In the lead-up to Super Bowl Sunday, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is breaking down how he believes the big football match will play out.
In gambling parlance, when someone wins a lot, they are said to be on a heater. For Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, he’s been on an extended heater picking NFL and College Football Playoff games for WTOP the last several weeks.
Moore has missed only two games total, an achievement for anyone, much less a non-professional prognosticator.
So, is it luck or skill? For the governor, it’s a bit of both.
“Anyone who says it is all skill, is not telling the truth,” Moore told WTOP Friday. “Anyone who says it’s all luck is not telling the truth. It’s a combination of both.”
What’s the secret sauce?
“I study this stuff. I follow this stuff,” Moore said. “Who’s hot and who’s healthy and you always look at things like injury reports. …There are definitely analytics that I will put into it.”
“I always bet on gamers when it comes to playoff time and I think that’s worked pretty well,” he added.
Breaking down the big game
The attention this weekend turns to Sunday’s Super Bowl game, which pits the Seattle Seahawks against the New England Patriots in Santa Clara, California.
Weighing into the last NFL game of the season, Moore said he found the Patriots to “maybe be the most interesting story” in the league, before noting the team hasn’t exactly “played the same level of competition during the year that Seattle has had to play.”
“I thought the Super Bowl champion was going to run through the NFC,” Moore said. “I just thought the NFC was producing better teams.”
The governor does believe the Seahawks defense team will be the difference in this game, explaining that the Patriots “are running into a buzz saw, and I think that buzz saw is the Seattle Seahawks.”
“This defense is so creative and so good,” Moore said. “Huge credit goes to their head coach.”
Mike Macdonald served as the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens between 2022 and 2023 after serving several season on the team’s defense staff. He was announced as the new head coach for the Seattle Seahawks in January 2024.
“We got a chance to see him up close, just how good he is,” Moore said of Macdonald’s time with the Ravens. “And if you watched how Baltimore’s defense fell off when he went to Seattle, that wasn’t because of a talent issue. That was because of a defensive coordinator issue.”
Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold, who is playing for his fifth team in the last six years, is also quieting his doubters with his second-straight stellar season. “Darnold is doing his job and Darnold, you know, has a real chip on his shoulder,” Moore said.
Seattle is favored by oddsmakers by around four and a half points. But, the governor said, “I think it’s probably going to be closer to 10 … I don’t think this game is going to be close.”
Moore’s Super Bowl spread
With his big prediction out of the way, the governor addressed more important matters, like the menu for his Super Bowl party.
“We’re Marylanders,” he said. “We’re going to be traditionalists.”
“So we’re going to have some crab cakes. We’ll have the chicken wings and all that kind of stuff for everybody else, but, make no mistake … the real MVP is going to be some crab cakes.”
And, yes, the Old Line State’s favorite seasoning will be involved. “Old Bay everything,” Moore said.
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Maryland Gov. Moore talks with WTOP about Democrats’ Election Day wins on the East Coast and the government shutdown’s impact.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is among the Democrats celebrating big wins for the party after voters largely threw their support behind Democratic candidates during Tuesday’s elections in Virginia, New York and New Jersey.
The states of Virginia and New Jersey elected two women as Democratic governors, including the first woman governor in Virginia, Abigail Spanberger.
Tuesday night was the backdrop to a lengthy government shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history at 36 days. President Donald Trump has stated the federal government will restrict SNAP food aid, despite two judges’ rulings to use emergency funds.
Some states, including Maryland and Virginia, have put together plans to temporarily pay for funding gaps in the food stamp program.
Wes Moore talked about the developments with WTOP anchors Shawn Anderson and Anne Kramer.
WTOP anchors Anne Kramer and Shawn Anderson debrief on recent developments with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
This story will be updated to include a a full transcript of Moore’s interview with WTOP.
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The group “No Moore” touts itself as a “grassroots movement born out of frustration” with what it describes as Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s failed leadership.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore enjoys a lot of support among Democrats in the state, but among more conservative residents, it’s a different story.
Complaints about increased taxes and fees have many Republican and right-leaning voters wishing for a Republican challenger who will limit Moore to one term in office — hoping enough voters will say, “No Moore.”
It’s even prompted a political action committee of that name.
The group touts itself as a “grassroots movement born out of frustration” with what it describes as Moore’s failed leadership. And on the group’s Facebook page is a long list of posts expressing that frustration, with links to news articles and interviews from the governor, as well as comments about the direction the state has moved — especially economically — during Moore’s term in office.
But some AI-generated videos also found on the page have Democrats, as well as Moore himself, decrying what they argue are racist dog whistles about Maryland’s first Black governor.
The videos include an AI-generated Moore dressed like a circus clown, saying “the gaslight tour continues. It’s not hard, all you have to do is just lie.”
To Moore’s supporters, it evokes a depiction of the governor as a minstrel. In another post on the issue of redistricting, it shows a deepfake of Moore coloring a map of Maryland with a blue crayon, and asking in an exaggerated voice, “Where is WEE-com-EE-co? It doesn’t matter,” before he starts laughing.
“What we’re seeing from ‘No Moore’ is what people hate about politics,” Moore said last week. “It’s this dark money, shadowy, racist platform that doesn’t disclose who their people are, that doesn’t disclose who’s giving them their money. But they’re just continuing to put out these racist, white supremacist tropes.”
It’s an allegation that the No Moore PAC, and other Republicans in the state, dispute.
After Moore commented on it last week following questions from a reporter, on Monday the state Democratic Party put out a statement calling on former Gov. Larry Hogan to denounce the group, with the belief that Hogan supporters are behind the PAC.
But at least one Republican said the group is simply critical of the governor and his policies.
“There is real outrage out there related to very much kitchen-table items,” Republican Del. Jesse Pippy, of Frederick County, said.
Pippy said he also doesn’t think the content put out by the No Moore campaign is racist the way Democrats in Maryland said it was.
“They don’t like criticism, and when they hear things about their policies, they want to turn their attention to something else,” Pippy said. “But do I think there are some people online that take things too far? Absolutely, and it happens on all sides.”
An unsigned statement from the No Moore PAC described the allegations of racism as “egregious” when asked by WTOP for comment on the claims made by Democrats.
“Maryland Democrats can’t defend Moore’s record on spending and taxes, so they’re screaming ‘racism’ and inventing conspiracies instead. They’ll do anything to distract from his failed leadership.”
But Moore feels there’s “historical context” behind some of the statements and posts by the group and he said, “They know it.”
“I would hope that the people who are claiming to be leaders inside this moment would come out and speak out against it,” Moore said. “But I’m not going to hold my breath.”
The No Moore PAC calls the insinuation outrageous.
“This isn’t about race. It’s about results,” the No Moore PAC statement said. “We deserve fiscal responsibility and leadership that tells the truth. That’s what we’ll continue to focus on.”
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Ed Hale Sr., a Baltimore businessman, sports team owner and longtime Democrat, ended speculation about his party affiliation and declared Wednesday that he will run for governor as a Republican.
Ed Hale Sr., a Baltimore businessman, sports team owner and longtime Democrat, ended speculation about his party affiliation and declared Wednesday that he will run for governor as a Republican.
Hale described himself as a moderate, but said his party switch was rooted in political pragmatism more than ideology.
“There’s no way I could win running against Wes Moore with that machine he’s got,” Hale said of the incumbent Democratic governor. “He takes all the money and oxygen out of the room. I can’t do it. I’m a pragmatist and I’m a moderate person. That’s just the way I am.”
Hale made the announcement — one that was expected — in an east Baltimore waterfront park that he once owned and sold to the city. It came after he hired Annapolis pollster Patrick Gonzales to look at a head-to-head race between himself and Moore.
“I don’t believe I had a chance, based on the polling that was done, to beat him,” Hale said of Moore. “I had a chance, but it was not as good as it would be running as a Republican.”
Hale said later that the poll only looked at him against Moore and did not include other Republicans who have filed or announced for governor, or who are the subject of speculation.
Hale, 78, is well-known in the business community but is an unpolished political candidate.
“So, the big thing here is, I like building things. I like making things. I like hiring people. That’s the way it is,” Hale said. “ What we have right now are these career politicians with smiling faces that really, really don’t give a sh-t. You all know it. I do. I care.”
While Hale was blunt about his reasons for switching, Senate Minority Leader Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (R-Upper Shore) was equally blunt, casting doubt on Hale’s affiliation switch and portraying him as a political opportunist.
“We’ve built a Republican movement in Maryland that stands for more than just opposition to the far left — it stands for authentic leadership and a clear governing philosophy,” Hershey said in a statement. “Our voters expect more than opportunism — they expect commitment.”
Hershey noted that Hale has “spent decades” supporting Democrats.
In remarks to reporters, Hale noted his relationships with former Baltimore mayor and Maryland Gov. William Donald Schaefer, a Democrat. He also spoke about raising money for Democrats including Dutch Ruppersberger, the former Baltimore County executive and congressman, and former Sens. Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski.
“I did it because they were going to win and if you don’t do that, you’re just not very pragmatic or prudent,” Hale said.
But he noted he also voted for Republicans, including former Govs. Larry Hogan and Robert Ehrlich.
“It’s just the way that I am. I want to vote for the winner,” he said.
Hale grew up in Baltimore. He said his record “stands for itself” more than political affiliation.
“If you want to talk about labels, I’m the wrong person,” he said. “You’re born in Baltimore — I’m from east Baltimore not too far from here — and you’re automatically a Democrat. But I stopped thinking about party affiliation except when I voted.”
He described his Democratic affiliation as a business tool.
“If you’re building anything, you have to go with the party that’s in place, so you have someone to call to get a permit,” Hale said. “I can sugarcoat it any way you want, but that’s the tool.”
Hershey, in his statement, questioned Hale’s commitment to core Republican principles.
Senate Majority Sen. Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (R-Upper Shore) questioned Ed Hale’s reasons for switching parties to run for governor. (File photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters.)
“The Republican nomination for Governor will not be handed out to the highest-profile defector from the left. It must be earned,” Hershey said in his statement. “Maryland Republicans expect their leaders to stand firm on limited government, lower taxes, and personal responsibility.
“We’ll be scrutinizing Ed’s record closely to ensure he genuinely embraces our values, not simply our party label,” Hershey’s statement said.
Hale may also find himself at odds with Republicans aligned with President Donald Trump.
“Now, I am not a Donald Trump guy. I’m going to make that very clear,” Hale said, but added that he would try to work with the president, who is very unpopular in Maryland.
Hale said he would not “poke” Trump as Moore and other Democrats have done.
“You have to have some pragmatism and common sense … so that you know that you’re going to be doing the right thing to make jobs in the state of Maryland,” he said.
Hale laid out a platform of opposing taxes and fees and accused Democrats of misrepresentation as some, including Moore, claimed to have cut taxes.
“I want to attack … what we all know is a problem,” Hale said. “I think we have dishonest people telling us things that are just not true, making us try to try to make us believe that these things are true, that the taxes are not going up. That fees are not going up. We all know it’s not true.”
He said he backs nuclear power as a way to lower energy costs in the state and hinted at a tough-on-crime position, calling for juveniles as young as 14 to be jailed and for parents to be held responsible.
“I think we should lower the date that they could go to jail — the age — down to 14,” Hale said. “If that’s the one stealing the cars and doing that, put them in jail. Find the parents and get judgments against the parents, too. That will begin the parenting.”
Hale joins a growing field of Republicans who have formally filed or announced for governor.
Baltimore businessman Ed Hale Sr., a Democrat, will seek the GOP nomination for governor next year, after realizing it would be difficult to beat current Gov. Wes Moore (D) in a Democratic primary. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)
John Myrick, who previously ran an unsuccessful campaign for U.S. Senate, and Carl A. Brunner Jr., a Carroll firearms instructor, have both formally filed for the GOP nomination.
Freshman Del. Christopher Bouchat (R-Frederick and Carroll) said he will run for governor rather than re-election to the House. Carroll County farmer Kurt Wedekind has also said he will seek the Republican nomination. Neither Bouchat nor Wedekind have formally filed their candidacy.
And then there is the ongoing speculation about Hogan mulling a possible return to office. The former two-term governor has used social media to stoke that speculation.
Hale himself raised the possibility of another Republican former governor – Ehrlich — attempting a comeback.
“If Larry Hogan wants to run, if Bob Ehrlich wants to run — I’ve heard that, too – have at it. Let’s have a contest,” he said.
Hale’s announcement Wednesday does not make him a formal candidate. He must change his party registration, something the Talbot County resident said he could do as early as Wednesday.
Hale must also register his campaign committee with the Maryland State Board of Elections, as well as financial disclosure forms. Hale said some of that may also be done as early as Wednesday afternoon.
He cannot file his formal candidacy with the state board until he chooses a running mate.
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Maryland Gov. Wes Moore joined WTOP’s Anne Kramer and Shawn Anderson to talk about the impact of the pardons for marijuana convictions, and he reiterated his unwavering support of President Joe Biden as the Democratic candidate for the White House.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore talks about ongoing work at the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse site, as well as the last day of the state’s legislative session, during an interview with The Associated Press in his office on Monday, April 8, 2024 in Annapolis, Md., (AP Photo/Brian Witte)(AP/Brian Witte)
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore talks about ongoing work at the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse site, as well as the last day of the state’s legislative session, during an interview with The Associated Press in his office on Monday, April 8, 2024 in Annapolis, Md., (AP Photo/Brian Witte)(AP/Brian Witte)
Moore joined WTOP’s Anne Kramer and Shawn Anderson on Monday to talk about the impact of the pardons, and he reiterated his unwavering support of President Joe Biden as the Democratic candidate for the White House.
Listen to their conversation below and read the transcript. The transcript below has been lightly edited for clarity.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on pardons for marijuana convictions and his unwavering support of Biden
Shawn Anderson: What have you been hearing from those whose convictions were pardoned and how they are hoping to go about their lives?
Wes Moore: I think for so many people whose convictions were pardoned, it’s a game changer for them. Because we had a system that was making every sentence a life sentence, which especially didn’t make sense, because the thing that they were convicted of, is no longer illegal. And in fact, I announced last week that cannabis, just for the past year, has now become a billion-dollar industry in the state of Maryland. And so you cannot talk about the benefits of legalization, if you do not wrestle with the consequences of criminalization. So I think for those who received the pardon, and again, it’s 175,000 cannabis convictions that have now been pardoned, the largest in our country’s history. I think this was a game changer for them and their families.
Anne Kramer: When it comes to expungement, governor, how would that work? And is that something you could consider in the future?
Wes Moore: Yes, so about 40,000-plus people got their record expunged, just with the conviction. And now there are some who, there is still a expungement processes they have to go through. The governor, while you have pardon power, you don’t have expungement power in the same way. And so, while over 40,000 people now got their record expunged, the remainder will just have to go through a simple process. Now that they have the pardon, it’s really more of a simple formality they need to go through. But at the same time, I want to be clear that what we did with this mass pardon — this is a first step. We still need to right a lot of historical wrongs that have happened in the way that we have used cannabis as this cudgel, and particularly when it comes to communities of color with the criminal justice system.
Shawn Anderson: Let’s switch gears here to President Biden and the continuing calls by some prominent Democrats in some regards to have him step aside from the reelection so another candidate can be chosen to run against former President Trump. You were at an important meeting last week with the president at the White House. You have been one of his staunchest defenders. Almost a week has passed since then. The president and the White House continue to do damage control. Do you think the president has done enough at this point to convince your fellow Democrats and donors to the campaign that he is in it for the long haul?
Wes Moore: No, I think the president is going to have to continue working the way that he’s working now. Going out to not just donors, and not just elected officials, but also to community members, and to people who live in neighborhoods and explain what becomes a vision for the next four years. I think that the uncertainty is still there, and frankly, what we’re watching is unsustainable. We’ve got to get to a point when this conversation is about the binary choice between the president and, frankly, someone whose vision for this country is downright dangerous. And so we’ve got to get to that point.
But I can tell you right now that my support for the president, it’s unwavering, because I’ve seen what a partnership with President Biden looks like. I’ve seen the work that we can actually get done together when you’re looking at the results that we’ve seen here in the state of Maryland. And my advocacy for making sure that we defeat Donald Trump in November, it is completely unwavering.
Anne Kramer: Governor, what about President Biden physically and mentally makes you so confident he is up to the rest of this race when the calls keep growing larger for people who say they want him to step aside?
Wes Moore: Well, I think President Biden continues to give us examples. He was in Pennsylvania yesterday. He was in Wisconsin before that. He continues to be on the road and meeting people where they are. I think that matters.
And I think when you look at the results that his administration has continued to provide, I think that matters, too. I mean, since I’ve been the governor, we’ve seen over 40,000 new jobs in the state of Maryland, record low unemployment rates, a record drop in crimes and homicides that we’ve seen in the state of Maryland. Baltimore City, for example, the last time the homicide rates were this low in Baltimore, I wasn’t born yet. That’s happened in partnership with the Biden-Harris Administration. And so I think you’ve continued to watch an administration that sees us and supports us as local leaders and as community members. And I think that people will continue to see him on the campaign trail making his case.
Shawn Anderson: Weunderstand that you were on an election donor call with the president this afternoon. When you talk to donors, because they are as nervous as some of the lawmakers who are expressing their doubts, what do you say to them? What about that donor call? What did you have to say to them?
Wes Moore: Well, what I said is, I got a chance to see what partnership looks like in the president and I don’t do disloyalty. And particularly when it comes to people who have stood with us in some of our lowest moments. I explained to the donors, and I said that a little under four months ago, I received a phone call that no chief executive ever wants to receive. And that was that 13% of my economy was now shut down. And tens of thousands of workers were hours away from waking up and realizing they didn’t have a job. And there were six Marylanders who weren’t accounted for. All of that happened when the Key Bridge collapsed.
I know that my first phone call from the White House came at 3:30 that morning, and that I had a president later on that day, stand up in front of the country, and say, ‘Gov., we’ve got you. We’re going to be with you every step of the way.’ And he’s been true to his word.
The thing I wanted to share with everybody is this is a president who is true to his word. And that matters to me. People who have integrity, that matters to me, and that’s why I continue to support him, and hope that we can get another four years.
Anne Kramer:Gov. Moore, last question for you. You met with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today, what was that all about?
Wes Moore: It was wonderful, because Canada’s not just our largest export trade partner. But I think the values that they have pushed and that the Prime Minister continues to push are ones that I respect. And so it was a wonderful chance to connect with him, to hear more about the economic prospects that we have in the state of Maryland. We are watching how Maryland’s economic growth and what we’re seeing right now — it is real, and having a trade partner like Canada in everything from construction to agriculture, to high tech and AI, it matters. Being able to continue to build that relationship, not just with the leadership, but then also with the country, is something that’s incredibly important to the economic prospects here in the state of Maryland.
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