Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is sounding the alarm on President Donald Trump’s actions surrounding elections as the Democratic governor steps into his new role leading the bipartisan National Governors Association.
Wes Moore’s concerns
Moore raised his concerns in an interview with the Associated Press following Trump’s July 17 address to the nation, during which the president claimed foreign actors were attempting to influence American elections.
“I don’t think that the president is trying to hide the ball on this,” Moore told the Associated Press. “It’s not even that I’m concerned about what the president could do. I’m concerned about what he’s already doing in broad daylight.”
Restricting mail-in voting
Moore spoke as he was preparing to take the helm of the National Governors Association. During his interview with AP correspondent Steven Sloan, Moore raised concerns about Trump’s efforts to restrict mail-in voting, obtain voter information from states and potentially deploy federal troops or agents to polling locations.
The Democratic governor said he hopes the bipartisan organization can “ensure states are able to oversee elections as designed by the U.S. Constitution.”
Moore could face a significant challenge maintaining the NGA’s traditionally bipartisan approach during the midterm elections. Republicans have pushed for stricter election rules, including tougher voter identification requirements and mail-ballot deadlines, while Democrats have warned such measures could suppress voting.
Clash between Wes Moore and Donald Trump
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson previously told the AP that “if Democrats really cared about securing our elections, they would pass the SAVE America Act,” referring to voter identification legislation stalled in the Senate.
Moore and Trump have previously clashed. Earlier this year, Trump initially disinvited Moore and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis from an NGA White House dinner, declaring the Democrats were “not worthy of being there,” before eventually reversing course.
Still, Moore has occasionally praised Trump administration policies, recently calling the president’s investment accounts for children “a good thing.”
Moore has also faced speculation about a potential 2028 presidential campaign despite previously saying he would not run. His frequent national media appearances and travel to South Carolina have continued to fuel speculation about his political future.
