candidate forum on November 8, 2021. Robin Ficker was the lone Republican candidate to attend the event, where he advocated for cutting the state sales tax, starting statewide English classes, and reopening schools. The Maryland State Bar Association hosted individual, hour-long conversations with all running candidates from December 6 to December 10, 2021. Daniel Cox, Robin Ficker, and Kelly Schulz were invited to attend the forum. Cox was unable to attend the forum on December 10, 2021, due to the General Assembly's special session. On December 10, 2021, the Committee for Montgomery annual legislative breakfast featured a forum with Republican and Democratic candidates for governor. The forum was moderated by Ovetta Wiggins, and the only Republican candidate to attend was Robin Ficker. On March 8 and March 9, 2022, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters collaborated with Maryland Matters, the Baltimore County NAACP, the Maryland Sierra Club, and the Chesapeake Climate Action Network to host two gubernatorial forums that focused on the topic of climate change. Robin Ficker was the only Republican candidate to attend the forums, as candidates Dan Cox and Kelly Schulz declined invitations to attend. The first forum took place at the Riggs Alumni Center at the University of Maryland at College Park and was moderated by Josh Kurtz, Tonya Harrison-Edwards, and Rona Kobell, and the second forum took place at the Ungar Athenaeum at Goucher College and was moderated by Kurtz, Staci Hartwell, Sheilah Kast, and Stella Krajick. On March 30, 2022, Bowie State University and the Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce hosted a gubernatorial forum for candidates to share their vision and agenda on economic development in Maryland. Robin Ficker was the only Republican candidate to attend the forum, which was moderated by Micheal McGee. On April 30, 2022, Frostburg State University, the Allegany College of Maryland, and Garrett College hosted a gubernatorial forum at Frostburg, which was attended by candidates Dan Cox and Robin Ficker. The forum was moderated by Amanda Mangan, and questions were asked by a group of students from the three hosting universities, Allegany High School, and Bishop Walsh School. Fundraising Polling Results Democratic primary Campaign The first two major Democratic candidates to announce were state Comptroller Peter Franchot and former Prince George's County executive Rushern Baker. Both Franchot and Baker were seen as the leading candidates in the race, but early polling showed that more than 40 percent of likely