On Monday, September 22, 2025, Andy Ellis and Owen Silverman Andrews made their candidacies official, filing with the Maryland State Board of Elections to run for Governor and Lieutenant Governor as the Green Party ticket in the 2026 election. The filing marks a pivotal moment for Maryland’s Green Party, launching a campaign rooted in justice, democracy, ecology, and multiparty representation.
A Campaign for Justice, Democracy, and Ecology
The Ellis–Andrews campaign highlights four guiding themes:
- Justice: Addressing inequities across social, economic, and environmental lines. The ticket emphasizes policies that uplift vulnerable communities and ensure fair treatment under the law.
- Democracy: Advocating for fairer elections, voter access, and reforms that open Maryland’s political process to more voices.
- Ecology: Prioritizing environmental sustainability, climate action, and local resilience in the face of global challenges.
- Multiparty Democracy: Challenging the entrenched two-party system by building space for alternatives and empowering citizens who feel politically unheard.
For many Marylanders, these priorities resonate with growing calls for a healthier democracy and a greener future.
Who They Are
Andy Ellis, the gubernatorial candidate, brings decades of experience as a debate coach, political organizer, and community activist. A Baltimore resident, Ellis has served as co-chair of the Maryland Green Party, chaired citywide initiatives like Baltimore for Democracy, and led national Green Party committees. His career reflects a commitment to civic dialogue, electoral reform, and grassroots engagement.
Owen Silverman Andrews, the lieutenant governor candidate, is an educator, writer, and community organizer based in Baltimore. For more than a decade, Andrews has taught English to immigrants and multilingual learners, while also advocating for equity in higher education and community institutions. His activism has spanned environmental justice, language access, and grassroots organizing. In 2024, he was named Higher Education ESOL Teacher of the Year by MDTESOL.
Together, the Ellis–Andrews ticket blends policy expertise with community experience—one rooted in education, debate, and organizing.
Why This Matters
The Green Party has long championed environmental sustainability, social justice, grassroots democracy, and nonviolence. While the party has yet to win statewide office in Maryland, the Ellis–Andrews campaign is a statement of growth and resolve. Filing for the 2026 election ensures the Green Party will continue to offer Maryland voters an alternative beyond the traditional Democratic and Republican options.
The campaign also underscores the importance of multiparty democracy. By strengthening ballot access and supporting diverse representation, Ellis and Andrews seek to give Marylanders a voice in shaping a system that too often feels closed off.
Looking Ahead
Monday’s filing marks only the first step in what will be a long campaign season. Over the coming months, Ellis and Andrews are expected to expand their platform, connect with voters across Maryland, and continue to articulate a vision of justice, democracy, and ecology for the state.
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