Maryland Democratic gubernatorial candidate profile: Jon Baron

Wednesday, July 6, 2022Crystal Park, WBAL NewsRadio 1090 and FM 101.5

Maryland native Jon Baron launched his gubernatorial campaign on June 21 with running mate Natalie Williams.

Baron, 59, is a former nonprofit executive that has served in the Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations. His nonprofit organization used evidence-based policy making to shape social programs.

“To make progress we need to expand solutions that don’t just sound like they are good ideas, but have actually been tested in the real world and shown to make a major difference in people’s lives,” Baron said.

LISTEN: Jon Baron candidate profile

Baron said his top priority is to address stagnant wages which he said have remained the same for the bottom 40% of Maryland households since the 1980s. He said the key to raising wages is job training.

“If it’s done right, job training has been shown to increase earnings as much as 40%,” Baron said. “But the key is to focus that training on fast growing industries.”

In the area of education, Baron proposed a statewide tutoring program for struggling first and second graders. 

An evidence-based approach will be used to combat crime, according to Baron. That approach is called focused deterrence. Baron said the approach has been proven to decrease the homicide rate by 50% in other cities.

“Focused deterrence is an approach that invites them in for meetings with social service agencies, community leaders and law enforcement that offers them a positive way forward,” Baron said.

As someone who has not run for office before, Baron pointed out what makes him different from the other candidates.

“I am not taking a dime from political action committees, corporations or registered Maryland lobbyists because Maryland deserves a governor who answers to the voters and not to special interests,” Baron said.

Baron resides in Montgomery County with his wife and two adult sons.

Hear more candidate profiles and get more campaign news in our Commitment 2022 section here, on the WBAL Radio App, and hear live coverage of the primary night results on July 19.