Doug Gansler

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your friendship, support, encouragement, and belief in our collective effort to make Maryland the state where you and your family would want to live and thrive.

Obviously, the results of the Governor’s race were personally very disappointing. For me, the outcome brings to a close 46 years in politics and elected office, though not my life-long desire to serve others.

I deeply appreciate the hundreds of emails, texts, and calls that I have received since the polls closed. Many of you referenced the “man in the arena” passage from President Teddy Roosevelt’s “Citizenship in a Republic” speech delivered at the Sorbonne in 1910, a year after he left office, in which he preaches the need to be better as people. As I exit this arena, I will dust myself off and look toward new ways in which I can contribute toward making Maryland a better place.

While we fought valiantly over the past year for the opportunity to make Maryland and its signature city of Baltimore a safe and just place, to protect our planet from climate change, to be a brick wall in protecting abortion rights, and to spark economic turnaround, the voters went a different direction.

Some of you have blamed the result on a biased press selecting its favorites and then tipping the scale by deeming them front-runners when most voters remained undecided. Others have noted the disturbing influence of the infusion of outside money. The truth is that we are in uncharted times politically and voters simply chose a different type of candidate.

For the sake of Maryland, we must band together to support him and reject the divisive politics and policies of the far right. We must do as Teddy Roosevelt urged, we must demonstrate how to be better as people.

Finally, there are so many of you who made our historic achievements in office possible, and I hope to thank you each individually in the weeks and months to come.

I also want to take a moment to highlight my running mate, Mayor Candace Hollingsworth, and to thank her for her willingness to join me in this venture. She is one of those people who “strives valiantly” and “spends herself in a worthy cause.” I know that she will continue to work every day toward making Maryland the place that we all wish it to be.

My immediate plan is to continue practicing law as a litigator and Chair of the State Attorney General practice at “America’s oldest law firm” Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, where I may be reached at 202-862-2300 or [email protected].

Those of you who know me best recognize that I love my family and friends above all; and I have the best of friends, so please keep in touch.

Thank you so much for your trust and belief,

Doug

Good morning! It is Election Day and your last opportunity to make your voices heard for a safer, more just Maryland! Polls are open from 7a-8p. Find your polling place here: www.iwillvote.com

The No. 1 job of government is to keep people safe, and Governor Hogan has failed at that job. Governor Hogan dropped this requirement without suggesting ANY alternative, lesser standard that would ensure we're keeping guns out of the hands of people who shouldn't have them.

If we want to keep Marylanders safe from gun violence, we must nominate a pro-business, pro-law enforcement, moderate Democrat who can win the general election in November. No other candidate in the field has received an ‘F’ from the NRA, personally put 100s of gun-carrying violent criminals behind bars, and spearheaded legislation to get guns out of the hands of criminals.