Latest news with #WesMoore
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Governor ignites public backlash after scrapping critical protections with no warning: 'It's really heartbreaking'
The Maryland governor shocked legislators and environmental action groups by vetoing a number of anti-pollution and environmental study bills. On May 16, Wes Moore rejected proposals to gather information about the impact of rising global temperatures on the economy, energy reliability, and more, Inside Climate News reported. Critics said it marked "a sharp departure from his climate promises." He cited "the state's current financial constraints," though one of the bills — the Responding to Emergency Needs from Extreme Weather Act of 2025 — was to cost just $500,000 from the $300 million-plus Strategic Energy Investment Fund, which is backed by utility companies that pay penalties "for failing to meet renewable energy targets," according to ICN. Moore also said the Energy Resource Adequacy and Planning Act, which was to cost between $4.4 million and $5.3 million, would raise consumers' energy rates, per ICN. But the bill was designed to help the state transition to clean energy sources by providing long-term assessment and planning strategies. The Data Center Impact Analysis and Report bill was another that got brushed off. It was to study "the environmental and economic footprint of data center expansion," ICN reported. Maryland lawmakers thought they were headed in the right direction with these legislative efforts, and many people were blindsided by the vetoes. The RENEW Act received particularly strong support, as it could clear the path to make fossil fuel companies pay for the pollution they create. "If the governor vetoes a bill to basically begin to study what the polluters owe us, then the only conclusion you can make is he wants taxpayers to pay billions of dollars for a mess that the oil companies knowingly created," Mike Tidwell, Chesapeake Climate Action Network director, told ICN. Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins called the RENEW legislation "monumental," while Kim Coble, executive director of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, said: "This veto is extremely frustrating and simply does not support the state's climate goals." Climate action is not just about climate change and would reduce pollution, improve human health and environmental conditions, and rebalance ecosystems, weather, and other things that make the planet inhabitable for people, wildlife, and vegetation. What's more, every $1 spent now on resilience and preparedness saves $13 in future damages, cleanup costs, and economic impact. The Maryland General Assembly can override Moore's actions with a three-fifths vote in each of the House of Delegates and Senate. While the lawmakers are not in session, Moore can convene a special session, or a majority of elected members in the House and Senate can convene one via petition. "I think there's a strong possibility," Wilkins told ICN. "There's a lot of passion on both bills and a lot of interest … and they did both pass with veto-proof majorities." Should the government ban gas stoves? Yes Only in new buildings Only in restaurants No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
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Walz: Democrats need to be a ‘little meaner'
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) said his fellow party members need to be a bit more harsh in upcoming elections to put an end to political intimidation. After an unsuccessful bid for the vice presidency in November, Walz has shared staunch criticism of Elon Musk and other officials within the Trump administration. 'I'm getting called out on this because I called Donald Trump a wannabe dictator — it's because he is. It's because he is,' Walz said Saturday during his keynote address for the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention. He said people alleged that his comments were 'mean.' 'Well, maybe it's time for us to be a little meaner. Maybe it's time for us to be a little more fierce, because we have to ferociously push back on this,' Walz said, urging critics to rebuke the Trump administration's policies. Walz's words were echoed by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) during his remarks at the annual South Carolina Democrats' Blue Palmetto Dinner Friday night. 'I want to be clear: We can and we must condemn Donald Trump's reckless actions. But we would also be foolish not to learn from his impatience,' Moore, a first-term governor, said during his roughly 30-minute speech to the state party's officials and activists. 'Donald Trump doesn't need a study to dismantle democracy or use the Constitution like a suggestion box. Donald Trump doesn't need a white paper to start arbitrary trade wars that raise the cost of virtually everything in our lives,' he added. Walz and Moore also made an appearance at Rep. Jim Clyburn's (D-S.C.) annual fish fry Friday night, an event known to be dazzled by presidential hopefuls. The Maryland governor said he would not run for the Oval Office next election cycle but party members have floated him as a viable leader for 2028. On Saturday, Walz said that any work geared towards ensuring a Democratic win in the next presidential campaign would need to start soon. 'It starts this Saturday as us starting to organize. Donald Trump ran for president for four years after he got beat in 2020. The Republican Party ran for four years. Their school board members ran for four years. All of those things were happening,' the Minnesota governor said. 'And what I know about our party is we know how to work. We're people with grit and resilience. We know how to get things done,' he added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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a day ago
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Potential 2028 presidential hopefuls Moore, Walz steal show at South Carolina Democratic weekend
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaks at South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn's World Famous Fish Fry, an annual gathering of South Carolina Democrats, on Friday, May 30, 2025. (Photo by Shaun Chornobroff/SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA, S.C. — Minutes before 10 p.m. Friday, after Democratic speakers led the audience in jeers to Republicans' efforts to slash jobs and health care, and encouraged people to get involved and vote, line dancing broke out. That mix of politics and fun, mostly the latter, is what makes Rep. Jim Clyburn's (D-S.C.) annual fish fry in the state's capital city so popular, attendees said. 'We all came out, and everybody's enjoying themselves,' said Shantell Zimmerman, 58, of Columbia. 'It brings out the community,' agreed Dionne Brown, 55, of Irmo, who's been attending the event for six years. 'Then we actually get to discuss our views and takeaways.' Hundreds of people attended the event that started in 1992, the year voters first elected Clyburn to the 6th Congressional District, as a thank you to the voters who couldn't afford the Democratic Party's high-dollar fundraisers. Over time, the 'World Famous Annual Fish Fry' — which includes free food and drinks — has become a must-attend event for Democrats seeking local, statewide and national office. This year was no different, even if Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — Kamala Harris' 2024 running mate — said they're not running for the 2028 nomination. 'I know I'm not running,' Moore told reporters Friday. 'But the thing I'm also very clear about is that anyone who's talking about 2028 is not taking 2025 very seriously.' Moore and Walz, as well as Clyburn and former Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison of Columbia, emphasized the importance of focusing on what's happening now in Washington, D.C. Proposed cuts to government safety nets like Medicaid and billionaire Elon Musk's efforts to rapidly slash federal spending were among the topics the governors touched on Friday during speeches at the fish fry, as well as the state Democratic Party's Blue Palmetto Fundraising Dinner the same night. 'I taught school long enough to know it's because they're weak and they're bullies, and when you stand up to them, they fade away,' said Walz, a former high school geography teacher. While both declined suggestions that they're running for president, there's wide speculation otherwise. Their addresses at the events in South Carolina — which last year got promoted from holding the Democratic Party's first-in-the-South to first-in-the-nation presidential primary — sounded a lot like campaign speeches. Walz will also speak Saturday at the state Democratic Party's annual convention. Lucy Owens, an Anderson County delegate to the state convention, discounted the governors' refusals, saying the 2028 presidential campaign has clearly begun. 'They're all going to come through here. They're the first ones,' she said of Moore and Walz. In 2019, the fish fry drew more than 20 potential candidates hoping to appeal to South Carolina Democrats. The following year, Joe Biden won the South Carolina Democratic primary, a victory that ended up vaulting him to the presidency. South Carolina's primary was elevated for 2024 as Biden's thank you to the state. With Biden gone, the Democratic party in flux, and Harrison no longer leading the national party, South Carolina maintaining its first-in-the-nation status is in question. Clyburn's comments Friday suggest he knows it won't. He doesn't care if the state is first, just that it's early, he said. 'The most important hitter on a team is the cleanup hitter. He comes in fourth place,' Clyburn told reporters at his event. 'I'm not concerned about whether or not we're first, second, third. Please, let us be at least four.' That would take South Carolina back to having the first primary in the South. In the aftermath of Trump's landslide victory and the Republican Party gaining control of both chambers of Congress, the Democratic Party is in a reset. Walz and Moore, the first Black governor in Maryland's history, are among the early faces of it. Winning South Carolina, which changed the trajectory of Biden's 2020 presidential run, will be crucial for Democratic hopefuls. Owens, the Anderson County delegate, pointed to the stage where Walz and Moore spoke, saying every Democrat who wants to be president will eventually appear in that exact spot. 'They got to come through here. Not South Carolina. They got to go right there,' she said. Both governors received raucous ovations from South Carolina Democrats, drawing cheers, standing ovations and even a few laughs as they took shots at the GOP. Owens said 'they're both very great candidates,' and she's 'excited' to hear more from them over the coming years. That was the general consensus from attendees who spoke with the SC Daily Gazette. But they were significantly more familiar with Walz because of his time on the campaign trail last year with Vice President Harris. 'I know less about Wes Moore than I do about Tim Walz, but I think he's a good speaker,' said Laura Lowery, a 69-year-old from Fountain Inn. 'I think he's done a good job in his state as well.' Moore has recently come under fire for vetoing a bill that would establish a commission to examine state and federal policies from 1877 to 1965 and come up with recommendations for reparations. South Carolina Rep. John King, D-Rock Hill, had asked the state party to remove Moore as the keynote speaker at Friday's Blue Palmetto Dinner because of the veto. Party leaders never responded to questions about that request. But for at least some attendees, the veto perturbed them too. 'I didn't understand why he would do that,' said Tonya Winbush of Anderson. But once Winbush, a 50-year-old Army veteran, heard Moore speak about his time in the Army, as well as his pardoning of 175,000 people with convictions for cannabis possession, her opinion changed. 'I think when you don't know the whole story and you just listen to sound bites, which is what we do a lot, we'll make brash judgments about people, when we are really fighting the same fight,' she said. – This story first appeared in the South Carolina Daily Gazette, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. SC Daily Gazette maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Seanna Adcox for questions: info@ SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
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Tim Walz encourages SC Democrats to redefine the party with action on policy, not promises
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called for a shift in Democratic Party values and making concrete changes during a meeting of South Carolina Democrats on May 31. Thousands of voters and political leaders crammed into the Goodman Building at the state fairgrounds to hear Walz at the South Carolina Democratic Party convention, a two-day event in Columbia. The convention started with the Palmetto Blue Dinner on May 30, where Maryland Gov. Wes Moore was the featured speaker. More: Gov. Tim Walz to headline South Carolina Democrat convention More than 1,700 delegates representing each of South Carolina's counties attended this year's convention to strategize and get energized for future elections. Greenville County had 180 delegates at the convention. Walz was welcomed with a standing ovation on the convention's second day. Walz was catapulted onto the national stage after running for vice president in 2024 alongside the party's presidential nominee, then-Vice President Kamala Harris. He has since emerged as a leader in the national Democratic Party and has been touring the country speaking at town halls in Republican-leaning congressional districts. South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain introduced Walz onto the convention stage, where he was greeted with cheers and energetic applause from the crowd. He started off by saying it is essential for the Democratic Party to reorganize. He said the party is losing support by electing people who don't turn ideas into action when they get into office. 'Democrats, we have no shortage of good ideas,' Walz said. 'But when we get into power, we have no idea how to get stuff done.' He said it is important for the party to move forward after a loss in the 2024 presidential race and come back stronger for the midterms next year. 'This is a moment,' Walz said. 'This is a moment not just to win the election. This is a moment to transform back to the Democratic Party.' South Carolina earned the nickname 'First in the South,' which means it is often the first Southern state to hold its presidential primary. Charles Morris, the third vice chair of the Greenville County Democratic Party, said that this makes South Carolina an important player in the presidential race, particularly in former President Joe Biden's 2020 win. Biden swept the South Carolina Democratic Presidential Primary race in 2020, which gave him momentum leading into Super Tuesday as he competed against Bernie Sanders. 'We can't look at it that South Carolina is a red state,' Morris said. 'South Carolina can vault candidates to the presidency.' He said that it is important for the state's Democratic Party to focus on bringing in young voters who may have stayed home or voted Republican in the 2024 election. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-South Carolina) also spoke during the convention and called for Democrats to put in the work right now to flip more seats. 'We are going to have to start that change this year,' Clyburn said. 'We cannot wait until next year.' Spain ran unopposed for the state party's top office and will stay in her leadership role for another two years. She said her focus over the past two years has been on getting more Democratic candidates to win seats in smaller elections, like city council and school board races. 'We've got work to do, and I am going to stay the course,' Spain said. 'I am going to lay it all on the line.' Jaime Harrison, a former Democratic National Committee chair and South Carolina native, said he wants to see more Democrats run for office in the Palmetto State. 'To every single Democratic county party in this room,' Harrison said, 'my charge to you is to recruit a Democrat to run in every single race. Leave not one race uncontested.' Laura DiSabatino is originally from Pennsylvania but moved to South Carolina. This was her first time attending the state's Democratic convention as a Greenville County delegate. 'I felt like it was time for me to get involved,' DiSabatino said. 'Bringing us together is the most important part of this.' In one of the last speeches of the day, State Rep. Jermaine Johnson (D-Richland) said he has assembled an exploratory committee and is considering a run for governor. Johnson said he wants to hear from South Carolinians first to gauge their feelings about him running for office. 'I've gotten calls from Democrats nationwide about considering this opportunity,' Johnson said. 'I don't want to do anything or make any rash decisions without hearing from the people of South Carolina.' More: Judge denies bond for Greenville County resident accused of threatening congresswoman While no one has officially filed to enter the race, U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) hinted at a possible run for governor several times, including at a bond hearing for a Greenville County resident accused of threatening her online. Gov. Henry McMaster, who has been in office since 2017, ends his second and final term in 2026. Bella Carpentier covers the South Carolina legislature, state, and Greenville County politics. Contact her at bcarpentier@ This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Tim Walz gives keynote address at South Carolina Democratic convention
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Potential 2028 presidential hopefuls steal show at Fish Fry, Dem weekend
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaks at Jim Clyburn's Fish Fry on Friday, May 30, 2025. (Photo by Shaun Chornobroff/SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA — Minutes before 10 p.m. Friday, after Democratic speakers led the audience in jeers to Republicans' efforts to slash jobs and health care and encouraged people to get involved and vote, line dancing broke out. That mix of politics and fun, mostly the latter, is what makes U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn's annual fish fry in the state's capital city so popular, attendees said. 'We all came out, and everybody's enjoying themselves,' said Shantell Zimmerman, 58, of Columbia. 'It brings out the community,' agreed Dionne Brown, 55, of Irmo, who's been attending the event for six years. 'Then we actually get to discuss our views and takeaways.' Hundreds of people attended the event that started in 1992, the year voters first elected Clyburn to the 6th Congressional District, as a thank you to the voters who couldn't afford the Democratic Party's high-dollar fundraisers. Over time, the 'World Famous Annual Fish Fry' — which includes free food and drinks — has become a must-attend event for Democrats seeking local, statewide and national office. This year was no different, even if Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — Kamala Harris' 2024 running mate — said they're not running for the 2028 nomination. 'I know I'm not running,' Moore told reporters Friday. 'But the thing I'm also very clear about is that anyone who's talking about 2028 is not taking 2025 very seriously.' Moore and Walz, as well as Clyburn and former Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison of Columbia, emphasized the importance of focusing on what's happening now in Washington, D.C. Proposed cuts to government safety nets like Medicaid and billionaire Elon Musk's efforts to rapidly slash federal spending were among the topics the governors touched on Friday during speeches at the fish fry, as well as the Blue Palmetto Fundraising Dinner the same night. 'I taught school long enough to know it's because they're weak and they're bullies, and when you stand up to them, they fade away,' said Walz, a former high school geography teacher. While both declined that they're running for president, there's wide speculation otherwise. Their addresses at the events in South Carolina — which last year got promoted from holding the Democratic Party's first-in-the-South to first-in-the-nation presidential primary — sounded a lot like campaign speeches. Walz will also speak Saturday at the state Democratic Party's annual convention. Lucy Owens, an Anderson County delegate to the state convention, discounted the governors' refusals, saying the 2028 presidential campaign has clearly begun. 'They're all going to come through here. They're the first ones,' she said. In 2019, the fish fry drew more than 20 potential candidates hoping to appeal to South Carolina Democrats. The following year, Joe Biden won the South Carolina Democratic primary, a victory that ended up vaulting him to the presidency. South Carolina's primary was elevated for 2024 as Biden's thank you to the state. With Biden gone, the Democratic party in flux, and Harrison no longer leading the national party, South Carolina maintaining its first-in-the-nation status is in question. Clyburn's comments Friday suggest he knows it won't. He doesn't care if the state is first, just that it's early, he said. 'The most important hitter on a team is the cleanup hitter. He comes in fourth place,' Clyburn told reporters at his event. 'I'm not concerned about whether or not we're first, second, third. Please, let us be at least four,' he said. That would take South Carolina back to having the first primary in the South. In the aftermath of Trump's landslide victory and the Republican Party gaining control of both chambers of Congress, the Democratic Party is in a reset. Walz and Moore, the first Black governor in Maryland's history, are among the early faces of it. Winning South Carolina, which changed the trajectory of Biden's 2020 presidential run, will be crucial for Democratic hopefuls. Owens, the Anderson County delegate, pointed to the stage where Walz and Moore spoke, saying every Democrat who wants to be president will eventually appear in that exact spot. 'They got to come through here. Not South Carolina. They got to go right there,' she said. Both governors received raucous ovations from South Carolina Democrats, drawing cheers, standing ovations and even a few laughs as they took shots at the GOP. Owens said 'they're both very great candidates,' and she's 'excited' to hear more from them over the coming years. That was the general consensus from attendees who spoke with the SC Daily Gazette. However, they were significantly more familiar with Walz because of his time on the campaign trail last year with Vice President Harris. 'I know less about Wes Moore than I do about Tim Walz, but I think he's a good speaker,' said Laura Lowery, a 69-year-old from Fountain Inn. 'I think he's done a good job in his state as well.' Moore has recently come under fire for vetoing a bill that would establish a commission to examine state and federal policies from 1877 to 1965 and come up with recommendations for reparations. South Carolina Rep. John King, D-Rock Hill, asked the state party to remove Moore as the keynote speaker of Friday's Blue Palmetto Dinner. Party leaders never responded to questions about that request. But for at least some attendees, the veto perturbed them too. 'I didn't understand why he would do that,' said Tony Winbush of Anderson. But once Winbush, a 50-year-old Army veteran, heard Moore speak about his time in the Army, as well as his pardoning of 175,000 cannabis convictions, her opinion changed. 'I think when you don't know the whole story and you just listen to sound bites, which is what we do a lot, we'll make brash judgments about people, when we are really fighting the same fight,' she said.
