Latest news with #WesMoore
New York Post
2 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Dem Gov. Wes Moore says party ‘just gave up' on certain parts of US in 2024 campaign
Gov. Wes Moore, D-Md., said the Democratic Party gave up on certain parts of the U.S. in the 2024 election, lamenting the party's focus on certain states. Former DNC chair Jaime Harrison spoke to Moore on his podcast 'At Our Table' and asked the Democratic governor if there was anything former Vice President Kamala Harris or the campaign should have done differently. Moore replied, 'I don't know…. It's always challenging if such a large percentage of the country, rightly or wrongly, feel the country is going in the wrong direction. It's just difficult to be the vice president, to come into that. I don't know what she could have done differently, or whatever happened. 'The thing I think we have to remember to do though, is, I've been deeply disappointed where it feels like there are certain areas and communities that we almost seemingly just gave up on.' He added, 'We just stopped competing. We stopped making the case. We came up with this philosophy where, listen, it all comes down to three states.' 3 Gov. Wes Moore, D-Md., speaks during a taping of FOX News Channel's Special Report with Bret Baier, Friday, July 18, 2025, in Washington. AP Harrison agreed and added, 'We cede ground.' 'And it's like, do you know who hears this thing is only going to come down to three states? The other 47. Like, 'we don't even matter, man.' When we hear, 'We need to make sure we go after the working voter in Pennsylvania,' and that's the key, do you know who hears that? Everybody you're not talking about. And I just think we ceded a lot of ground,' Moore said. Moore argued that a lot of key Democratic voters felt taken for granted in 2024. 3 President Joe Biden waves with Vice President Kamala Harris at the Pennsylvania Democratic Party's 3rd Annual Independence Dinner in Philadelphia, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. AP 'And then we get upset, and then we're like, what happened with this group? What happened with that group? And they're saying like, 'Yo, what happened to the party?' I think there needs to be a real level setting about who is our base, man. And who are we fighting for? 'This is not a game for people. This is not game theory. This is not checkers. They're real life. These are real lives,' Moore continued. Moore spoke to Fox News' Bret Baier earlier this month and said he was not considering running for president in 2028. 3 Governor of Maryland Wes Moore speaks onstage during the 2025 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture presented by Coca-Cola – Day 3 at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 06, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Getty Images for ESSENCE 'And the thing is, I think that anybody who's talking about 2028 is not taking 2025 very seriously,' he added. Harrison recently spoke to Gov. Tim Walz, former Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate in 2024, about the Democratic Party. Walz wondered why the party comes off as being anti-success during their conversation. 'We, as Democrats, we want people to pay their fair share, but why are we against people being successful like that? We can't be. Why are we against? We should talk about businesses. Not all businesses exploit their workers, and we get ourselves stuck in that. And I think we lose them,' Walz said.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Political notes: Hale mulls party switch, Moore gets a new gig, Shetty, Schumitz get fellowships
Ed Hale insists he still plans to run for governor next year, but the lifelong Democrat is not sure what party he'll run in. (File photo by Angela Breck/Maryland Matters) Two months ago, Ed Hale announced his candidacy for governor, with plans to challenge incumbent Wes Moore, a Democrat. Hale said he still plans to file, but he has to answer one big question first. Will he remain a Democrat? In a brief phone interview, Hale said he plans to conduct polling later this summer and 'looking at what the best path is for me.' When he announced his intentions in May, Hale, 78 and a lifelong Democrat, said the plan was to challenge Moore in the Democratic primary next year. Moore is expected to pose a formidable challenge in 2026. He's a prodigious fundraiser, a frequent guest on national and local TV and radio and is rumored to be a potential 2028 presidential candidate (speculation he repeatedly but so far unsuccessfully has attempted to quiet). Hale's entry into the race as a Republican could give him a bit of a leg up if he can parlay his business connections into a powerful fundraising machine. Currently, there are two Republicans in the gubernatorial primary: John Myrick, who previously ran an unsuccessful campaign for U.S. Senate; and Carl A. Brunner Jr., a Carroll firearms instructor. Another potential entrant is Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan. Hogan has been quiet about his intentions, but speculation persists that he might run for his old job. Hale said he has no plans to talk to Hogan as part of his decision-making process as he considers a run as a Republican or independent candidate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX He has time. The deadline to file is in February, and the primary election is not until June. Hale said he hoped to make a final decision about his path and party affiliation later this year before he files. Hale, who is recovering from 'back fusion surgery' said he does plan on attending the Maryland Association of Counties annual convention in Ocean City next month. Gov. Wes Moore (D) got another title to add to his resume Saturday: vice chair. More specifically, the governor was elected to serve in that position for the National Governors Association during its summer meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo. The post also make him the association's 2026-27 chair-elect. Part of Moore's duties as vice chair will include leading the association's work to identify innovative policy solutions through bipartisan collaboration and research. Moore replaces Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), who was elevated to the NGA chairmanship for 2025-26. Moore will also lead the association's Center for Best Practices, which conducts hands-on research and development, offers pilot projects and workshops with a goal to create bipartisan policies and solutions for states in 10 areas, including health, infrastructure and education. Earlier this month, the association and a national nonprofit group called Third Sector Capital Partners selected Maryland, Idaho, North Carolina and South Carolina to participate in a policy academy to strengthen SNAP E&T (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Employment and Training). The program, slated to run through February, will have cohorts from those states establish an action plan to meet goals to expanding access to SNAP and employment and training programs, provide coaching support and host webinars to engage in peer learning as plans are being developed. Moore will also work alongside Stitt as part of initiative the Oklahoma governor announced Saturday called 'Reigniting the American Dream.' Throughout the year, Stitt will lead a series of meetings with governors, private-sector leaders and 'changemakers' with a focus on three policy priorities: unlocking economic opportunity, empowering every learner and energizing the future. 'We all want to create a brighter future for our states, and the nation. When we get together at the National Governors Association, we're focused on whether an idea is good, not on where the idea came from,' Moore said in a statement. 'I'm looking forward to collaborating with my fellow governors to build stronger on-ramps to opportunity so every person in our states has a shot at success – no matter how they define it.' Two Marylanders will be part of the National Women's Law Center's first fellowship focusing on advancing gender justice at the state level. Del. Emily Shetty (D-Montgomery) and Kali Schumitz, vice president for external relations with the Maryland Center on Economic Policy, will represent the first cohort as part of the center's State Gender Policy Collective. The 18-month program that began this week and ends in December 2026 includes Shetty and seven other state legislators, and Schumitz joins nine other individuals who work at various nonprofit organizations. Besides Maryland, the other fellows are from Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and South Carolina. According to a summary of the collective, its goal will be to facilitate peer learning to help fellows grow their knowledge on gender justice issues such as reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ and child care. 'States are on the frontlines of the fight for gender justice, and they are already leading progress by protecting their communities from abortion bans and attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, advancing their own equal pay protections, and investing in child care and Black maternal health policies,' Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women's Law Center, said in a statement. 'We are thrilled to be working with state policymakers and advocates to harness our collective power to restore our democracy in advancing gender justice.' Schumitz works at the center that advocates annually for various statewide policies that includes health, worker protections and criminal justice. In addition, the center is a member of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's annual Kids Count data book. Shetty, who was elected in 2018, had several bills signed into law this year including House Bill 881, which begins a phase-in for 100% of monthly child support payments 'pass through to the family' who seek assistance in a Family Investment Program. The bill was also sponsored in the opposite chamber by Sen. Cory McCray (D-Baltimore City). Shetty, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, said in a text message Friday on in the fellowship, 'It's wonderful and I'm so honored to have the opportunity to participate.'
Fox News
a day ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Gov. Wes Moore says Democratic governors' frustrations with the NGA are ‘justified'
The National Governors Association (NGA) summer meeting ended with a media availability, in which vice chair Gov. West Moore., D-Md., said Democratic governors' frustrations with the bipartisan group are justified.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Maryland governor, representative respond after denied FEMA aid request for historic flooding
Maryland lawmakers called it an insult after the state was denied federal disaster assistance for the damages caused by the historic flooding in Western Maryland in May. Heavy rain caused significant flooding damage in Allegany and Garrett counties, with residents still recovering. Gov. Wes Moore requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration in June to aid in the recovery effort after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) found that it could cost nearly $15.8 million. The flooding damaged more than 200 homes, some businesses, roads, and utilities. People were rescued from flooded schools, and some were trapped overnight during power outages. The White House rejected the Presidential Disaster Declaration, which would have allowed Maryland to receive help from FEMA and access funding to repair broken infrastructure. In the rejection letter, FEMA called the aid "not warranted," according to the governor's office. "The day before they denied Maryland, they actually accepted and gave West Virginia over $10 million in support for a storm that had about the same amount of damage," Gov Moore said. "This is petty, it is partisan, and it is punishing." Gov. Moore said in a social media video that the denial of federal assistance funding is "an insult to Maryland and the community still suffering in the aftermath of the storm." U.S. Congresswoman April McClain Delaney, from Maryland, told WJZ that while progress has been made, more work needs to be done Delaney said many residents are frustrated with the president, after he received overwhelming support in Western Maryland in the 2024 election. "We just have to, you know, push back and say, these are the reasons why people pay taxes," Rep. Delaney said. "No matter what your zip code, you should be able to rely on our federal government to deliver when there's an emergency or tragedy." Gov. Wes Moore said the damage and recovery efforts in Western Maryland were catastrophic, and it would need support from the federal government. "After a thorough assessment of the damage, it's clear that additional support is necessary," Gov. Moore said. A Presidential Disaster Declaration would have given Maryland financial assistance from FEMA to help repair infrastructure damage caused by the massive flooding, and provide for those still impacted. "The addition of much-needed federal assistance is necessary to get those affected back to their regular lives and to allow those communities to fully recover in months instead of years," MDEM Secretary Russ Strickland said. According to the governor's office, the estimated $15.8 million cost for recovery surpasses FEMA's threshold for disaster assistance, which in Allegany County is $321,460. In Maryland, that threshold is $11.6 million. "Historically, if the joint damage assessment process demonstrates eligible costs over and above the county and state indicator, disaster assistance has been awarded by the President," Gov. Moore said. President Trump argues that FEMA is unsuccessful and has suggested changes to the agency. He signed an executive order that he said would "begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA," though that action would need approval from Congress. In June, the administration said it wanted to "wean" states off of FEMA aid after the 2025 hurricane season. The administration indicated that governors would be in a better position to respond to disasters in their states. "We want to wean off of FEMA, and we want to bring it down to the state level — a little bit like education, we're moving it back to the states," Mr. Trump said. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said in a social media video that the state is going to appeal the state is going to appeal FEMA's decision to reject federal financial aid for Allegany and Garrett counties. "To our neighbors in Western Maryland, while the federal government is saying, 'You are on your own,' here in Maryland, we are saying, 'We are leaving no one behind,'" Gov. Moore said. Gov. Wes Moore on Sunday visited areas in Western Maryland that are still recovering from the flooding, including Westernport. According to the governor's office, Moore visited the Port West Restaurant, which was directly impacted by and temporarily closed due to flood damage. He met with other state leaders and residents to talk about the ongoing recovery efforts and his administration's plan to fight back for federal disaster assistance. "Today, I once again saw the strength of Western Maryland—a community that mobilized in the wake of disaster," Gov. Moore said. "Our resolve hasn't wavered, and there is no question that our recovery requires more time and resources." Moore continued, "The Trump administration denied our request for federal disaster assistance, even though Maryland met long-standing criteria for FEMA support. This cruel choice by the federal government won't stop us from moving forward. We will appeal their decision and continue fighting for the people of Allegany and Garrett counties."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt assumes lead role in National Governors Association
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, entering his final 17 months in that office, is the new chair of the National Governors Association. Stitt, who served as vice chair during the past year, became the chair on Saturday, July 26, at the organization's summer meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He said his major initiative for the next calendar year will be called, 'Reigniting the American Dream,' which will focus on unlocking economic opportunity, empowering every learner and energizing the future with ideas such as artificial intelligence and energy independence. Stitt, a Republican, will lead the organization alongside its incoming vice chair, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat. Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association includes the leaders of 55 states, territories and commonwealths in the United States. The goal of the organization is for governors to identify priority issues and deal with matters of public policy and governance at the state, national and global levels. 'We're demonstrating to America that there's so much more that we agree on than we disagree,' Stitt said. Moore said he's looking forward to working alongside Stitt. 'We look forward to being able to present an example to the rest of the country that as governors, what we focus on is getting things done,' Moore said. 'What we focus on is making sure we're serving the people of our individual jurisdictions. What we focus on is making sure that we can identify best practices and put them into action and put them into work and bring them to scale. 'That's what governors do, and it's an honor to uh to work alongside our governors of both political parties to make sure that the people of our individual jurisdictions don't forget that we're not here to play games and we're not here to be performative. No, we're here to bring real results to their lives.' During his year as chair, Stitt and other governors are planning to convene in Switzerland for an 'international learning journey,' as well as in Austin, Texas, for a 'regional economic opportunity summit' and in Philadelphia to discuss 'energy and infrastructure innovation.' The 2026 National Governors Association's summer meeting will be held in Oklahoma City. Stitt succeeds Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, also a Democrat, as the organization's chair. 'The beautiful thing about the American Dream is that there are as many dreams as there are people,' Stitt said. 'In a time where all we hear is about how divided we are, let's remind them that we agree on this: the American Dream doesn't need to be reimagined, it needs to be reignited. Governors are in a unique position to lead this charge. I'm grateful for the trust of my fellow Governors as we start this journey together.' Stitt's speech on Saturday included a shout-out to a unique Oklahoma school, as he touted the Oklahoma Aviation Academy, run by Norman Public Schools, as an innovative education model. The academy is essentially a public immersion school for high school students wishing to pursue a career in any number of aviation-related fields. Only a handful of similar schools exist anywhere in the U.S. 'Here's the deal — students need heroes and role models,' Stitt told his fellow governors. 'I want us to look at how we can expand apprenticeships and internships, so students get real-world training earlier in their academic career. We can give students meaningful experiences that lead to real jobs without saddling them with debt.' Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, issued a statement Saturday about Stitt, noting the governor had been 'chosen by his peers' to lead the National Governors Association. 'The most meaningful and effective policies in our nation originate at the state level, and this selection gives Governor Stitt a unique platform to help shape America's future as our country prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday in the coming year,' Hilbert said. 'I look forward to working with him in his new role." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma's Kevin Stitt now the chair of National Governors Association Solve the daily Crossword
