By Michael Phillips
Wes Moore rode into the Maryland governor’s mansion in 2022 on a wave of hype, glowing headlines, and comparisons to Barack Obama. But fast forward to mid-2025, and the glow is fading fast. Moore’s approval ratings are sliding—and fast enough to worry even the most loyal Democrats.
According to a March 2025 Gonzales Research poll, Moore’s approval rating has dropped to 55%, down from 61% in January. His disapproval rating has spiked to 36%, up from 28% just two months prior. The slide is especially steep among independents—once a source of strength for Moore. Back in January, 53% of independents approved of his job performance. By March, that number had collapsed to just 34%, with 42% disapproving.
This isn’t just a political warning light—it’s a five-alarm fire for a Democratic governor in a deeply blue state.
National Aspirations, Local Neglect
From day one, Moore has seemed more interested in chasing the national spotlight than doing the hard work of governing Maryland. Whether it’s hobnobbing with elites on cable news panels or teasing future presidential ambitions, Moore’s focus rarely seems to be on the issues hurting Marylanders most—rising energy costs, crime in Baltimore, infrastructure gridlock, and small business stagnation.
Voters are catching on. Nearly 60% of Marylanders recently rated their family’s economic condition as fair or poor. And yet Moore appears more concerned with crafting the next viral speech than crafting legislation to lower costs or restore public trust.
While he’s quick to tout buzzwords like “equity,” “impact,” and “innovation,” Moore’s record remains thin—padded more by press releases than measurable improvements.
Big Spending, Bigger Panic
Democrats see the writing on the wall—and they’re already spending like it’s October 2026. National and state Democratic committees are flooding the airwaves with ads praising Moore’s leadership and trying to shore up his image. This kind of early, big-money offensive is rare for a sitting governor in a blue state—unless internal numbers are worse than what’s been released publicly.
It raises a bigger question: If Moore can’t maintain support in Maryland, what makes anyone think he’s ready for the national stage?
The 2026 Governor’s Race Just Got Interesting
Republicans in Maryland now have a rare opening. If Moore continues to alienate moderates and independents—especially on hot-button issues like sanctuary jurisdictions, the tech tax, and the closure of energy-producing plants like Brandon Shores—they may actually have a shot in 2026.
That Moore is even vulnerable in such a blue state is a sign of how deeply disconnected he has become from the average Marylander. As one voter in Frederick County put it: “Wes Moore doesn’t run the state. He runs his mouth on TV.”
Moore may still have sky-high support from Democratic Party loyalists (83%, according to the same Gonzales poll), but that won’t be enough if independents abandon ship. The real story here isn’t just about declining approval—it’s about lost trust.
Can he win reelection? Maybe.
Can he run for president? Not without fixing Maryland first.
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