Andy Ellis Launches 2026 Green Party Gubernatorial Bid, Honored for Advocacy

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Andy Ellis, a 2026 candidate for Governor of Maryland with the Green Party, has been recognized with the Public Advocate of the Year Award by the Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA), highlighting his contributions to public discourse. The honor, which has previously gone to figures such as Stephen Colbert and Nate Silver, was awarded to Ellis and his former debate student and longtime collaborator Dayvon Love. The pair received the award during the CEDA national debate championship at Rutgers University-Newark, where their efforts through Baltimore for Democracy were credited with helping to defeat Question H, a 2024 ballot measure that would have reduced the size of the Baltimore City Council.

Ellis, a former national debate champion coach, has spent years working in advocacy and organizing efforts across Maryland, including serving on the Baltimore Charter Commission and chairing the successful opposition campaign to Question H. His history with the debate community dates back to his time as a student at Governor Thomas Johnson High School and Towson University, and he has since coached and taught at institutions nationwide. In his run for governor, Ellis is emphasizing grassroots democracy, housing affordability, energy transition, and multi-party political reform as key components of his campaign.

A long-time Green Party organizer, Ellis argues that Maryland needs leadership not beholden to entrenched party interests. He points to the state’s one-party dominance and what he sees as inaction from the Democratic supermajority on issues such as progressive taxation, environmental responsibility, and criminal justice reform. By running a longer, more organized campaign than the Green Party’s 2022 gubernatorial effort, Ellis hopes to surpass the 1% vote threshold needed to maintain ballot access without petitioning, ensuring future campaigns are not burdened by resource-intensive signature collection.

Ellis’ platform is built around transforming Maryland’s political and economic systems by rooting decisions in local voices and long-term sustainability. He supports replacing government fees with a more progressive income tax system, echoing concerns that Maryland’s current revenue structure places undue burden on working-class residents. He is calling for expanded public financing for candidates who refuse corporate donations, aiming to reduce the influence of money in politics and make elected officials more accountable to their communities.

On energy, Ellis emphasizes the challenges of Maryland’s limited physical space in its transition to clean energy, advocating for distributed investment in green infrastructure across urban and suburban counties. He supports a gradual transition away from fossil fuel vehicles, but warns that electric vehicles may not be a one-size-fits-all solution, especially in rural areas. Instead, he calls for increased state support for alternative transportation options like electric bikes and scooters in urban areas, and stricter regulation of large new gas stations that could lock communities into continued fossil fuel dependence.

Housing is a core issue in Ellis’ campaign. Citing Maryland’s high eviction rates and rising housing costs, Ellis wants stronger protections for renters, prevention of property loss through tax sales, and expanded development of affordable housing. He views housing as a human right and believes state policy should prioritize stability and access for low-income residents. Similarly, Ellis supports bold investments in public education but stresses that Maryland must find equitable ways to fund these commitments, avoiding short-term fixes and deferred obligations.

Criminal justice reform is another major component of his platform. Ellis has called for reducing youth incarceration and addressing racial disparities in sentencing and imprisonment. He argues for using incarceration only as a last resort and supports alternatives that focus on community safety and restorative justice. On broader reforms, he is advocating for a reimagining of public safety systems that move away from punitive approaches.

A key part of Ellis’ vision involves structural democratic reform. He supports using our state’s multi-member legislative districts and a state constitutional amendment to allow citizen ballot initiatives, which would open new avenues for public input and policy innovation. Ellis argues that a healthier democracy requires more political parties, and he views the Green Party as a necessary voice to push for solutions that major parties avoid or delay. His campaign slogan centers on breaking the cycle of money and politics and delivering outcomes that reflect voters’ real priorities.

Ellis has held town halls and community events across the state, with stops in Prince George’s, Allegany, Howard, Frederick, and Anne Arundel Counties. He has pledged to visit all 24 counties in Maryland by the end of the campaign, including upcoming events in Washington County this year and next year. As a lifelong resident of the state, he emphasizes connecting directly with voters, building coalitions, and ensuring that the Green Party campaign leaves a lasting infrastructure for future local and state-level organizing.

Article by Ken Buckler, based upon information from an interview with Andy Ellis and the Andy Ellis for Governor campaign website and press release.

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