Wes Moore’s new book adds to 2028 speculation and renews scrutiny of his past

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Now that the midterm election is over, all eyes are on the next race and Maryland’s Gov. Wes Moore’s latest announcement isn’t doing much to quell speculation about a possible White House run.

Wednesday, Moore announced the upcoming publication of Repair: Healing a Divided Nation, Moore has said he is not running for president, but his new book has renewed questions about what’s next for the newly-re-elected governor.

The book puts Moore among a growing group of Democrats whose recent or upcoming book shave fueled questions about their national ambitions. Potential Democratic 2028 contenders who have released books or announced plans to do so include Josh Shapiro, Andy Beshear and Gavin Newsom.

In his announcement, Moore said it was not meant to be a political memoir, but to “pose hard questions and spark honest dialogue.” It is scheduled to be published March 9.

Political analyst John Dedie said books are a common way for potential candidates to introduce their ideas before a campaign.

“It is not about how many books I can sell,” Dedie said. “It’s about putting your ideas out there.”

Roger Hartley, another political expert, said a book alone doesn’t mean Moore will run for president.

He compared the possibility to former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, whose book also focused on healing and bringing people together, but who ultimately did not seek the presidency.

Still, Hartley said the book’s timing could work well for someone considering a campaign. Moore’s book is scheduled to come out in March, as the Maryland General Assembly approaches the end of its session in early April.

“A book is one ingredient, one of the things that you check the box on when you’re running for president,” Hartley said.

He also pointed to Moore’s visits to early-voting states, meetings with political leaders, national media appearances and fundraising as signs of groundwork for a potential run.

Moore was a published author before entering politics. His first book, The Other Wes Moore, recounts his connection to another man with the same name, who was convicted of killing an off-duty Baltimore County police officer. The book’s jacket described two boys who grew up in Baltimore. Moore was born in Takoma Park and spent much of his childhood in the Bronx before attending Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

The family of the incarcerated Wes Moore disputed the book’s portrayal of their nephew and Moore’s connection to Baltimore. In a 2022 interview with FOX45 News, Darren Muhammad, the man’s uncle, said the family wanted Moore to apologize.

“It’s not us against them. It’s the lie versus the truth,” Muhammad said. “It’s just that simple.”

When asked about the criticism, Moore told FOX45 News he didn’t believe he “misled the public at all.”

The scrutiny extended to Moore’s military service, which he wrote about in The Work. Moore has described himself as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division and has said he led soldiers in combat.

Retired Army Lt. Col. James “Jamie” Gottschling, who oversaw Moore during his 2005–06 deployment, told Spotlight on Maryland that Moore performed well as a staff officer but has since embellished his service in ways that raise serious questions about his honesty and integrity.

Gottschling said Moore served with the 82nd but was not assigned to a parachutist position. He described Moore’s job as a brigade staff role, not direct combat.

“I like to say that we’re combat veterans, but we’re not veterans of combat,” Gottschling said.

Moore has appeared in public where he’s described himself as someone who “led soldiers in combat in Afghanistan.”

Questions have also centered on a Bronze Star Moore listed on a 2006 application for a White House fellowship. Moore said a senior officer told him the award had been approved and that he would receive it, but the paperwork was not completed.

In a 2024 interview with FOX45 News, Moore said he regretted not correcting the application, calling it “an honest mistake.”

The Army awarded Moore the Bronze Star retroactively in December 2024. His former commander, Lt. Gen. Michael Fenzel, said the earlier award paperwork had not been fully processed.

Moore again highlighted his military experience Wednesday at a Veterans Day ceremony, though he hesed slightly different language to describe his experience.

“[I] had the absolute honor of being able to lead soldiers while serving in combat in Afghanistan.”

Hartley said the controversy over Moore’s past accounts could draw attention to the new book, as scrutiny of a potential presidential candidate’s writing is to be expected.

“Any time you write a lot, as in a book, it is going to be fodder for the other side to look for inconsistencies,” he said.

Hartley said the timing of the release and the end of the legislative session could provide a window for Moore to make a decision, but stressed that a book is only one part of a potential campaign.

“The groundwork that needs to be done needs to have been done a year ago and even now,” he said.

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