David Lashar

David Lashar (Libertarian Party) ran for election for Governor of Maryland. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Lashar completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

David Lashar was born in York, Pennsylvania. Lashar's professional experience includes working as an IT executive. He earned a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College in 1985 and a graduate degree from Carnegie Mellon University in 1994.^[1]

Elections

2022

General election

General election for Governor of Maryland

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Maryland on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Wes Moore (D)	64.5	1,293,944
	Dan Cox (R)	32.1	644,000
	David Lashar (L)	1.5	30,101
	David Harding (Working Class Party)	0.9	17,154
	Nancy Wallace (G)	0.7	14,580
	Kyle Sefcik (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	596
	Other/Write-in votes	0.2	4,848

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,005,223
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Maryland

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Maryland on July 19, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Wes Moore	32.4	217,524
	Tom Perez	30.1	202,175
	Peter Franchot	21.1	141,586
	Rushern Baker III (Unofficially withdrew)	4.0	26,594
	Douglas F. Gansler	3.8	25,481
	John B. King Jr.	3.7	24,882
	Ashwani Jain	2.1	13,784
	Jon Baron	1.8	11,880
	Jerry Segal	0.6	4,276
	Ralph Jaffe	0.4	2,978

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 671,160
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Laura Neuman (D)
Mike Rosenbaum (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Maryland

Dan Cox defeated Kelly Schulz, Robin Ficker, and Joe Werner in the Republican primary for Governor of Maryland on July 19, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Dan Cox	52.0	153,423
	Kelly Schulz	43.5	128,302
	Robin Ficker	2.8	8,268
	Joe Werner	1.7	5,075

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 295,068
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2018

See also: Maryland's 3rd Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Maryland District 3

Incumbent John Sarbanes defeated Charles Anthony and David Lashar in the general election for U.S. House Maryland District 3 on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	John Sarbanes (D)	69.1	202,407
	Charles Anthony (R)	28.3	82,774
	David Lashar (L)	2.6	7,476
	Other/Write-in votes	0.1	223

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 292,880 (100.00% precincts reporting)
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Maryland District 3

Incumbent John Sarbanes defeated Adam DeMarco, Eduardo Rosas, and John Rea in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Maryland District 3 on June 26, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Sarbanes	82.3	64,567
		Adam DeMarco	8.6	6,778
		Eduardo Rosas	6.2	4,847
	Submit photo	John Rea	2.9	2,300

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 78,492
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Maryland District 3

Charles Anthony defeated Thomas Harris and Rob Seyfferth in the Republican primary for U.S. House Maryland District 3 on June 26, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Charles Anthony	43.6	6,935
	Submit photo	Thomas Harris	36.0	5,722
	Submit photo	Rob Seyfferth	20.5	3,254

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 15,911
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Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

David Lashar completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Lashar's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

David is a family man and an IT executive who has served with distinction in both the legislative and executive branches of government at both the federal and state levels.

David believes that neither of the two established parties is representative of who we actually are and who we really want to become. He is committed to expanding opportunity for all Marylanders, promoting accountability amongst both individuals & authorities, and extending civility to all fellow citizens.

In addition to family life, David enjoys gardening and cooking, with low-and-slow BBQ being a specialty of his.Opportunity for all

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Opportunity for all
Accountability from all
Civility toward all

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

For a revival of decency and hope in Maryland and the rest of the country, we must expand school choice, end the war on drugs, and expand affordable housing. These are my three top-most passions in terms of policy initiatives.

Please visit https://davidlashar.com/ideas/ for a more complete discussion of my ideas and policies for a better Maryland for us all.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I admire George Washington for having resisted the temptations of power and resigned his commission as commander in chief of the Continental Army in 1783. He could have asserted himself as an American Caesar. Instead, he yielded to civilian authority.

I admire Abraham Lincoln for having saved the union and abolished slavery while navigating a fearsome political environment and brilliantly explaining his principles and hopes.

I admire Martin Luther King, Jr, for persuasively and peacefully calling on America to fulfill its founding principles and vision by extending equal civil rights to all and making progress toward a beloved community that recognizes the shared frailties and common dignity of all people regardless of color or creed.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I would point to the HBO series, The Wire, for its depiction of the unconscionable failures of prohibition (i.e., the war on drugs), which failure in sum is the widespread destruction of hope for individuals along with the widespread corruption of social institutions for our communities.

I would point as well to The Matrix for its themes of choice and freedom; for its depiction of the contrast between life under conditions that prioritize the collective (i.e., the Matrix itself) and life under conditions that cherish the individual (i.e., Zion).

For reading and speeches, I might point to Thomas Sowell, Niall Ferguson, and MLK Jr.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An elected official ought to be principled in their ideas, accomplished in their life outside of politics, and civil in their approach toward others, especially toward those with whom they might disagree. An elected official ought also to demonstrate in word and deed a sense of humility and respect.

Little of which is in evidence amongst politicians today. All of which, I submit, I would bring to office.... and would strive to sustain. In other words: Different and better than what we are witnessing and experiencing today.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Principled, accomplished, respectful. And a regular, normal person.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The Governor must genuinely be principled, so as to be reliable and predictable in ideas, policies, and behavior.

The Governor must assemble a capable and trustworthy team (i.e., the Cabinet and other appointees).

And the Governor must energetically and sincerely engage with representatives from all parties and communities who are engaged in all their diversity of ideas and identity in the common endeavor of making Maryland a better place for all of us to enjoy.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would be proud to have restored decency, cooperation, progress, and hope in Maryland.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

My first memory of a historical event was the launch of Apollo 11 on my sixth birthday in 1969. A few days later, Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon.

It was an exciting time. A unifying and hopeful event. The feeling of which I'd hope to rekindle in ways as yet unknowable if elected to serve as Maryland's next governor.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was carrying and delivering newspapers on a hilly route in Pittsburgh, roughly in 7th grade. It was the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the morning paper, which meant early wake-ups for me.

The lessons were invaluable, even if I didn't know it at the time. Responsibility for getting myself out the door each morning Monday thru Saturday. Responsibility for walking the route and delivering the papers regardless of weather, which in Pittsburgh can be rough. Responsibility for paying the Post-Gazette and collecting the fees from subscribers. And early development of a customer-service mentality.

I remain an early riser. And, I'd say, a hard worker. As well as a responsible and dependable individual, whether in my family life or in my professional life, helping my clients to be successful with information technology.

If elected governor, I dare say I'd remain the same. It'd certainly be my ambition and commitment.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Of recent books that I've read or heard (via Audible), I would say "Julius Caesar" by Shakespeare, which addresses questions of power and responsibilities. For influence on my life, probably the works of Solzhenitsyn when I was in college.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Westley from "The Princess Bride," perhaps.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"I get knocked down" by Smash Mouth.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I think quite fundamentally that struggle is a part of life, surely more for some people than others, but surely as well a part of life for all. Through our struggles, we learn and grow. We become resilient and strong. Sometimes coping and prevailing on our own. Sometimes doing so only with the assistance of others.

That which is important is for all individuals to be accountable unto themselves. But also to be empathetic and helpful to others.

Myself, I've surely experienced fewer struggles than most. Mine have been mainly about my own determination to realize my vision for myself as a well-rounded, broadly-appreciated, high-impact individual. But I cannot imagine that any of it would make for interesting or appropriate reading. So, that's all that I have to say for here.

A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean do you?

To be governor is to be a true and trusted leader for all of those who live in our state. Which means respecting all... engaging with all... and striving to make life better for all. It means a rejection the identity politics coming from *both* the Left and the Right in modern American politics, inflaming resentments and driving us apart. It means a restraint in exercising executive authority and telling people what to do. It means a devotion to helping people to obtain the information and assistance that they need for making their own decisions about how to make life for themselves and their loved ones.

Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?

My responsibility as governor would be to restore hope that we can resume progress together.... regardless of anyone's race, gender, sexuality, politics, or circumstances... on America's fitful but undeniable and redemptive journey toward a happier society and a more perfect union for all.

Different states require governors to have different degrees of responsibility for the state budgeting process. If it were your choice, what do you believe is the appropriate degree of gubernatorial involvement with this process in your state?

Maryland is fortunate indeed to operate uniquely in the 50 states under both a constitutional requirement for a balance budget and a Board of Public Works (BPW) that reviews all capital appropriations. The Governor's role is to establish spending levels and submit an operating budget for all three branches of government. By virtue of a 2020 amendment to the state constitution, the General Assembly will receive more authority to change allocations or priorities within the Governor's budget, while the Governor will gain a line-item vote over increases of any given budget item that the Assembly might increase.

In sum, Maryland's model is appropriate. We must retain our requirements for the balanced budget. As we must retain the role of the BPW.

In most states, governors have the power to make line-item vetoes. If that is true in your state, what would be your philosophy for how and when to use this power?

Per the foregoing, the Maryland Governor will receive the power of line-item veto when the new constitutional amendment goes into effect with the 2023 legislative session (for the 2024 budget). As Governor, I will use this power as a counter-balance to legislative efforts to over-ride my administration's priorities.

If the governor's office in your state does not have the line-item veto power, do you believe it should? Why or why not?

See the foregoing.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The executive and legislative branches will not always agree... in fact, can be expected very frequently to disagree... but they should engage and converse with one another, doing so respectfully and civilly. Which would be a vast difference from that which we see in Annapolis and Washington in modern American politics, riven and broken by the us-versus-them politics to which the Democrats and Republicans are hopelessly and recklessly committed.

What do you love most about your state?

I most love that Maryland, generally in its circumstances being a reflection OF the rest of America, can emerge as a model TO the rest of America for overcoming the politics of resentment and division that have put the American experiment in democracy in dire peril. This peril is due to the angels-versus-devils politics of the two established parties, who neither are representing who we as Marylanders and Americans actually are nor are taking us where we genuinely want to go.

If those many, many Marylanders who are seeking an alternative to the divisive and dysfunctional Democratic and Republican parties can join in electing a principled, accomplished, and respectful candidate for Governor... namely, me, David Lashar... then we can not only restore hope and progress here in Maryland... but we can show the rest of America a different and better way forward as well.

At a personal level, I might add that I like most all Marylanders love the Bay and the Alleghenies and the Atlantic, along with the ways in which these natural resources give our state character and make us special.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

We must overcome the division and dysfunction in modern American politics. We must come together through a politics based on principles and civility... based on recognition that in the end, we are all imperfect humans living in an imperfect world... in order to create the conditions for a social and economic renaissance in our historically disadvantaged communities, especially Baltimore. We must achieve a decent and just level of opportunity for all Marylanders to pursue opportunities for improving themselves and thereby securing a better future not only for themselves but for their loved ones and their communities.

In sum, we must restore Maryland to being a place for reliable and sustainable progress in liberty, justice, and prosperity... all three of those social imperatives for all Marylanders... by appreciating that which has worked well in this state and country in the past while also dedicating ourselves to bringing genuine opportunity for personal improvement and social advancement for all, especially those from historically disadvantaged communities.

Tell us your favorite joke.

I'm not much of a joke-teller, I'm afraid. Witty and amusing, yes. Highly so, at times, judging by the evidence. But no, I'm not a joke-teller.

Under what circumstances should the governor of your state be able to use emergency powers?

We are enduring a period of kingly presumptions of power by executive authorities. With the pandemic, the abuse of executive power has spread from federal to the state and local levels, with emergency powers being declared in the name of public health-and-safety to an extent that has been unprecedented in our history and must not be allowed to repeat in the future.

To be clear, emergency powers may at times be crucial during a crisis. Like early in the pandemic. But the powers must be time-limited. They must be put before legislators and judges. They must honor our constitutional rights.

Otherwise, under executive powers of unrestrained scope and indefinite duration, we are subject to arbitrary and even tyrannical rule. We become subject to policies that can be massively intrusive, highly disruptive, and hugely expensive.

For retaining but controlling emergency powers so that they serve us instead of bossing and subjecting us, we must pass legislation that implements the following limits:

1. Emergency powers must be explicitly limited in duration — 60 to 90 days — unless extended by majority vote of the relevant legislature.
2. Emergency powers that are declared in the interest of health-and-safety must be narrowly contained to serve a compelling public-health purpose, avoiding infringement of individual liberties.
3. Emergency powers must receive expedited review by the courts in the event of disputes about the lawfulness of any state and local emergency orders that are undertaken.

The overall objective must be to limit the scope and duration of emergency powers to the maximum extent possible, forcing the executive branch to provide compelling reasons for its actions and subjecting extensions to review and approval by the legislature, over which the people possess relatively greater influence and control.

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Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on December 3, 2021

[bio-1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on December 3, 2021

[1]

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David Lashar

Contents

Biography

Elections

2022

General election

General election for Governor of Maryland

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Maryland

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Maryland

2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Maryland District 3

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Maryland District 3

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Maryland District 3

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

Trending

Public Policy

Information for candidates

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