8-21-2025 4:49am

Hale To The Chief?

Ed Hale Sr. To Run For MD Governor As A Republican

Hale, the owner of the Baltimore Blast indoor soccer team, launched his gubernatorial campaign as a Democrat in May.

Ed Hale Sr., the owner of the Baltimore Blast indoor soccer team and a lifelong Democrat, said Wednesday he plans to run for Maryland governor as a Republican.

Hale, 78, made the announcement at Canton Waterfront Park, three months after officially launching his bid for governor. The event was livestreamed by Fox Baltimore.

"There’s no way I could win against (Gov.) Wes Moore with that machine he’s got," Hale said at the event about the current first-term Democrat. "He takes all of the money and oxygen out of the room. I can’t do it."

Hale, a retired banker and businessman, first announced his plans to run for governor in early May. At the time, he said he was committed to mounting a Democratic primary challenge against Moore at the urging of friends who he said were worried about the future of the state.

Hale previously was the chairman and CEO of 1st Mariner Bank before leaving in 2011, according to reports. He also ran shipping companies and was credited with developing the Canton Waterfront after building an office in downtown Baltimore.

In addition to owning the Blaze, he also served as chairman of Baltimore's tourism agency, Visit Baltimore.

As of 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Hale was still a registered Democrat, according to a Baltimore Sun report. He has yet to officially file his candidacy with the Maryland State Board of Elections.

Maryland's primary election for governor is on June 30, 2026. The deadline to file for candidacy is in February.

In a July interview with Maryland Matters, Hale indicated a party switch was possibly on the horizon. He said he planned to conduct polling to "look at the best path."

On Thursday, Hale said he decided to relaunch his campaign as a Republican after consulting Gonzales Research, a Maryland polling firm.

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.

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. While Hogan has been quiet about his intentions, he fueled speculation about a possible run last week when he shared two photos of a recreational vehicle, one with and one without the vinyl wrapping that showcased his campaign logo and a stylized Maryland flag.

"Slightly used 2024 RV, only 15,000 miles all in Maryland. Never slept in. Could make a good deal. Or …. I guess we could always rewrap it and get back out on the road again?"