He’s a 2028 rumor no Moore.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore became one of the first major speculated 2028 Democratic contenders to flatly rule out a run in what is expected to be a wide-open race.
“I am not running,” Moore said about five times when pressed on ABC’s “The View” Thursday by comedian Joy Behar.
“I am really excited about the work that’s happening right now in the state of Maryland.”
The 46-year-old governor had been floated as a strong 2028 contender by actor George Clooney, who praised him for “levitating above” the other potential aspirants.
“I think he is a guy that has handled this tragedy in Baltimore beautifully,” Clooney told CNN’s Jake Tapper last month, referring to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.
“He does two tours of duty in Afghanistan — active duty. He speaks beautifully. He’s smart. He ran a hedge fund.”
“I like him a lot,” Clooney went on. “I think he could be someone we could all join in behind.”
Moore’s name has frequently drawn 2028 buzz on the Democratic side, similar to his other gubernatorial peers, such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and others.
So far, none of them have confirmed a run — or ruled one out, either.
“Most politicians do not say things like that. They say, ‘It’s too early,’ all sorts of things,” Behar protested. “Wait a minute, what if we really, really need you?”
Despite her pleas, Moore was adamant that he does not intend to throw his hat in the ring, insisting that Maryland is his priority.
Moore has led the Old Line State since 2023, and he’s tried to portray himself as a pragmatist as well as someone committed to showing the public that the government can work.
Recently, Maryland retained its coveted AAA bond rating from Fitch and S&P Global Ratings. Moody’s also reaffirmed the AAA status, but changed the state’s outlook from “stable” to “negative” amid growing concerns over Maryland’s budget and higher education reform.
“For the first time ever, Maryland is at risk of losing its AAA bond rating. This isn’t just a warning. It’s a sign that years of progress are being undone,” Moore’s predecessor, Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, warned last month.
“The View” co-host Sunny Hostin praised Moore for doing a “bang-up job” in the state as her colleagues seemingly tried to nudge him to reconsider.
Despite ruling himself out of a 2028 bid, Moore did not mince his words on the state of federal policy, ripping President Trump’s tariff policy for causing “chaos.”
“I think this is a powerful moment because people are seeing the power of the president and the power of Washington, but I think what people are also seeing is what’s the power of governor, what’s the power of the states, what’s the power of the people,” he argued.
Moore also explained how he plans to navigate interactions with Trump after “View” hosts noted Whitmer’s struggles and notorious move to cover her face with folders during a meeting with the president.
“I will work with anyone who has the people of my state in their best interest,” Moore explained.
“While I will work with anyone, though, I will bow to no one.”
