Following months of speculation regarding rumored presidential ambitions, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced he is seeking reelection and firmly asserted he is not running for president of the United States.
“Yes, I’ll be serving a full term. I’m excited about reelection. I’m excited about what I’m going to be able to do for the people of Maryland,” Moore told The Hill on Sept. 7.
The governor touted Baltimore’s historic reductions in violent crime and funding secured to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge as highlights of his current term.
“While Trump’s reckless policies make everything cost more, we are showing Marylanders from across the state and party lines that there’s a better way forward to make our economy stronger and everyday life more affordable,” said Moore in his reelection announcement.
He also partnered with state legislators to pass a balanced budget that makes Maryland’s tax structure fairer for working families and low-income Marylanders.
“I’m asking Marylanders to reelect Lt. Governor Aruna Miller and I so we can continue the progress we’ve seen throughout Maryland to make our public schools the best in America, to end childhood poverty once and for all, and to make sure more Marylanders can afford to live here, buy a home, create wealth for their families, and live a secure middle-class life,” he continued. “Together we will keep building a state where we leave no one behind.”
Moore called out his list of likely challengers by name during his announcement, including John Myrick (R), the only candidate who has filed for the seat, and Baltimore businessman Ed Hale (R), who recently switched his party affiliation.
Former Gov. Larry Hogan, who lost to Moore in 2022, has increasingly postured towards running in the 2026 election cycle. Hogan tweeted an image of an RV from his 2024 Senate campaign and hinted that he might “get on the road again” in early August.
Moore was invited to speaking engagements in South Carolina and Detroit earlier this year, providing additional national spotlight for America’s sole Black governor.
“We must be the party of action. Urgency is the instrument of change. And do you know who understands that really well? Donald Trump,” Moore said during June’s Blue Palmetto Dinner, a gathering of South Carolina Democrats.
Moore has been a steadfast voice against the Trump administration, particularly criticizing cuts to the federal government and mass firings of government employees during his most recent State of the State speech. While criticizing Trump, he believes that his sense of urgency is needed among liberal politicians.
“I want to be clear: We can, and we must condemn Donald Trump’s reckless actions. But we would also be foolish not to learn from his impatience.”
Marylander Inspired by Moore’s Leadership
Tiffany Cardova, a Maryland commentator on liberal politics, is supporting Moore’s reelection.
“The haters will be out in full force lying today but this state is infinitely better under Wes Moore’s leadership. He has made me proud to be a Marylander and inspired me to get more involved in politics,” she said via X.
The Rev. Leslye Dwight, minister of Social Justice at Community of Hope AME Church, who is running for the District 9 seat on the Prince George’s County Council in the 2026 election cycle, said she is motivated by Moore, and encouraged others to step up for democracy.
“This is a pivotal time because our nation is under siege and our democracy under attack. Bills have been passed that threaten to take food out of our children’s mouths and shut the doors of health care access to some of our neighbors. Decisions have been made that cut thousands of jobs across the federal, nonprofit, and private sectors,” she told The Informer.
She cited rising homelessness as one of the issues she plans to address if elected to the Prince George’s County Council and expressed disappointment in the actions of the Trump administration.
“This is not the time for silence but it is the time for civic minded residents to rise up. The stakes are too high to sit on the sidelines,” Dwight emphasized. “We have to organize and mobilize to ensure we have a government that reflects the values of the people, not just the politics of the moment.”