Wes Moore: ‘I’m not running’ for president in 2028

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a rising star within the Democratic Party who’s been floated as a 2028 contender, surprised many Thursday when he said he will not run for president in the next cycle.

“I am not running,” Moore said when asked by co-host Joy Behar on ABC’s “The View” if he would run in 2028, noting actor George Clooney’s recent praise of him.

“You’re not,” Behar responded, to which Moore doubled down, “I am not running.”

“The View” co-host Sunny Hostin said at one point that the Maryland Democrat was “doing a pretty bang-up job in Maryland.”

“Wait a minute, what if we really, really, really need you, though?” Behar asked to laughter.

Moore’s announcement that he’s not interested in running for a White House bid in 2028 is surprising given as his popularity has risen within the party, including making notable appearances at events like the Gridiron Club in March.

He raised some speculation at the event about potential presidential ambitions when he said, “If I actually wanted to be president, I wouldn’t do any of this.”

“Instead, I would take my case directly to the people who are in charge of our democracy: the Kremlin,” he added.

Moore is among a handful of Democratic governors who have been floated as 2028 White House potentials, which also include Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Gavin Newsom of California, JB Pritzker of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and Andy Beshear of Kentucky.

While he made it clear he wasn’t interested in running for the presidency, it’s also possible that Moore could change his mind, particularly as the contours of a 2028 Democratic primary shape up in the next year or two.