment and 259,931 votes (35.06%) against it.

Additional explanation, courtesy of BallotPedia: The measure would amend the Maryland Constitution to add a new article, Article XX, which would authorize individuals 21 years of age or older to use and possess marijuana. The added section also authorizes the Maryland General Assembly to “provide for the use, distribution, possession, regulation, and taxation of cannabis within the state.” During the 2022 legislative session, the state legislature also passed the implementing legislation (HB 837) that would take effect once the amendment is adopted. Currently, marijuana is legal for medicinal use in Maryland under a 2013 law. In April 2014, possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana was decriminalized.

Current Maryland Governor Larry Hogan took to social media to inform constituents that he has spoken with Governor Elect Wes Moore and congratulated him on being elected as Maryland’s next Governor, saying “There is no higher calling than public service, and no greater honor than to serve the people of this great state.”

The Associated Press called the race for Maryland Governor earlier on Tuesday night, naming Democrat Wes Moore the next Governor of Maryland. Moore defeated Republican Dan Cox and will be the first Black Governor in Maryland history. Hogan added “Our team is committed to ensuring a smooth and orderly transition to the next administration, and I look forward to meeting with the governor-elect in the coming days.”

Wes Moore has won Maryland’s election for governor, according to The Associated Press. He defeated Republican Dan Cox and will become the first Black governor of the state of Maryland.

Moore is a native of Takoma Park, who grew up in the area until he was 6 years old, moving to New York after his father passed away. He returned to Maryland for college and attended Johns Hopkins University where he studied international relations and economics and graduated Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Beta Kappa in 2001. From 2017 to 2021 Moore served as the CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation– a charitable organization which attempts to alleviate problems caused by poverty in New York City.

With Americans having donated nearly $485 billion in 2021, up 4% from the previous year, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on the Most Charitable States for 2023. Maryland came in as the 2nd most charitable state in the country, including being ranked 1st in percentage of population who donated money. The report also released its picks for the Best Charities for 2023 and a Charity Calculator to help donors decide where and how to give.

To determine where the most generous Americans are inspiring others to be more selfless, WalletHub compared the 50 states based on 19 key indicators of charitable behavior. The data set ranges from the volunteer rate to the share of income donated to the share of sheltered homeless. Maryland highlights available below: