Governor Wes Moore holds a substantial lead over former Governor Larry Hogan in a hypothetical 2026 gubernatorial matchup, according to a new Gonzales Research and Media Services poll. Moore, a Democrat, leads Republican Hogan 52% to 38%, with 10% undecided.
The poll comes shortly after Hogan’s unsuccessful U.S. Senate bid, where he received 42% of the vote in his loss to Angela Alsobrooks, who captured over 54% of the vote and was sworn in as Senator last Friday.
Moore enters his third year in office with a 61% approval rating, showing broad support across party lines. While his backing remains strong among Democrats at 79%, he also maintains significant support from unaffiliated voters (59%) and Republicans (33%). The approval rating represents a slight dip from September’s 64%.
However, the governor faces significant challenges ahead, particularly regarding the state’s budget deficit. The poll revealed strong opposition to potential tax increases, with 77% against property tax hikes, 76% opposing income tax increases, and 73% against raising the sales tax.
The survey, conducted from December 27 through January 4, included 811 registered likely voters and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.
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