Incumbent Democratic governor Martin O'Malley was term-limited and could not run for re-election to a third consecutive term.

Brown predicted that winning the general election would be just "a little bit of a molehill",[2] but he lost to Hogan by a margin of 65,510 votes in the Democratic-leaning state.

Federal legislators State-level politicians State legislators Local elected officials Dr. Classie G. Hoyle, Alderwoman of Annapolis Organizations Newspapers State-level politicians State legislators Local elected officials Organizations Civic leaders Organizations State officials Organizations Hogan heavily criticized Brown for his handling of Maryland's health care exchange as a part of the Affordable Care Act, labeling him as "the most incompetent man in Maryland.

[87] Hogan avoided social issues by promising not to touch the state's abortion or gun control laws.

[88] Campaign ads were a significant part of the first debate, culminating in Hogan's call for Brown to "apologize to the women of Maryland for trying to scare them."