Kelly Schulz, a Republican candidate for governor, blasted national Democrats Thursday for bankrolling ads to support her primary rival, Del. Dan Cox.
Schulz, the former secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce, appeared in Annapolis with supporters, including Gov. Larry Hogan, who has endorsed her bid.
The Democratic Governor's Association has confirmed the ads, which are called "Meet Dan," will air on Maryland television stations ahead of the July 19 primary.
Schulz and Hogan said it's because Democrats fear her more than Cox, who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
“Democrats are so scared of losing again that they are now enabling, emboldening and embracing an Q-Anon conspiracy theorist,” Schulz said.
Cox has denied he’s associated with the fringe political group.
“They're doing it across the country with Republican primaries across the country,” Schulz said of Democrats. “He can't win a general election in November. That has been proven over and over again.”
Cox challenged Schulz’s assessment of his chances in the General Election.
“I think it's a total misrepresentation of the truth. We have a path to victory because the people of Maryland do not want mandates, they want jobs they want their money back.”
The most recent polling by Goucher College and the Baltimore Banner found Cox leads Schulz 25 to 23 but that is within the margin of error. Forty-four percent of Republican primary voters are undecided.