Democratic Gov. Wes Moore wins re-election in deep-blue Maryland

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, sailed to a re-election victory on Tuesday, NBC News projects.

Moore, who defeated former Republican state lawmaker Dan Cox in a rematch of the 2022 race, made history four years ago when he became Maryland’s first Black governor.

During his first term, Moore at times clashed with his fellow Democrats, most notably over redistricting, when state legislative leaders rejected the governor’s calls to redraw congressional districts to eliminate the state’s lone Republican-held seat.

At the polls on Tuesday, Maryland voters got the chance to weigh in on a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow state lawmakers to redraw congressional districts in a way that benefits Democrats.

The governor also stepped into the national spotlight in the middle of his first term after a bridge collapse in Baltimore in early 2024 killed six people and shut down an international port.

On the campaign trail, Cox pitched himself as the better option to manage the rebuilding of the bridge, telling voters that he could get the project done on a faster timeline than Moore. The rebuilding has faced several delays, including after Maryland parted ways this year with the Nebraska-based contractor Kiewit Infrastructure over a budget dispute.

Moore’s travel to battleground states like Michigan, Nevada and Georgia to campaign alongside Democratic gubernatorial candidates this year fueled speculation that he may run for the White House. Moore demurred at a gubernatorial debate in October when asked whether he would commit to serving a full four-year term if re-elected.

“I would not be running for re-election if I was not committed to the people of Maryland,” he told a panel of local political reporters.

Asked last year on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” whether he was considering a 2028 presidential campaign, Moore said, “I’m not running for president.”

Several other Democratic governors who are seen as possible presidential candidates, including Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro and Illinois’ JB Pritzker, were also on the ballot Tuesday.

On the campaign trail in Maryland, Moore touted his work reducing violent crime rates in Baltimore, raising the statewide minimum wage and reducing teacher vacancy rates throughout Maryland. He also highlighted the times he’s sparred with President Donald Trump, including over the president’s deportation agenda and the tariffs he imposed on foreign goods.

The governor also responded to allegations from conservative media outlets earlier this year that he had mischaracterized his military record in a book, blaming certain inaccuracies on the effects grief and stress can have on memory. During his first campaign, in 2022, Moore also faced allegations that he had misrepresented his upbringing in his memoir “The Other Wes Moore.”