Political notes: Hale mulls party switch, Moore gets a new gig, Shetty, Schumitz get fellowships

Ed Hale insists he still plans to run for governor next year, but the lifelong Democrat is not sure what party he’ll run in. (File photo by Angela Breck/Maryland Matters)

Two months ago, Ed Hale announced his candidacy for governor, with plans to challenge incumbent Wes Moore, a Democrat. Hale said he still plans to file, but he has to answer one big question first.

Will he remain a Democrat?

In a brief phone interview, Hale said he plans to conduct polling later this summer and “looking at what the best path is for me.”

When he announced his intentions in May, Hale, 78 and a lifelong Democrat, said the plan was to challenge Moore in the Democratic primary next year.

Moore is expected to pose a formidable challenge in 2026. He’s a prodigious fundraiser, a frequent guest on national and local TV and radio and is rumored to be a potential 2028 presidential candidate (speculation he repeatedly but so far unsuccessfully has attempted to quiet).

Hale’s entry into the race as a Republican could give him a bit of a leg up if he can parlay his business connections into a powerful fundraising machine. Currently, there are two Republicans in the gubernatorial primary: John Myrick, who previously ran an unsuccessful campaign for U.S. Senate; and Carl A. Brunner Jr., a Carroll firearms instructor.

Another potential entrant is Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan. Hogan has been quiet about his intentions, but speculation persists that he might run for his old job.

Hale said he has no plans to talk to Hogan as part of his decision-making process as he considers a run as a Republican or independent candidate.

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He has time. The deadline to file is in February, and the primary election is not until June.

Hale said he hoped to make a final decision about his path and party affiliation later this year before he files.

Hale, who is recovering from “back fusion surgery” said he does plan on attending the Maryland Association of Counties annual convention in Ocean City next month.

Gov., er, make that Vice Chair Moore

Gov. Wes Moore (D) got another title to add to his resume Saturday: vice chair.

More specifically, the governor was elected to serve in that position for the National Governors Association during its summer meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo. The post also make him the association’s 2026-27 chair-elect.

Part of Moore’s duties as vice chair will include leading the association’s work to identify innovative policy solutions through bipartisan collaboration and research. Moore replaces Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), who was elevated to the NGA chairmanship for 2025-26.

Moore will also lead the association’s Center for Best Practices, which conducts hands-on research and development, offers pilot projects and workshops with a goal to create bipartisan policies and solutions for states in 10 areas, including health, infrastructure and education.

Earlier this month, the association and a national nonprofit group called Third Sector Capital Partners selected Maryland, Idaho, North Carolina and South Carolina to participate in a policy academy to strengthen SNAP E&T (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Employment and Training). The program, slated to run through February, will have cohorts from those states establish an action plan to meet goals to expanding access to SNAP and employment and training programs, provide coaching support and host webinars to engage in peer learning as plans are being developed.

Moore will also work alongside Stitt as part of initiative the Oklahoma governor announced Saturday called “Reigniting the American Dream.” Throughout the year, Stitt will lead a series of meetings with governors, private-sector leaders and “changemakers” with a focus on three policy priorities: unlocking economic opportunity, empowering every learner and energizing the future.

“We all want to create a brighter future for our states, and the nation. When we get together at the National Governors Association, we’re focused on whether an idea is good, not on where the idea came from,” Moore said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to collaborating with my fellow governors to build stronger on-ramps to opportunity so every person in our states has a shot at success – no matter how they define it.”

Shetty, Schumitz in inaugural gender fellowship cohort

Two Marylanders will be part of the National Women’s Law Center’s first fellowship focusing on advancing gender justice at the state level.

Del. Emily Shetty (D-Montgomery) and Kali Schumitz, vice president for external relations with the Maryland Center on Economic Policy, will represent the first cohort as part of the center’s State Gender Policy Collective.

The 18-month program that began this week and ends in December 2026 includes Shetty and seven other state legislators, and Schumitz joins nine other individuals who work at various nonprofit organizations. Besides Maryland, the other fellows are from Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and South Carolina.

According to a summary of the collective, its goal will be to facilitate peer learning to help fellows grow their knowledge on gender justice issues such as reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ and child care.

“States are on the frontlines of the fight for gender justice, and they are already leading progress by protecting their communities from abortion bans and attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, advancing their own equal pay protections, and investing in child care and Black maternal health policies,” Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to be working with state policymakers and advocates to harness our collective power to restore our democracy in advancing gender justice.”

Schumitz works at the center that advocates annually for various statewide policies that includes health, worker protections and criminal justice. In addition, the center is a member of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s annual Kids Count data book.

Shetty, who was elected in 2018, had several bills signed into law this year including House Bill 881, which begins a phase-in for 100% of monthly child support payments “pass through to the family” who seek assistance in a Family Investment Program. The bill was also sponsored in the opposite chamber by Sen. Cory McCray (D-Baltimore City).

Shetty, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, said in a text message Friday on in the fellowship, “It’s wonderful and I’m so honored to have the opportunity to participate.”