Former NAACP chief Ben Jealous wins Maryland Democratic gubernatorial nomination

Ben Jealous, Democratic nominee for Maryland governor — (Image credit: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)

Maryland Democrats selected former NAACP president Ben Jealous Tuesday as their nominee to challenge popular Republican Gov. Larry Hogan in November. Jealous, 45, beat Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, who was backed by most of Maryland's elected Democratic officials. Jealous, who ran on a boldly progressive platform, was backed by teachers' unions, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), and comedian Dave Chapelle. He is considered the underdog against Hogan in reliably blue Maryland, and if he wins, Jealous will be the state's first black governor.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.