Baker drops out of 2022 Maryland Democratic primary for governor

Rushern L. Baker III dropped out Friday from the race for the Democratic nomination to run for governor.

The former Prince George’s County executive, who also sought the party’s gubernatorial nomination in 2018, announced his decision on Twitter.

“Having considered the financial challenges facing our campaign in the coming weeks, my running mate Nancy Navarro and I have made the difficult, yet necessary, decision to suspend our campaign activities, effective immediately,” Baker tweeted.

In the only independent poll of the primary, published Sunday by The Baltimore Sun, Baker was the choice of just 7% of likely Democratic voters statewide. That put him behind State Comptroller Peter Franchot (20%), Wes Moore (15%) and Tom Perez (12%) in a poll with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 percentage points. About a third of voters were undecided, however.

His departure leaves a still-crowded field of nine candidates.

“Despite being dramatically outspent by our competitors, we have consistently polled near the top of the Democratic primary field,” Baker said in a series of tweets, “a reflection of the efficient way we have managed our campaign, and a validation of the ideas we have presented to the people of our state.”

Candidates must file campaign finance reports Tuesday, showing what they have raised and spent between Jan. 13 and June 7, a significant indicator of their strength and potential for endurance through the July 19 primary.

Voting is underway, with Marylanders who requested online links to receive a ballot getting those starting this week. Also, ballots will be sent by mail to voters who requested delivery that way. Early voting will be July 7-14.

Baker’s name will still be on ballots, as the deadline to officially withdraw from the primary was April 18.