Former Maryland governor and Baltimore mayor Martin O’Malley will run for President, the progressive Democrat announced on Saturday.
O’Malley and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders will compete for the support of liberals as both men look to take on the formidable Hillary Rodham Clinton.
As a youthful-looking 52-year-old, O’Malley appeals to a younger demographic than his older rivals. He made the decision to throw himself into the Presidential race following a two-year exploratory phase.
O’Malley is a supporter of same-sex marriage who was tough on crime and drugs during his time as the mayor of Baltimore, and he also helped raise the minimum wage in Maryland.
However, O’Malley does not have the same financial resources as Clinton or Sanders, and Maryland’s two senators have already endorsed Clinton. Despite those obstacles, he’s not backing away from the political challenge, as the generational divide between the candidates may work in his favor.
O’Malley made the announcement in Federal Hill Park in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, where he also addressed the current state of the American dream.