Maryland gubernatorial candidate Ed Hale announces pick for lieutenant governor
Maryland gubernatorial candidate Ed Hale Sr. announced Tyrone Keys as his pick for lieutenant governor on Thursday.
The Republican candidate and longtime Baltimore businessman formally announced his run in August with goals of making Maryland safer and more business-friendly.
Lieutenant governor designee
Hale said he has known Keys for about 10 years.
"He's a friend of mine and a very close confidant and a person that really knows what he's doing when it comes to reporting, getting data together for me to run this campaign," Hale said.
"He's a financial planner," Hale added. "But if I need data, if I need a memo to talk to you this morning, I get it from him. He has been an ally of mine with me and my great team that has been with me."
Keys said he was born and raised in West Baltimore. During the news conference on Thursday, he raised concerns about affordability, high taxes and energy costs in Maryland.
"I'm saddened by the state that we find ourselves in today," Keys said. "We literally have seniors making tough decisions about whether or not they're going to purchase medication or pay their electric bills."
"The current administration in Annapolis is not only ignoring the struggles of Marylanders, it is also strangling our families with burdensome taxes, fees, and penalties," he added.
Who is Ed Hale?
Hale, a Baltimore native, previously ran shipping companies and served as CEO and chairman of 1st Mariner Bank until 2011. Hale also served as chairman of Baltimore's tourism agency and currently owns the Baltimore Blast, the city's indoor soccer team.
He is credited with developing the Canton Waterfront after building an office building in the area.
Hale's campaign goals include addressing juvenile crime and increasing funding and support for law enforcement.
During an initial campaign announcement in May 2025, Hale said he was a lifelong Democrat, but during a new conference in August, he announced a change in his party affiliation.
He has indicated that he is "not a Donald Trump guy," but also said he "would work with him."
"If I become governor, I am not going to poke at him because I'm running for some other office," he said previously.
2026 gubernatorial candidates
Currently, Maryland's gubernatorial race includes three Democratic candidates — including Gov. Wes Moore, who is running for re-election — and seven Republican candidates.
According to the State Board of Elections, the candidates include:
- Carl Brunner, Jr., a Republican from Carroll County
- Eric S. Felber, a Democrat from Montgomery County
- Ed Hale Sr., a Republican from Baltimore City
- John Myrick, a Republican from Prince George's County
- Kurt Wedekind, a Republican from Carroll County
- L. D. Burkindine, a Republican from Queen Anne's County
- Michael Oakes, a Republican from Carroll County
- Nancy Jane Taylor, a Republican from Washington County
- Ralph Jaffe, a Democrat from Baltimore County
The election will be held on Nov. 3, 2026.
