Maryland Republican Governor nominee?
$22.2K
JUN 24, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Senator
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyModerate Republican
Age62 years old (May 2, 1964)
GenderMale
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LocationMaryland
BackgroundPolitician
EducationJames Madison University (attended)
Notable personal detailsStephen S. Hershey Jr. is a Republican politician serving in the Maryland Senate (District 36) and has been Senate Minority Leader since January 11, 2023. He previously served in the Maryland House of Delegates before being appointed to the Maryland Senate in 2013. He has a background in engineering and business, and has worked in project management and commercial real estate, as well as in Maryland state government roles under Gov. Bob Ehrlich.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Steve Hershey opposes new or expanded taxes and supports cutting non-essential spending instead of raising taxes. He has criticized proposed business-to-business and other new state taxes and advocated for tax relief measures and exemptions for businesses and higher-earning households. His legislative record and public statements emphasize reducing costs and opposing tax increases to make Maryland more business-friendly.
Healthcare
Steve Hershey has supported expanding access to specific health services through government programs, sponsoring legislation to require Medicaid coverage of FDA-approved weight-loss (GLP-1) medications and backing bipartisan measures to improve behavioral and mental health services. He has also criticized certain drug price-control measures as ineffective or legally risky while advocating for policy flexibility and workforce support in behavioral health.
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Immigration & Border
Supports cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and opposed state-level bans on local participation in 287(g) agreements; emphasizes that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and frames the issue in terms of public safety rather than expanding asylum or legalization pathways.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate has opposed legislation to enshrine a constitutional right to abortion in Maryland and has voted against bills that expand abortion access and training. He has criticized Democratic proposals to expand state-supported abortion programs and introduced amendments seeking to restrict facilities that can provide abortion services.
Climate & Energy
Supports increasing in-state natural gas generation and limiting or rolling back certain renewable energy mandates and programs; has opposed major clean-energy mandates (e.g., Clean Energy Jobs Act, POWER Act) and introduced legislation to withdraw Maryland from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Emphasizes energy reliability and lower costs for ratepayers over aggressive renewable targets.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate opposes recent expansive gun-control measures in Maryland and frames them as ineffective against crime, while supporting Second Amendment protections and court rulings that limit new restrictions. He has opposed liability expansion for gun manufacturers, opposed the 2023 Gun Safety Act as unconstitutional, and previously supported a state ban on bump stocks. He also promotes tougher penalties for gun crimes as part of a 'tough on crime' agenda.
News
Maryland Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey says he will not run for governor in 2026. He plans to stay in the state Senate and focus on legislative fights instead of launching a statewide campaign.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising