Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown (L) holds ten-month-old Natalie Vincent (2nd L), daughter of House Speaker Michael Busch's senior policy adviser Jaclyn Vincent, as Gov. Martin O'Malley (R) looks on after he signed the state's recently passed same-sex marriage bill into law during a ceremony at the Maryland State House March 1, 2012 in Annapolis, Maryland. The law is expected to face a referendum in the November election before it goes into effect in January, 2013. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

2014 could be a banner year for black candidates

theGRIO REPORT - Three African-Americans are strong candidates to be elected either governor or U.S. senator in 2014, creating the potential for a landmark year for black candidates... Maryland Lieutenant Gov. Anthony Brown announced earlier this month he will seek his state's top post and enters the race with the backing of the state's current governor, Martin O'Malley. Newark Mayor Cory Booker is the favorite to win next year's U.S. Senate race in New Jersey, and Republican Tim Scott of South Carolina, who was appointed to the Senate earlier this year, is expected to win a full six-year term.