in an upset in the general election. 2022 Maryland gubernatorial candidacy On May 25, 2021, Gansler announced that he would run for Governor of Maryland in the 2022 election. His running mate was former Hyattsville mayor Candace Hollingsworth. A central part of his platform was fighting crime in Baltimore. On July 19, 2022, Gansler lost the primary, placing fourth behind Peter Franchot, Tom Perez, and Wes Moore. He conceded defeat on July 21, 2022, and endorsed Democratic nominee Wes Moore the next day. Controversies In November 2002, Gansler irritated colleagues when he filed charges in Maryland against the Beltway snipers, John Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, who were also being prosecuted in Virginia. More than a year after the snipers had been convicted in Virginia, Gansler held a trial in Maryland. Gansler states that the trial only cost taxpayers $2,000, however Sheriff Raymond M. Kight said that the costs had exceeded $743,570, when taking into account costs such as overtime pay to provide security throughout the trial process. In November 2003, Gansler became the first sitting prosecutor in Maryland history to be censured by the state's highest court, for improperly discussing evidence, such as a defendant's confession, at news conferences "on more than one occasion", related to three criminal cases. Slate Magazine described him as a "near-perfect specimen of a classic political archetype—the prosecutor on the make," noting that "[h]e's smart, he's well-connected, he's telegenic, and he raises gobs of cash." In August 2013, Gansler was tape-recorded speaking disparagingly of his Democratic primary opponent in the 2014 Maryland gubernatorial race, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, who he accused of relying on race in the contest. "I mean, right now his campaign slogan is, 'Vote for me, I want to be the first African American governor of Maryland,'" Gansler said. His comments provoked outrage. On October 12, 2013, The Washington Post published memos written by state troopers alleging that Gansler repeatedly requested officers assigned to him to drive in an irresponsible manner. A spokesperson for Gansler denied the reports. On October 24, 2013, the National Journal published a photo showing Gansler at a house party attended by his son in Bethany Beach, Delaware, where underage drinking was taking place. In response, Gansler said he was there briefly, did not notice any underage drinking, and that even if he had, he did not have "moral authority over other people's children" outside Maryland. Gansler