Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) did not rule out cutting his second term as governor short if he is reelected to serve Maryland again in 2026.
Moore is running for reelection to serve a second term as governor, taking on a challenge from former Republican state Del. Dan Cox, whom he defeated in the 2022 gubernatorial race by a 32-point margin. Moore and Cox faced off in their first and only debate of the 2026 election cycle on Tuesday in a prerecorded matchup set to air at 7 p.m., hosted by Maryland Public Television and WBAL-TV 11.
Moore, who many pundits see as a possible 2028 presidential candidate, has previously ruled out the idea of running for president, telling multiple outlets in the past year that he would serve all four years of his second term if reelected governor. However, on Tuesday, he told a different story, refusing to commit to serving all four years if reelected when the debate moderator asked.
“Being the governor of Maryland has been the honor of a lifetime,” Moore said, according to the Baltimore Banner. “And I would not be running for reelection if I was not committed to the people of Maryland.”
Moore told the moderator, “I gave the answer,” when asked again if he would serve four years.
“I am committed to the people of Maryland. That’s why I am running for reelection,” Moore said, per the outlet.
Moore recently sounded off on the Democratic Party’s future when he sat down with another possible 2028 contender, Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY), for a panel in Washington. Moore told Beshear that the Kentucky governor’s voice “is going to be necessary” in the party’s future. In response, Beshear looked at Moore and said, “Based on the time we’ve been here tonight, I think we’d make a pretty good team.”
When Moore refused to say definitively whether he would serve four more full years, Cox torched Moore’s response.
“This governor will not look you in the eyes and commit to not running for president,” Cox said.
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Moore has been one of several prospective 2028 candidates taking to the midterm campaign trail this year, likely looking to boost their names, make nationwide allies, and secure their party’s majority in the House and Senate. Moore recently traveled to neighboring Virginia to campaign for Democratic House candidates in key districts.
Cook Political Report points to Moore’s high approval ratings and “charismatic” demeanor in its assessment of the gubernatorial race as a solid Democratic seat. Recent polls have shown Moore leading Cox by 27 percentage points.