Why has no Maryland lieutenant governor ever become governor?
Maryland has had nine lieutenant governors since the office returned in 1971, and not one has ever been elected governor. In this episode, longtime Maryland political journalist Josh Kurtz digs into the history and the odd politics of the job. Before the vote for governor and lieutenant governor next week, he asks why the office has been a dead end here when it is a springboard in many other states.
Josh talks through the history with the people who lived it:
- Former Governor Parris Glendening
- Former Lt. Governor Michael Steele
- Jolene Ivey, Doug Gansler’s 2014 running mate
- Blair Lee IV, son of the state’s first modern lieutenant governor
- York College political scientist Anthony Sparacino
- Former Delegate Kumar Barve
The topics include:
- Why Maryland candidates must pick a running mate before the primary
- How other states choose their number two
- An unsuccessful push to let Md. nominees wait until after the primary
- The dramatic fate of the 2018 Kamenetz/Ervin ticket
- (00:00) - Why Maryland LG Matters
- (03:07) - Origins of the Office
- (04:36) - Dead End Reputation
- (09:09) - LGs Nationwide Compared
- (10:44) - How Maryland Picks Running Mates
- (12:18) - Jolene Ivey Courtship Story
- (16:38) - Mandel and Blair Lee Era
- (20:15) - Hughes Bogley Fallout
- (22:08) - 2022 Running Mate Scramble
- (25:56) - Wes Moore and Aruna Miller
- (29:13) - Aruna Miller’s Gamble
- (29:50) - Why LGs Get Sidelined
- (30:28) - Schaefer and Steinberg Fallout
- (32:22) - Glendening Picks a Kennedy
- (34:46) - Townsend Under the Microscope
- (36:05) - Ehrlich and Steele Ticket
- (40:07) - Racism and the Campaign Trail
- (42:01) - Steele Leaves and Lessons Learned
- (43:51) - Anthony Brown’s Rise and Return
- (45:33) - Boyd Rutherford Steps Up
- (47:06) - Kamenetz Tragedy and Ballot Chaos
- (48:30) - Fixing the Running Mate Process
- (50:28) - Steele’s Advice for Future LGs
- (51:44) - Debating the Reform Bill
- (56:09) - Wrap Up and What’s Next
What is Maryland Now?
Maryland Now is a podcast that goes beyond the headlines to explore the forces shaping Maryland’s politics, policy, and public life. Hosted by Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin — three veteran journalists and public‑affairs leaders with more than 60 years of combined experience — the show brings depth, context, and historical perspective to the issues facing Maryland today.
Each episode blends reporting, interviews, and insider knowledge. You’ll hear directly from the people driving decisions in Annapolis and across the state: agency heads, lawmakers, advocates, strategists, and longtime policy experts. The hosts draw on their decades covering and working in Maryland government to connect past decisions to current debates — revealing how we got here, what’s been tried before, and what’s at stake now.
Season One follows the 2026 General Assembly session and election cycle, with deep dives into housing, energy, the state budget, public health, and more. The conversations are smart, candid, and grounded in real reporting — not hot takes.
If you want to understand Maryland — its politics, its communities, and its future — Maryland Now is for YOU