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Maryland Gov. Wes Moore refused to say during Tuesday’s gubernatorial debate whether he would serve a full four-year term if reelected, adding to speculation that he’s eyeing a 2028 presidential run.
Getting into it: Asked at the state’s only debate if he’d stay for the full four years of a second term, Moore said, “Being the governor of Maryland has been the honor of a lifetime. And I would not be running for reelection if I was not committed to the people of Maryland.” When debate panelist Pamela Wood of the Baltimore Banner asked again for a straight answer, he replied, “I gave the answer. I am committed to the people of Maryland. That’s why I am running for reelection.”
That’s a shift from last year, when Moore told “The View,” “I am not running,” and told NBC’s “Meet the Press,” “Yes, I’m going to be serving a full term.” Moore has lately talked about wanting a role in the “national conversation” over where Democrats go next, and he spent at least part of roughly 20% of his days in August outside Maryland, according to a Banner analysis, with stops in early primary states like South Carolina and Nevada.
“This governor will not look you in the eyes and commit to not running for president,” said Republican nominee Dan Cox, who lost to Moore by 32 points in 2022. “I know you are ready to run against Shapiro and Whitmer and Newsom, but the people of Maryland need someone who has their concerns first.”
Moore, the state’s first Black governor, is heavily favored to win, with a University of Maryland, Baltimore County poll showing him leading Cox 51% to 24%, and our partners at Kalshi showing him with a 96% chance to win.
During the debate, Cox hit Moore over the state’s budget deficit, the economy and delays rebuilding Baltimore’s Key Bridge, while Moore repeatedly blamed the Trump administration for Maryland’s economic struggles and attacked Cox over his ties to Trump and support for the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Both candidates also defended changing positions on data centers, with Moore signing an order adding state review of projects and Cox now backing a statewide moratorium after previously voting for a tax break for the industry.
This all comes as several potential 2028 Democratic hopefuls hit the midterm campaign trail to build national profiles, with Moore recently campaigning for House candidates in Virginia and appearing on a panel with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who joked, “I think we’d make a pretty good team.”
