Maryland voters staring down a long June 23 primary ballot just got a little help. On May 11, 2026, WMAR-2 News rolled out a statewide, interactive candidate guide that pulls together who filed for what, highlights that Gov. Wes Moore has one Democratic primary challenger, and links straight to the official voter lookup tool as the clock ticks toward Election Day. For anyone juggling local school board names and statewide contests in one sitting, the guide is meant to turn a stack of paperwork into a single screen.
Inside WMAR's candidate guide
WMAR’s guide is built around clickable candidate cards that expand into short bios and survey responses for dozens of contested races, with pages broken out by office and county. As reported by WMAR-2 News, the newsroom plans to keep updating the tool as more campaigns send in answers, and it pairs that coverage with a link to the state’s voter search so people can confirm what will actually appear on their own ballot. The result is a quick primer for primary voters who might otherwise shrug at the lower-profile races further down the page.
Official filings and the ballot
The Maryland State Board of Elections maintains the official candidate list and sets the calendar that confirms the June 23, 2026 primary along with its early voting window. According to the Maryland State Board of Elections, Gov. Wes Moore submitted his re-election paperwork on Feb. 22, 2026, and physician Eric S. Felber is, for now, the only other active Democratic filing listed for governor. The same roster lays out the crowded Republican, third-party and write-in fields that will decide who ultimately meets Moore on the November ballot.
A crowded GOP lane
As outlined by WMAR-2 News, nine Republican tickets are featured in the guide’s overview, though local reporting describes a fluid and growing cast of entrants and running mates. The Baltimore Banner reported that businessman Ed Hale switched parties to pursue a Republican bid for governor, a high-profile move that reshaped the early conversation. The Washington Post has also reported that former 2022 GOP nominee Dan Cox filed again, setting up an ideologically charged primary clash within the party.
How voters can use the guide and key dates
Maryland’s State Board sets the dates that really matter: early voting runs June 11 to 18, 2026, and the advance deadline to register or change party affiliation for the primary lands on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Per the Maryland State Board of Elections, same-day registration is available at early voting centers and on Election Day, and officials urge voters to use the state’s voter search to nail down their polling place and preview a sample ballot. Between the official state roster and WMAR’s candidate pages, Marylanders have two key tools to cross-check names and platforms before they head to the booth.
The field is likely to feel tighter as endorsements, fundraising numbers and primary polls begin to settle in, but for now WMAR’s guide offers an easy way to see who is asking for your vote. If you are planning ahead for June 23, it may be worth bookmarking both the state board’s list and the media guides. The choices on that primary ballot will set the direction of local and statewide government for the next four years.
