What lessons will Democrats take from the Jealous campaign?

There’s been plenty of grumbling among Democratic establishment types about the campaign that Mr. Jealous ran. He’s made some gaffes, yes, but the bigger issue is the sense that he was badly outgunned from the start in terms of fundraising, strategy and communicating his message. Would it have made a difference if Democrats had nominated a more experienced candidate like Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker — or, had he not died unexpectedly before the primary, former Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz?

That debate is in itself a proxy for a broader war within the state party between an older generation of leaders, who tend to be moderate, and a new one of progressives. Mr. Jealous, a close supporter of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, is decidedly in the second camp. Is this a sign that Maryland isn’t really as liberal as some think?

We endorsed Mr. Jealous in the primary because we thought he was his party’s best candidate, and despite our endorsement of Mr. Hogan in the general election, we continue to believe that. Those pining for what might have been with Mr. Baker as the nominee should recall that he had trouble raising money in the primary and had his own vulnerabilities that Mr. Hogan would have exploited (chiefly, recent trouble in the Prince George’s schools). Mr. Kamenetz had more money in his coffers but also some baggage in the crucial battleground of Baltimore County.

Did Governor Hogan establish a new pattern in which Maryland will elect Republican governors with some frequency, as equally blue Massachusetts has done over the years? He certainly established a pattern for how to run — focus on fiscal issues, not social ones — and how to govern — work with Democrats more than you fight them. But the GOP bench is looking shakier than it was heading into Tuesday night. With all precincts reporting, Democrat Calvin Ball appeared to have a solid lead over incumbent Republican Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman. In Anne Arundel, with nearly all precincts in, Democrat Steuart Pittman was almost 9,000 votes ahead of incumbent Republican County Executive Steve Schuh. Both would be assumed top contenders to succeed Mr. Hogan, but not necessarily anymore. Now that seems less assured.

Meanwhile, Democrats showed some bench strength. Angela Alsobrooks, who emerged from a competitive primary for Prince George’s County executive to run unopposed in the general election has state-wide potential. And even as Governor Hogan romped in Baltimore County, Democrat John A. Olszewski Jr. cruised to an easy victory over Republican Al Redmer. Mr. Ball is now instantly part of the conversation for higher offices, as are some of the fresh faces we saw in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, such as Krish Vignarajah. Harford County Executive Barry Glassman — another Republican in the Hogan mold — won easily, and he could be a good gubernatorial candidate in four years. But it’s a little too early to write Maryland Democrats off, no matter how easily Mr. Hogan won.