Maryland Gov. Wes Moore introduced Tuesday that he’ll run for reelection in 2026, searching for a second time period in a deep-blue state even because the rising Democratic star sparks speculation a few potential 2028 presidential bid.
“While we stand up for middle-class Marylanders, the president of the United States is bending over backwards for billionaires and big corporations, firing federal workers, gutting Medicaid, raising prices on everything from electricity to groceries,” Moore mentioned in a video asserting his reelection campaign.
“I’m asking you to reelect me governor,” Moore mentioned within the video.
Moore, a former Army officer and celebrated creator, has downplayed speak about his future plans whereas steadily elevating his nationwide profile since his election in 2022. He is amongst a number of high-profile Democrats up for reelection subsequent yr who might discover themselves shortly pivoting to a presidential run — a listing that features Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.
In an interview on NBC’s “Meet The Press” over the weekend, Moore confronted repeated questions on his plans for the long run, saying he’s “not running” in 2028 and emphasizing his give attention to reelection. “I’m really excited about going back in front of the people in my state and asking for another term,” Moore mentioned. During an look on “The View” over the summer season, Moore confronted the same line of questioning and in addition insisted he was “not running” in 2028.
Moore’s demurrals, nonetheless, might nonetheless place him in a protracted line of potential presidential contenders who insisted they might not run, solely to subsequently enter the race. Then-Sen. Barack Obama famously mentioned in 2006 that “I will not” run when pressed on the topic throughout an interview, additionally on “Meet The Press.” And Moore’s actions this yr have hinted at nationwide ambitions.
The Maryland governor traveled to Lincoln University, a traditionally Black faculty in Pennsylvania, in May to ship a graduation tackle wherein he urged younger graduates to embrace “real patriotism” and be a part of the nation’s “betterment” — echoing the rhetoric of his look on the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
Weeks later, Moore raised eyebrows when he traveled to the essential early presidential main state of South Carolina. There, the Maryland governor highlighted his household ties to the Palmetto State and detailed the teachings he’s realized watching the Trump administration.
”We can and we should condemn Donald Trump’s reckless actions. But we might even be silly to not study from his impatience,” Moore remarked.
Moore has additionally made a gentle stream of appearances on Fox News, pursuing the community’s conservative viewers to push again on the Trump administration. Moore took to the community last month to criticize the administration because it thought-about broadening its crime and immigration crackdown to Baltimore.