Gov. Moore Launches Reelection Campaign
Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller (D) have officially kicked off their reelection campaign, beginning with a May 3 launch at the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad Museum and concluding with a rally at the Prince George’s Community College’s (PGCC) Performing Arts Center.
Moore’s message centered on significantly reducing the violent crime rate in the Baltimore region, raising the minimum wage, and bringing new businesses to Maryland. He also maintained his opposition to the Trump administration’s efforts to downsize the federal government.
“I will work with anybody, but I will bow to nobody,” Moore said in an interview with WUSA9 following a campaign event. “I will not bend the knee, and that is something the president has an issue with. But I think he’s very quickly learning that I’m a Marylander and I’m built different.”
The state’s first Black governor, who has raised more than $12 million over the past three years, is a heavy favorite in both the Democratic primary and the general election.
Miller, a veteran legislator who served for nearly a decade in the general assembly, is the first Asian American and second woman to serve as lieutenant governor. She has been visible and accessible across the state and a strong fundraiser for their joint campaign.
“I am thrilled to travel to Baltimore and Prince George’s County with Gov. Wes Moore to kick off our reelection campaign with so many of our dedicated supporters,” said Miller. “What we’ve seen coming out of Washington shows us it’s more important than ever that we continue the work 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. I hope you’ll join us to keep delivering on that mission all across Maryland.”
Dan Cox, a conservative who promoted the Jan. 6 rallies near the Capitol and openly advocated against safeguards during the COVID-19 pandemic, was the Republican gubernatorial nominee in 2022. He is seeking the office again and his campaign reported spending more than $1.5 million during the current gubernatorial campaign.
Moore received more than twice as many votes as Cox during the 2022 general election.
Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee Chair Sylvia Johnson attended Moore’s PGCC launch and plans to adamantly support his reelection.
“This is not just a reelection campaign — it’s a reaffirmation of a vision. A vision where leadership delivers, opportunity expands, and no community in Maryland is left behind,” Johnson told The Informer. “We didn’t come this far to turn back. We’re here to build on progress, protect what we’ve achieved, and ensure that every Marylander has a stake in what comes next.”
Moore signed the Maryland Voting Rights Act into law on April 28, the day prior to the Callais SCOTUS decision that will effectively end Black congressional representation in the Deep South. This bill, sponsored by Sen. Charles Sydnor III, will ensure Marylanders have additional legal protections in every county and municipality’s elections.
In a press release, Moore said this bill was “possible because of the courage of Marylanders who showed up, advocated, and refused to let politics drown out the work of delivering results for our state.”
The governor has criticized the Trump administration’s decision to unnecessarily enact mid-decade redistricting, which he called “a deliberate attempt in broad daylight” to influence November’s election.
“It’s a huge concern for the country,” Moore said. “This decision is terrible but also not surprising because it’s a continuation of what we’ve seen from the Trump administration [over] the past few months.”
In his current term, he created a redistricting commission and supported efforts to redraw Maryland’s congressional map. The bill passed through the House with the express support of Speaker Joseline Pena-Melnyk (D-District 21), but did not receive a hearing in the State Senate.
Sydnor, who introduced the Maryland Voting Rights Act in prior sessions, was able to pass the bill in the raucous final minutes of the 2026 session amid efforts by conservative Republicans in the House of Delegates to shout down the legislation while it was on the floor. He cited this as taking “years of work” and he expressed great excitement at the bill’s passage.
“It expressly provides authority to the attorney general to help resolve any type of discrimination happening at the local or municipal level in voting,” said Sydnor, the bill’s sponsor. “What it also does is provide a state action, rather than us just relying on the federal Voting Rights Act, it essentially creates our own Voting Rights Act here in Maryland.”
Prince George’s County Council Passes Annual Tax on Tobacco Shops, Gas Stations
The Prince George’s Council passed a bill 9-2 to add a new $5,000 annual tax on certain businesses including tobacco shops, gas stations, self-storage spaces, and gun stores to help fund new child care and scholarship programs for county residents.
County Council Chair Krystal Oriadha (D-District 9) is seeking to bring fine dining and other upscale businesses to Prince George’s while limiting the expansion of what she called “harmful” businesses.
“People are opening up things that do not help our community. They’re opening up things that are harmful to our community, either from a health perspective or economic development perspective. We want to be open to business, for the right types of business,” she said. “I’m unapologetic about saying I don’t want to be open to business for 20 more 24-hour tobacco stores and more things that don’t benefit the residents of Prince George’s County.”
Councilmembers Jolene Ivey (D-At Large) and Sydney Harrison (D-District 9) both voted against the tax package, citing serious concerns.
“This fee is considered unconstitutional, punitive, and discriminatory, and it violates state law given that Maryland operates under a home rule system, which restricts the creation of new taxing authorities,” Harrison told WTOP. “State approval is required for such initiatives. As we do not function as a municipal government, we cannot unilaterally establish new revenue streams to fund programs without obtaining the necessary state authorization.”
During the legislative hearing, business owners warned that the new tax will result in cost increases for local consumers and potential reductions in staff. Veteran lobbyist Bruce Bereano, working on behalf of the self-storage industry, criticized the “arbitrary nature” of the tax and predicted that legal action will strike this law down.
“This bill, on its face, is so blatantly unconstitutional and illegal by discriminatory classification of certain businesses,” Bereano said. “These businesses are here legally and lawfully through the zoning power and authority of the county council and the county government.”
Oriadha has pledged to continue her fight, whether this issue is taken to the courts or not.
“I’m not worried about it,” she said. “I think obviously the industry is going to make it clear that they want to fight it, and I’ve made it clear that I’m going to fight for the residents of Prince George’s County.”
