Raised by a single mother in Baltimore after his father died, Wes Moore could have become a statistic. Instead, he became a Rhodes Scholar, Army combat veteran, and bestselling author before becoming Maryland’s first Black governor.

Moore’s life experience shapes his governing philosophy: everyone deserves the opportunities he had. He’s invested in historically Black colleges and universities, expanded career and technical education, and made Maryland a leader in criminal justice reform. He brought his business background to state government, cutting red tape while expanding services.

As a paratrooper in Afghanistan, Moore learned that leadership means taking care of your team. As governor, he’s applied that same principle: Maryland succeeds when every Marylander has the chance to succeed. He created good-paying jobs, lowered healthcare costs, and protected the Chesapeake Bay, keeping his promise that Maryland would work for everyone.