Moore, Miller officially file for second term: ‘We’ve got more work to do’

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WBFF) — It may not feel like anything other than a harsh winter, election season is around the corner and Monday, the Moore-Miller ticket made it official as they filed their paperwork with the Maryland State Board of Elections – one day before the deadline.

Despite a state of emergency in place, Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller made the trek to the SBE headquarters in Annapolis Monday afternoon to sign on the dotted line and make their second-term search official.

“You know, we announced a while ago that we are running for re-election, that we’re excited about running for re-election, that we are excited about the results that we have seen just in the first three years,” Moore told a small group of reporters inside the elections HQ.

From ending childhood poverty, to boosting educational outcomes and growing the economy, Moore has set lofty targets for his time in office. The once-political outsider has turned into a national media darling, even floated as a presidential candidate someday. Though, Moore has rejected the notion several times that he will run for president in 2028.

However, poor audits, money management concern within some agencies, and a surge in energy bills have some Marylanders skeptical they aren’t being left behind, despite Moore’s campaign slogan to do just the opposite.

“I don’t know if he has left us behind or if he has really even considered us. We’re not in his preview, I don’t think,” one farmer told FOX45’s Spotlight on Maryland.

“My electric bill is close to $1,800 a month. That has been a jump as well,” another said. “We haven’t changed anything, we haven’t added more equipment, or anything, in the past few years.”

Energy costs and the overall cost of living will likely be a driving factor during the campaign, according to political analyst John Dedie.

There have been some people that have been left behind by the governor,” Dedie said, including some retired state employees “who lost their prescription drug coverage under the governor who chose not to fund that.”

It will also come down to utility bills and who will be able to articulate to voters the solution and clear explanation for what happened.

“And I think that whoever the Republican nominee is, it’s going to be up them to make the sale,” Dedie explained. “Right now, it may be a situation people will listen, but can that candidate close the deal?”

Former lawmaker and Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Cox announced he’s running again this year, along with former businessman and Baltimore Blast owner Ed Hale. Other GOP candidates include Kurt Wedekind and John Myrick.

Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey launched an exploratory committee as he mulled a gubernatorial bid but ended that endeavor and filed to run for senate again.

“The general, it’s all going to depend on who the nominee [will be],” Dedie said. “If it’s Ed Hale, [Moore is] going to have to work a lot harder. If he’s Dan Cox, if it’s Dan Cox, he could travel to other states to campaign for people.”

While stopping by to file his paperwork, Moore took some questions from reporters. FOX45 News questioned the governor on some people feeling like they’ve been left behind by this administration, especially as cost-of-living increases.

“Well, one of the reasons that we made a focus for our administration of things like permitting reform, of regulatory reform, of streamlining business growth,” the governor said, focusing on what his administration has done for business growth in the state.

Pointing to procurement reform, permitting changes and focusing on growing life sciences, IT and the aerospace industry, Moore rattled off the fact that some businesses are expanding, including “AsstraZeneca making the largest private sector investment in the history of the state of Maryland.”

But the reason that we’re running for reelection is we got more work to do, but we’re ready to do it, Gov. Moore said.

Republicans have not been shy about pointing out issues they believe could hinder Moore’s re-election effort, including last years’ $1.6 billion tax and fee increase that was part of the budget deal.

House Minority Leader Jason Buckel praised Gov. Moore’s ambitions to improve the state, including ending childhood poverty, but said “it hasn’t happened.”

“I like soaring oratory, but I got news for ya: it doesn’t pay the bills,” Buckel said hours before Gov. Moore’s fourth State of the State address. “We are not the best at hardly anything.”

Del. Jesse Pippy, the House Minority Leader, also had pointed words for Gov. Moore as election season heats up.

“I think the big question is, and I think Marylanders are going to have to ask themselves, are we better off than we were three years ago? And I think the overwhelming answer is we’re not,” Pippy said.

That’s a question voters will answer at the ballot box. Maryland’s primary election is slated for June 23, 2026.

Follow Political Reporter Mikenzie Frost on X and Facebook. Send tips to mbfrost@sbgtv.com.