Maryland Gov. Wes Moore told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that he will not run for president in 2028 and that he intends to serve a full second term if reelected in 2026.
Asked directly by host Kristen Welker whether he would run for president, Moore replied, “Yeah, I’m not running for president,” and said he was “excited” to return to Maryland to seek another term. He told Welker he plans to remain focused on state priorities and cited improvements in employment, public safety and population growth during his first term.
Moore said he plans to finish a full term if reelected, telling Welker, “Yes, I’m going to be serving a full term. I’m excited about re-election. I’m excited about what I’m gonna be able to do for the people of Maryland.” He listed accomplishments including a drop in the state’s unemployment ranking and declines in violent crime in parts of the state.
Maryland’s unemployment rate was 3.4% in July 2025, slightly higher than the previous month but tied for the 14th-lowest among the 50 states. Baltimore recorded 201 homicides in 2024, a total officials described as a 10-year low, even as Maryland’s violent crime rate remained above the national average. Clustered data show the state’s violent crime rate was about 17.1% higher than the national average.
Moore’s announcement came amid widespread speculation about potential Democratic contenders for the 2028 presidential nomination. Other prominent Democrats frequently mentioned by analysts and pollsters include California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and 2024 nominee Vice President Kamala Harris. Progressive New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has also been cited by some as a possible future contender.
Polling of the potential 2028 Democratic field has shown varied voter preferences. An Emerson College poll published this year placed Newsom ahead with 25% support in a hypothetical primary, Buttigieg at 16% and Harris at 11%, while 23% of respondents said they were undecided; Moore was not included in that survey.
Moore, a former nonprofit executive and author who was elected governor in 2022, has repeatedly tied his political identity to his record in Maryland in recent interviews. In Sunday’s appearance, he pointed to economic gains and crime reductions as reasons to pursue another term. He framed his decision to rule out a 2028 presidential bid as a reaffirmation of commitment to state governance rather than a reticence about national office.
The governor is scheduled to face voters in the 2026 election cycle. His declaration that he will run for reelection narrows speculation about his national political ambitions for the near term, but it leaves the larger field of Democrats still widely discussed by strategists and voters contemplating the 2028 race.
Moore’s comments on NBC align with a broader pattern of state leaders weighing the political calculus of national campaigns while managing executive responsibilities at home. By explicitly ruling out a 2028 bid, Moore has shifted immediate attention back to Maryland politics and the 2026 race, even as national interest in the Democratic field continues to evolve.