“Hogan’s decision will leave too many Marylanders in the lurch. Our next Governor needs to clean up the mess at the unemployment division: between the endless glitches and technical problems, cutting off pandemic benefits early, and other mismanagement, Hogan is failing to support Marylanders who are trying to get back on their feet.” — Jon Baron

Former nonprofit executive Jon Baron has announced he’s running for governor of Maryland.

Jon Baron, a former nonprofit executive and former federal official from Montgomery County, officially launched a campaign for governor of Maryland as a Democrat after several months of publicly weighing a run to replace outgoing term-limited Republican Gov. Larry Hogan in 2022.

Jon Baron, a nonprofit executive who worked on Capitol Hill for years, officially launched his 2022 gubernatorial campaign Monday.

Baron pledged: “I won’t take a dime of money from corporations or special interests.”

Jon Baron, another Democratic candidate for governor, proposed a “Back to Work Bonus,” which would give unemployed Marylanders who find work a portion of the remaining pandemic unemployment assistance for which they would have been eligible for.

“Slashing benefits is not the answer,” Baron said in a statement. “Now is the time for big, bold ideas and Back to Work Bonuses will cut unemployment and help working families get back on their feet.”

As we turn the corner on COVID-19, we must help our kids recover from the terrible disruptions caused by the pandemic. One of the smartest things we can do is provide one-on-one tutoring for students who need it as they return to the classroom.

President Biden has pledged to follow the science. He elevated the role of science adviser to a cabinet position, created a task force to review scientific integrity practices in federal agencies and said he will make “evidence-based decisions guided by the best available science and data.” This is the right approach — and it’s the way our state government in Maryland should make decisions, too. We not only need to act on the science to fight COVID, we need research to lead us in every aspect of our collective recovery, from helping those who have lost their jobs to supporting kids who are struggling in school.

Bethesda resident Jon Baron, a former federal official and nonprofit executive, is exploring a run to succeed Gov. Larry Hogan, who will reach his term limit in 2022.