By Adam Pagnucco.
The Baltimore Banner and Maryland Matters have previously covered a new statewide poll released by Maryland NOW, focusing on Governor Wes Moore’s softening poll numbers. That’s interesting, but here are five other findings that deserve attention.
First, here is the methodology statement of the poll, which was conducted by Blended Public Affairs in partnership with Perry Jacobson.
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Online Interviewing—Maryland registered, likely voters
Online interviewing was conducted by using an SMS or MMS broadcast system to send a text invitation to a sample of wireless numbers; the text had an imbedded link to the survey. All surveys were completed between July 24 and July 30, 2025.
Final sample size was 1,256 interviews. For a sample this size, there is a 95 percent probability the survey results have a plus or minus 2.7 percentage point sampling error from the actual population distribution for any given survey question. Margins of error are higher for subsamples. In addition to sampling error, all surveys are subject to sources of non-sampling error, including question wording effects, question order effects, and non-response bias.
Results were weighted by age, region, and race to reflect the makeup of the likely 2026 Maryland voting universe.
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Here are five findings not related to horse race politics along with screenshots from the polling memo.
Marylanders are worried about the economy.
Most Marylanders have a negative view of the economy and half are either just getting by or struggling. They are more inclined to blame Trump and national Republicans than state leaders but this level of anxiousness is noteworthy.
Marylanders are anxious about their own financial prospects.
Between 42% and 47% of respondents are worried about involuntarily relocating, losing their health insurance and losing their jobs. This is extraordinary in a state that long relied on the bulwark of the federal government to protect it from the worst effects of national recessions.
Two-thirds of Marylanders believe their state taxes are too high.
I would like to see how this varies by party and region, but this is a danger signal to any Maryland politicians considering further tax hikes. (The General Assembly passed a large tax increase package last spring.)
Marylanders are skeptical that they are getting their money’s worth from state taxes.
When asked to “grade Maryland state government on the services and quality of life you get for the state taxes you pay,” 33% of respondents said A or B while 62% said C or worse. This is not a point of pride for elected officials.
Eighty percent of Marylanders support “Allowing beer and wine sales in grocery stores, like most states.”
OK, adding “like most states” probably added a few points to the positive response. But support for this idea has been consistent over time and the General Assembly still resists reforms.
You can download the topline results memo below.