43 Facts About Doug Gansler

Douglas Friend Gansler was born on October 30,1962 and is an American attorney and politician who served as the 45th attorney general of Maryland from 2007 to 2015.

Doug Gansler unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Maryland in the 2014 election, losing the Democratic primary to Anthony Brown.

Doug Gansler was a gubernatorial candidate in the 2022 election, losing the Democratic primary to Wes Moore.

Doug Gansler became involved with politics at 13, knocking on doors for Frank Mankiewicz, who was then running for the US House of Representatives in Maryland's 8th congressional district.

Doug Gansler earned a JD degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

In 1998, Doug Gansler was elected State's Attorney for Montgomery County, Maryland, serving from January 1999 to January 2007.

Doug Gansler launched programs to fight gangs, punish criminals, and protect the public, including domestic violence dockets and drug courts, gang prosecution unit, Elder Abuse Task Force to target criminals preying on seniors, and an Internet crime unit.

Doug Gansler was the first elected State's Attorney to be sanctioned by the court.

Doug Gansler was elected as Maryland Attorney General in 2006, taking the oath of office as Attorney General of Maryland on January 2,2007.

Doug Gansler was elected to a second term on November 2,2010.

Doug Gansler protected the Chesapeake Bay, its tributaries, and Maryland's other natural resources.

Doug Gansler secured air quality settlements, water pollution, oil pollution and asbestos penalties.

Doug Gansler led the successful charge to have phosphates banned from dishwasher detergent and arsenic banned from chicken feed, and helped secure standing for environmental groups to sue polluters in State court.

Doug Gansler laid the groundwork for the construction of a power plant to convert 500 million pounds of chicken manure into energy, potentially keeping the single largest source of nitrogen and phosphorus out of the Chesapeake Bay, while providing Maryland farmers with an additional source of revenue.

Doug Gansler fought various forms of fraud that threatened home ownership, contributed to the cost of healthcare, and undermined citizens' financial security and well-being.

Doug Gansler was aggressive in going after predatory lenders, foreclosure scammers, unscrupulous contractors, and others who made home ownership difficult.

Doug Gansler's efforts recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for consumer victims.

Doug Gansler advocated for better healthcare options for Marylanders, both through his Health Education and Advocacy Unit, and through his leadership in supporting broader healthcare solutions like the Affordable Care Act.

Doug Gansler brought an action against a major retailer for an online breach that led to the theft of consumer credit card data from 100 million transactions.

Doug Gansler established the first-ever Attorney General Gang Prosecution Unit in Maryland.

Doug Gansler co-chaired the statewide Human Trafficking Task Force and spearheaded tougher domestic violence laws through his role as Co-Chair of Maryland's Family Violence Council.

Doug Gansler demonstrated a long-standing commitment to civil rights in his creation of the first-ever Director of Civil Rights position in the Office of the Attorney General.

Doug Gansler set up a Voting Irregularities Task Force to address voter suppression issues in Maryland, and a Campaign Finance Advisory Committee to explore ways to ensure fair participation in the electoral process.

Doug Gansler published a report providing guidance on taser training protocols that is being used nationally by law enforcement, and a report that assists Maryland's institutions of higher education in legally developing and maintaining diversity.

Doug Gansler worked for judicial election reform that would ensure diversity of the bench.

Doug Gansler was the first statewide elected official in Maryland to support marriage equality.

In 2010, Doug Gansler issued a legal opinion that clarified Maryland's ability to provide full faith and credit to valid out-of-state same-sex marriages.

Doug Gansler was a proponent of the Maryland State Police requirement for concealed carry permits, which states that a citizen must have a good and substantial reason in order to acquire the permit.

Doug Gansler was elected to serve as President of the National Association of Attorneys General in 2012.

Doug Gansler served as Chair of the Democratic Attorneys General Association until becoming President-Elect at the NAAG.

Doug Gansler chaired NAAG committees on Youth Access to Alcohol, the Environment and Energy.

Doug Gansler formed a Committee on Internet Privacy at NAAG to keep close watch on developments in the Internet space that affect consumers' control over their information, and headed several efforts to hold accountable those who fail to properly respect consumer privacy online.

Doug Gansler called attention to companies that collect information from children in ways that appear out of compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.

Doug Gansler formally announced his candidacy in the Maryland's 2014 Gubernatorial race to succeed Martin O'Malley, who was term limited, on September 24,2013.

Doug Gansler had a warchest of $5.2m and said that he was "flattered by the depth and breadth of support I have received from all corners of Maryland".

Doug Gansler was criticized by a Maryland veterans organization for suggesting that his leading opponent in the Democratic primary, Maryland Lt Gov.

Doug Gansler later explained that his comments were specifically in reference to managing the state's health exchange.

On May 25,2021, Doug Gansler announced that he would run for Governor of Maryland in the 2022 election.

On July 19,2022, Doug Gansler lost the primary, placing fourth behind Peter Franchot, Tom Perez, and Wes Moore.

Doug Gansler conceded defeat on July 21,2022, and endorsed Democratic nominee Wes Moore the next day.

Doug Gansler is married to Laura Leedy Doug Gansler, a securities lawyer and author about legal cases.

Doug Gansler founded a lacrosse league for Baltimore inner-city youth, called Charm City Youth Lacrosse.

Doug Gansler mentored at-risk area youth, served on the Montgomery County Commission on Aging, and co-chaired the NAACP Criminal Justice Committee.