By Barry O’Connell
August 23, 2025
The Republican primary for Maryland governor is technically underway, but you’d be forgiven for thinking it hasn’t started. The field is thin, the money is thinner, and the only candidate showing signs of life is a former soccer team owner with a banker’s pedigree and a campaign manager whose last name still echoes through Annapolis.
Ed Hale, the businessman best known for owning the Baltimore Blast and dabbling in Democratic politics, has emerged as the early front-runner—not because he’s dominating the airwaves, but because he’s the only one running like he means it. Hale switched parties, built a platform around jobs, nuclear energy, and permit reform, and hired Clayton Mitchell Sr., son of the late Speaker ClayMitchell, to run his campaign. That move alone sent a ripple through old-guard circles, signaling that Hale isn’t just playing dress-up in GOP colors—he’s building a coalition.
And he’s not doing it alone. Jill Dudley Cohen, the Pikesville socialite and community leader whose family traces back to a proud pollitical lineage. She is the granddaughter the admiral of the Chesapeake Bay, and her great grandfather Harry B. Wolf the first Jewish congressman from Maryland. Jill has quietly lent her name and network to Hale’s effort. In Baltimore County, that matters. Cohen’s influence spans philanthropic, political, and cultural spheres, and her presence in Hale’s orbit gives tof ne campaign a sheen of credibility—and access—that no other candidate can match.
🧍♂️ The Others
Beyond Hale, the field is a mix of long shots, ghost filings, and familiar names with no visible momentum.
- John A. Myrick, who ran for U.S. Senate in 2024 and reportedly polled under 3%, is back with a gubernatorial bid. He’s tapped former Delegate Brenda Thiam as his running mate, but the campaign feels like a rerun—no new energy, no fundraising surge, no clear path.
- Carl Brunner Jr., a firearms business owner from Carroll County, filed early and launched a website. His running mate, Kevin Rhodes Sr., is a sales executive from Baltimore City. Neither has made a dent in public awareness.
- Kurt Wedekind, a farmer, has announced his candidacy but remains largely unknown outside of filing records.
- Christopher Bouchat, a Delegate from Carroll County, has expressed interest but hasn’t formally entered the race.
🐘 The Shadow of Hogan
And then there’s Larry Hogan. The former governor isn’t in the race—yet—but his name is invoked in every serious conversation about the GOP’s future in Maryland. Hogan’s popularity, national profile, and proven ability to win in a blue state make him the ultimate wildcard. If he jumps in, the race resets. If he stays out, Hale becomes the de facto standard-bearer.
Hale’s team seems to understand this. By building early, recruiting legacy talent, and courting influential figures like Cohen, they’re positioning themselves as the only campaign with the infrastructure to withstand a Hogan entry—or capitalize on his absence.
🧠 Strategic Framing
For Republicans looking to reclaim relevance in Maryland, Hale offers a pragmatic path. He’s not a culture warrior, not a placeholder, and not a vanity candidate. He’s a businessman with crossover appeal, a campaign manager with deep roots, and a growing network of allies who know how to win.
The rest of the field? They may be on the ballot, but they’re not in the conversation.
