Democrat Wes Moore faces off against Trump-backed Republican state Del. Dan Cox in Maryland's gubernatorial election

• Democrat Wes Moore is running against Republican Dan Cox in Maryland's gubernatorial race.
• This race is one of six Republican-held governorships up for election in a state carried by Joe Biden in 2020.

Democrat Wes Moore faces off against Republican Dan Cox in Maryland's gubernatorial election.

Maryland's gubernatorial candidates

Moore is a combat veteran in the US Army and a small business owner. Prior to running for Congress, he served as a captain and paratrooper in the Army, including leading soldiers in combat in Afghanistan. He also served as a White House fellow, advising on issues of national security and international relations.

Moore won the Democratic nomination in a crowded primary, pulling past former US Labor Secretary Tom Perez, among others. He is backed by media powerhouse Oprah Winfrey and film director Spike Lee.

Cox, Moore's opponent, represents District 4 in the Maryland House of Delegates. Born and raised in Maryland, Cox served for over 15 years as a constitutional attorney and was previously the Republican nominee for Congress for Maryland's 8th Congressional District.

Cox is endorsed by former President Donald Trump, putting him at odds with outgoing Gov. Larry Hogan, who endorsed — to no avail — former Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz in the Republican gubernatorial primary.

In August, Hogan said Cox, who defeated Schulz by a near-20 point margin, is not "mentally stable." Hogan added: "He wanted to hang my friend, Mike Pence, and took three busloads of people to the Capitol."

Maryland's voting history

President Joe Biden scored a 33-percentage-point margin of victory in 2020 over President Donald Trump, making this race one of six Republican-held governorships up for election in a state carried by Biden in the 2020 presidential election. But Hogan, as a Republican, is proof that the Maryland electorate is willing to consider Republicans for statewide office, providing they're relatively moderate.

The money race

According to filings with Maryland's secretary of state, Moore has raised $2.7 million, spent $1.4 million, and has $1.3 million of cash on hand, as of late August. His opponent, Cox, has raised $350,000, spent $219,000, and has $130,000 in cash on hand, as of late August.

What experts say

The race between Moore and Cox is rated as "likely Democratic" by Inside Elections, "solid Democratic" by The Cook Political Report, and "safe Democratic" by Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.