Meet The Candidates: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore vs. Dan Cox
Crisfield, Md. – A recent poll from the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus shows Governor Wes Moore is sitting comfortably with a 27 point lead over Dan Cox, but there is still time to see how things will come together.
First elected in 2022, Governor Wes Moore made history as the state’s first Black governor. If re-elected, he would serve his second term.
Moore, a combat veteran and former nonprofit CEO, has said he has prioritized reducing child poverty, supporting the middle class and investing in education.
One of his most notable initiatives as governor has been pushing for the ability to redraw congressional districts outside the 10-year norm, also known as Question 3 on Maryland ballots.
For the Eastern Shore, he says he has worked to deliver $800 million towards capital resources.
“You look at the improvements that we’ve seen in public education within the Eastern Shore. You look at the improvements that we’ve seen in public safety within the Eastern Shore. We’ve invested in the Eastern Shore. We continue to show up for the people on the Eastern Shore,” he said.
Republican challenger Dan Cox, an attorney and former state delegate, lost against Moore in 2022 but is running again on public safety, growing a small business-friendly economy and a limited government.
However, with a projected state budget gap of about $3 billion, Cox says tackling the deficit would be his a priority along with investing in the Eastern Shore’s economy.
“It’s $3 billion, as you know, structurally in the hole. Now … almost Wes Moore had to work to do that that bad,” he said. “We’re going to take ownership of the budget.”
Cox is also vehemently opposed to Question 3.
“We’re going to end the gerrymandering Moore is putting on Question 3. We need to vote against it to keep the voices. Let’s not have any taxation without representation,” Cox said.
Meanwhile, Moore told reporters the effort is meant to strengthen Maryland voters in response to other Republican-controlled states’ efforts to redraw their congressional district lines.
“We want to hold on to our autonomy. Yes, we are the Free State, and we’re the ones who determine what our democracy looks like and not Washington, D.C., and not the president of the United States,” Moore said.
During a debate hosted by Maryland Public Radio and WBAL-TV, Moore and Cox also differed strongly on federal policies. Moore said he was against the war in Iran and tariffs, blaming them for high living costs.
“While we’ve had many successes together as a state, we are still fighting against [President Donald Trump’s] illegal tariffs, against these endless wars and against cuts to healthcare,” Moore said.
Cox, however, a statement on his Ballotpedia page, said he will stand with Presidents Ronald Reagan’s and Donald Trump’s “Peace through Strength” initiative and says cutting state spending and lowering taxes will reduce high living costs.
“Dan Cox will stand with President Trump to defend America against all threats, protect America against all dangers, and keep America out of unnecessary foreign wars,” the statement said.
Maryland voters can begin casting their ballots on Thursday during early voting.
