O'Brien-Hurson for Maryland

Governor O’Brien Launches Re-election Campaign, Announces Maryland Insurance Commissioner John A. Hurson as Running Mate

Tuesday, June 18, 2030

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Governor Edward M. O’Brien officially launched his re-election campaign this morning at a rally at City Dock in Annapolis, touting his administration’s record of achievement and promising to continue to Move Maryland Forward. During the event, Governor O’Brien also announced that he has selected Maryland Insurance Commissioner and former State Delegate John Adams Hurson, 52, as his running mate for the fall campaign.

“Over the last four years, you and I have worked together to move our state forward – turning budget deficits into surpluses, making Maryland a national leader in economic development, improving K-12 education and strengthening educational opportunity, providing health care coverage to more working parents and children than ever before, making our streets safer, and building the transportation infrastructure of the future,” Governor O’Brien said. “I ask you to join us again to continue moving forward; to take our state to the next level.”

“In this effort, I am proud to have a strong partner in John Hurson, who has spent his life fighting to move Maryland forward – to protect consumers, to support families, to improve health care quality and affordability, and to expand opportunity,” Governor O’Brien added. “Throughout his career in public service, John has distinguished himself as a pragmatist who is always seeking to find common-sense solutions to important problems facing his community and his state. He is the right person to help us lead this state forward.”

“In a broad sense, this campaign is not about the next four years; it is about the next ten, twenty, thirty years. This is a campaign for our future. The last four years have taught us that when we come together, when we believe that big things are possible, when we do what is right, Maryland wins. We have made solid progress, but our work is not done. Join us – join us in this effort to keep making progress, to keep moving forward, to keep building on that most basic vision: One Maryland, One Future.”

“Governor O’Brien has made Maryland a national leader in economic development, in education, in expanding access to health care, in supporting working families,” said Insurance Commissioner John A. Hurson. “This campaign is about, as the governor has said, taking Maryland to the next level. We can be proud of this record of achievement, but we have more work to do. I am honored and humbled to join this team.”

Hurson has served as Maryland’s Insurance Commissioner since July 2027, working to protect consumers and ensure the continued vitality and diversity of Maryland’s insurance sector. Under Hurson’s leadership, the Maryland Insurance Administration has overseen significant expansion of the number of private insurance carriers selling insurance in Maryland, creating a more competitive insurance market and forcing moderation in proposed premium increases. Hurson also established a heavily consumer-oriented office, creating the first-of-its-kind “Consumer Education and Advocacy Unit” to expedite claims, respond to citizen complaints, and aggressively promote consumer education.

Previously, Hurson served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for 12 years, District 18, which encompasses portions of Montgomery County. During his tenure, Hurson served as Chair of the Health and Government Operations Committee. Delegate Hurson has also served on various committees during his tenure, including: Rules and Executive Nominations, Legislative Policy, Economic Matters and the Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing. He also served as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review. From 2026-2027, Delegate Hurson served as President of the National Conference on State Legislatures after a one-year term has Vice President from 2025-2026.

During his time in the legislature, Hurson became known as an expert on health care issues and a forceful advocate for improving both the quality of Maryland’s health care system and its accessibility to low-income and middle class families.

Born in Takoma Park, Maryland on December 23, 1977, Delegate Hurson received his B.A. in government from Georgetown University in 2000 and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2003. Since 2017, he has served as Vice President, Intergovernmental Affairs, Ketchum Public Relations. He is married with two children.

Over the next four days, Governor O’Brien and Commissioner Hurson will tour every region of Maryland to promote their agenda of Moving Maryland Forward. The following events are scheduled:

Tuesday, June 18

Annapolis City Dock – Campaign Announcement, 11 a.m.

Prince George’s County Community College, Largo – Campaign Rally, 1:30 p.m.

Takoma Park Middle School, Takoma Park – Campaign Rally, 3:30 p.m.

Fells Point, Baltimore City – Campaign Rally, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, June 19

Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville – Campaign Rally, 10 a.m.

Jeffers Hill Community Center, Columbia – Campaign Picnic, 12 p.m.

Downtown Frederick – Campaign Rally, 2:30 p.m.

Hagerstown Community College – Campaign Rally 4:45 p.m.

Downtown Cumberland – Campaign BBQ, 7 p.m.

Thursday, June 20

Festival Park, Aberdeen, Campaign Rally – 11:30 a.m.

Mac Middleton Family Farm, Waldorf – Campaign Cookout, 6 p.m.

Friday, June 21

Downtown Chestertown – Campaign Event, 11:30 a.m.

Downtown Cambridge – Campaign Rally, 3:30 p.m.

Courtyard by Marriott, Ocean City – Campaign Event, 6:30 p.m.

The tour will bring the O’Brien-Hurson ticket to thirteen counties and Baltimore City.