Maryland Governor Wes Moore
Maryland Governor Wes Moore recently kicked off his bid for a second term, launching his reelection campaign with a message centered on supporting the middle class, defending public safety gains like Baltimore’s falling homicide rates, and drawing sharp contrasts with President Trump’s policies .
He also issued a major executive order aimed at accelerating affordable housing development. By digitizing permitting, streamlining reviews, and incentivizing local governments that meet housing goals, the initiative hopes to slash approval times and bolster projects near transit hubs, especially crucial as over half of Maryland families spend more than a third of their income on housing .
On public safety, Moore has rejected President Trump’s suggestion to deploy National Guard troops to Baltimore. Instead, he mobilized additional state law enforcement while emphasizing community-based strategies and promising legal action against what he sees as unnecessary federal militarization of local policing .
He responded to speculation about a presidential run by placing his full focus on Maryland. In a recent interview, he ruled out entering the 2028 presidential race and reaffirmed his commitment to completing a full second term, pointing to improvements in employment, crime rates, and population growth under his watch .
Governor Moore continues his pioneering clemency efforts in criminal justice. In addition to the massive pardons issued in mid-2024 for over 175,000 cannabis-related convictions, he expanded this work by granting nearly 7,000 more pardons and designating “Just Communities”—census tracts prioritized for funding to address long-standing inequities as of July 2025 .
To strengthen economic foundations, Moore signed executive orders earlier this year to modernize state government and foster innovation. These included launching the Maryland Advanced Air Mobility Council, a Digital Infrastructure Group for broadband expansion, and reforms within the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives .
In his State of the State Address and related plans, Moore revealed a bold transportation and commerce strategy. He proposed $21 billion for roads, bridges, tunnels, and mass transit, while promoting a Tradepoint Atlantic expansion that could boost container capacity by 70%, create over 8,000 jobs, and attract $1 billion in private investment to secure Baltimore’s role as a key maritime hub .
He also championed data-driven governance, directing his administration to rely on clear metrics for benchmarks in public safety, affordability, business competitiveness, and civic engagement. The Governor’s Office of Performance Improvement is tasked with publicly tracking progress beginning in early 2025 .
Facing a $3 billion budget deficit, Moore introduced a fiscal package that includes modest tax increases on top earners, gaming, and cannabis, along with expenditure cuts. He emphasized that the majority of Maryland residents would not see significant tax hikes, while also proposing corporate tax reforms to stimulate economic growth .
Education has also been on his radar amid fiscal strain. Moore’s proposed $80 million cuts to parts of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future—such as community schools and teacher planning time—were rebuffed by the House, though some of his teacher recruitment and academic excellence initiatives continued under amended legislation .
In a high-profile decision, he vetoed a bill for a slavery reparations study, arguing that ample research already exists and now is the time to act on economic equity issues like homeownership, food security, and education reform rather than delay with more studies .
Governor Moore has also taken aim at federal policy, criticizing President Trump’s remarks on Iran as unserious and dangerous, leveraging his own military background to underscore the stakes of international conflict, even as speculation about his future political ambitions continues .
