Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Sunday he will not run for president in 2028 and intends to serve a full term if reelected in 2026, ending weeks of speculation about a possible national campaign.
Speaking with NBC's "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker, Moore repeatedly ruled out a presidential bid for the next cycle and emphasized his commitment to Maryland. When Welker asked whether he would serve a full term if reelected, Moore said, "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." Pressed again on whether he was ruling out a presidential run, Moore replied, "Yeah, I'm not running for president. You rule it out? Yes. You completely rule it out?"
Moore, a Democrat who was elected governor in 2022, cited achievements in Maryland as reasons for focusing on state-level work. He pointed to improvements in employment and drops in violent crime, and said he planned to return to voters to seek another term.
Maryland's unemployment rate was 3.4% in July 2025, a slight increase from the previous month but tied for the 14th-lowest state rate, according to state data. Baltimore recorded 201 homicides in 2024, a figure police described as a 10-year low, even as Maryland's overall violent crime rate remained higher than the national average — about 17.1% above it.
Moore is part of a group of Democrats whose names have circulated as possible 2028 contenders. Other governors and national figures mentioned by political observers include Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and 2024 Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has also been discussed as a long-shot possibility.
A recent Emerson College poll of potential Democratic primary voters found Newsom leading with 25% support, Buttigieg at 16% and Harris at 11%, while 23% of respondents were undecided. Moore was not included on that poll's list of potential candidates.
Moore's statement on "Meet the Press" aligns with his role as vice chair of the National Governors Association and signals an apparent decision to concentrate on his gubernatorial agenda and the 2026 campaign. He has said he plans to highlight economic and public-safety improvements in seeking another term.
Moore's office did not immediately provide further comment beyond his television remarks. The governor's move will narrow the field of prominent Democrats publicly distancing themselves from a 2028 White House run at this stage of the pre-campaign period.