Maryland Governor Wes Moore in rolling out his gubernatorial re-election campaign has touted, and I am quoting here, that “Republican Leaders Across Maryland Announce Support For Governor Wes Moore’s Reelection.’
The reality is rather underwhelming:
Today, Republican leaders from across Maryland endorsed Governor Wes Moore’s 2026 reelection campaign citing his commitment to bipartisanship and his efforts to lift up all Marylanders.
“I made a promise to the people of Maryland when I was elected that I would be a governor for all Marylanders, not just some–that’s a promise I’m going to continue to keep,” said Governor Wes Moore. “We’re not picking winners and losers here, we’re bringing everyone with us. After two and a half years we’ve created 100,000 jobs, brought down violent crime statewide, and have made record investments in public schools. With the support of these bipartisan leaders we will continue to build a Maryland that leaves no one behind.”
Republicans from across the state announce their support for the governor’s reelection:
So who are these Republicans? Well, a whopping four elected officials:
Washington County Commission President John Barr;
Rising Sun Mayor Travis Marion;
Westernport Mayor Judy Hamilton;
Loncaoning Mayor Jack Coburn.
Respectfully, I don’t think a singular County Commissioner nor three mayors representing a total population of 5,553 is going to move the needle here. Even more so when you remember these three Mayors were elected in municipal elections
The other two Republicans? Two former elected officials, former Carroll County Commissioner Ed Rothstein and former Delegate Carl Anderton. What the Moore Campaign press release failed to point out was that both Anderton and Rothstein are employed by Wes Moore and that an endorsement of Moore is practically a term of employment.
So what does that make Moore’s announcement?
Look, I understand why Moore wants to make this announcement. He is looking at the prospect of running against former Governor Larry Hogan or, if he does not run, State Senator Steve Hershey. Both have been effective leaders with significant support on both sides of the aisle. Moore and his campaign staff realize that with the extreme nature of his term in office and the lack of popular support for his tax and fee increases, that any artificial inflation of the perception of his Republican support helps at the fringe margins of the race. Moore is not going to get a win by forfeit in the general election like he did in 2022.
If anything, Moore’s touting of these endorsements this early in the campaign cycle reeks more of desperation than it does a winning campaign.
Sure, Wes Moore’s campaign got to win in the press release game for suggesting that Republican Leaders Across Maryland Announce Support For Governor Wes Moore’s Reelection.” But out in the real world, nobody cares and no voters are changing their mind because a few employees support the boss. It’s a nothing burger, much like Moore’s ability to govern.