Gov. Wes Moore on Monday joined the chorus of Democrats in Maryland and across the country endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the party’s presidential ticket after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 election a day earlier. Moore also said he has “no interest” in leaving his role to serve as her running mate, as some political analysts had speculated.
“Vice President Harris has the experience, record, vision, and wisdom to unify the country,” Moore said in a statement released Monday morning. “President Biden selected her to serve by his side because he knew she could lead the nation. She will have the unique ability to energize the Democratic Party base and mobilize a unique coalition, and we must rally around her and elect her to serve as the next President of the United States.”
In his statement, Moore said his endorsement “goes far beyond politics,” recalling a call he received from Harris on the morning the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in March
“She made clear that the entire nation stood with Maryland as we confronted one of the worst tragedies in the history of our state. In that moment, she demonstrated not just her powers of leadership, but also her powers of empathy,” Moore wrote.
Moore, who supported Biden’s candidacy in recent weeks despite Democrats’ growing concerns over the president’s ability to win re-election said he had “lengthy conversations” with both Biden and Harris on Sunday, in which he gave his full support to Harris. He waited to publicly endorse her until Monday, however.
A Democratic rising star since his election two years ago, Moore was an emphatic supporter and fundraiser for Biden. He also was seen by some as a potential presidential or vice presidential contender in a future presidential election. But ever since Biden’s disastrous debate performance June 27, Moore’s name also has appeared on lists of potential candidates for this year — including in the opinion pages of the New York Times on July 7 where a column, featuring a large photo of Maryland’s governor, said he could “energize the electorate.”
Still, Moore repeatedly vowed to remain governor and said he would not seek the nomination if Biden dropped out.
When asked Monday afternoon if would accept a theoretical request from Harris to join the ticket as her running mate, Moore said he would not.
“I plan on being helpful in any way that I can to be able to support the vice president. However, I do not plan on — I have no interest,” Moore told reporters after he spoke at a conference in Washington, D.C. “I have no interest, and I’ve expressed that. I love my job.”
Moore’s decision to endorse Harris now puts him in a group of other high-profile Democratic governors who were once considered potential presidential candidates but now have thrown their support behind Harris.
That includes Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, two Democratic governors of swing states who are now reportedly potential vice president picks for a Harris-led ticket. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, another possible running mate, endorsed her Monday morning.
“Where she goes is going to be a very personal decision for her,” Moore said. “I think she’s going to have wonderful options to be able to consider. I just know that I do not plan on leaving. I have no intention of leaving.”
Moore’s defense of Biden’s time in office has frequently included references to Harris, and the two of them have appeared together several times on the campaign trail or during official government events.
At a June event in Prince George’s County to support Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Angela Alsobrooks and talk about gun violence prevention, Moore said, “Our vice president is lights-out,” before Harris took the stage.
He appeared on stage with Harris and Alsobrooks afterward, too, with all three smiling and holding their hands up in celebration.
In his statement Monday, Moore said Harris “is the fighter we need at this moment to realize the full promise of our nation.”
His immediate reference to the Key Bridge is an indication he expects a potential Harris administration to follow through on Biden’s promise for the federal government to fully pay for the rebuilding of the collapsed structure. The project is expected to cost about $1.7 billion and Moore has led a group of Maryland officials seeking congressional approval to avoid the state paying 10% of its cost.
Other prominent Maryland Democrats backed Harris in the hours after Biden said Sunday afternoon he would drop his bid. That included U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin and the Democratic candidate seeking to replace him when he retires later this year, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.
Moore also opened up Monday about his conversation with Biden on Sunday.
“I was telling him how much I appreciated him and he said, ‘You know, gov, this is not an obituary. I’m still going to be here until January.'” Moore said. “And he told me he’s planning on very much running through the tape, and I’m planning on running through the tape with him.”
A frequent surrogate for Biden who traveled the country and helped raise money, Moore said that same commitment will carry over to Harris’ operation in the months before Nov. 5.
“We plan on going anywhere and everywhere,” Moore said.