Former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders weighed into Maryland's race for governor Thursday, endorsing Ben Jealous in the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary.While the Vermont senator lost in a landslide to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Maryland's primary by 29 points, he brings a motivated base of supporters for a self-declared underdog like Jealous.Sanders packed the Silver Spring Civic Center, working the room like a rock star."It sounds like Maryland is ready for a political revolution," Sanders said. "We need more than ever at the statewide level a very, very different kind of leadership."Sanders took a veiled swipe at Maryland's Republican governor, Larry Hogan, followed by a more straightforward takedown from the candidate himself."Hogan has a lot to worry about. They only way he got in is because of low voter turnout. If there's one thing that this former president of the NAACP knows how to do very well, it's turn out voters," Jealous said.Both men tore into Republican President Donald Trump and touted the to-do list of Jealous, a civil rights activist and former Sanders delegate, that includes pushing for a $15 minimum wage, quality, affordable health care and tuition-free college.The endorsement from Sanders and another from the group Our Revolution mean more than just progressive street credibility. It could crystallize into tangible political muscle for the Jealous campaign to source supporters, recruit volunteers and help raise money in his first bid for public office."The governor knows that this campaign has the best chance of ensuring that he's a one-term governor," Jealous said.Hogan's office panned the Sanders endorsement, calling the event, "ridiculous partisan rhetoric.""Out-of-state politicians repeating Washington, D.C., talking points simply won't pass the smell test with Marylanders who overwhelmingly approve of the governor's common sense and bipartisan policies," gubernatorial spokeswoman Amelia Chasse said.Also on WBALTV.com:

Former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders weighed into Maryland's race for governor Thursday, endorsing Ben Jealous in the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary.



While the Vermont senator lost in a landslide to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Maryland's primary by 29 points, he brings a motivated base of supporters for a self-declared underdog like Jealous.


Sanders packed the Silver Spring Civic Center, working the room like a rock star.

"It sounds like Maryland is ready for a political revolution," Sanders said. "We need more than ever at the statewide level a very, very different kind of leadership."

Sanders took a veiled swipe at Maryland's Republican governor, Larry Hogan, followed by a more straightforward takedown from the candidate himself.

"Hogan has a lot to worry about. They only way he got in is because of low voter turnout. If there's one thing that this former president of the NAACP knows how to do very well, it's turn out voters," Jealous said.

Both men tore into Republican President Donald Trump and touted the to-do list of Jealous, a civil rights activist and former Sanders delegate, that includes pushing for a $15 minimum wage, quality, affordable health care and tuition-free college.

The endorsement from Sanders and another from the group Our Revolution mean more than just progressive street credibility. It could crystallize into tangible political muscle for the Jealous campaign to source supporters, recruit volunteers and help raise money in his first bid for public office.

"The governor knows that this campaign has the best chance of ensuring that he's a one-term governor," Jealous said.

Hogan's office panned the Sanders endorsement, calling the event, "ridiculous partisan rhetoric."

"Out-of-state politicians repeating Washington, D.C., talking points simply won't pass the smell test with Marylanders who overwhelmingly approve of the governor's common sense and bipartisan policies," gubernatorial spokeswoman Amelia Chasse said.

Also on WBALTV.com: