Maryland Governor Wes Moore: Democrats Must Earn Support of Black Voters

Maryland Governor Wes Moore believes that Democrats need to work harder to earn the support of Black voters, a demographic that has increasingly backed former President Trump in recent elections. Moore says that Democrats can't take Black voters for granted and need to focus on issues that are important to them, such as access to work, wages, and wealth.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore is urging fellow Democrats to earn the support of Black voters, a key voting bloc that has increasingly rallied behind former President Trump in recent elections.

In an interview with Fox News Digital at the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival, Moore discussed Trump's inroads with Black voters and whether Vice President Kamala Harris and Democrats broadly should be concerned.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore: Democrats Must Earn Support of Black Voters

"I think you got to go earn support from every voter," Moore told Fox News Digital. "And I think that is especially true amongst Black voters."

Moore, widely seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party, emphasized that Black voters are not monolithic and will not automatically support a candidate based on their political affiliation or appearance. He stressed the importance of addressing issues that are important to the Black community, such as access to work, wages, and wealth.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore: Democrats Must Earn Support of Black Voters

"Black voters and in our groups are not monolithic," Moore said. "They're not going to go with a person because of their political affiliation. They're not gonna go with somebody because of what they look like. You got to go earn their support. And I think it becomes really important that we stress on issues of importance to members of the Black community when you're talking about things like access to work and wages and wealth."

Moore praised Harris' "opportunity economy" proposals as something that could win over Black voters and insisted that both she and her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz are engaging directly with Black communities to earn their support.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore: Democrats Must Earn Support of Black Voters

While he refrained from answering why he thought Trump was increasingly appealing to Black voters, Moore suggested the focus isn't necessarily on whether certain voters switch parties but rather whether they choose to go out and vote or stay home.

"I do think it's really important that the way we're engaging voters is not taking voters for granted," Moore said. "I think you have a lot of voters who right now are up for grabs… This election will be determined by not necessarily where people go when it comes to Democrat to Republican or Republican to Democrat. This election will be determined by those who choose to vote and those who choose not to. And that's why I think there's a lot of work to be done."

Maryland Governor Wes Moore: Democrats Must Earn Support of Black Voters

Moore also weighed in on the topic of masculinity, which has dominated the media's coverage of the 2024 race. He rejected the notion that men should be pigeonholed into traditional roles and emphasized the importance of supporting the growth of women in elected leadership.

"I’m deeply proud of the person that I am," Moore said. "Yes, I am a person who enjoys shotgunning beers before football games, watching sports and playing football. I am a person who is also deeply supportive of supporting growth of women in elected leadership. I don’t think that we put ourselves in boxes in these things."

As a former college football player and U.S. Army veteran, Moore embodies a traditionally masculine image. However, he believes that masculinity should not be limited to these traditional roles.

"As we are thinking about ways to support our young boys, as they’re growing into men, I think it’s important that we do not dehumanize their growth, or emasculate their growth," Moore said. "Being able to say, ‘We support women in leadership roles,’ does not make us any less manly. Women saying, ‘We support men in roles,’ does not make them any less womanly."

In conclusion, Maryland Governor Wes Moore believes that Democrats must earn the support of Black voters and that they can't take them for granted. He emphasizes the importance of addressing issues that are important to the Black community and engaging directly with voters. Moore also rejects the notion that masculinity should be limited to traditional roles and believes that men and women should be supported in their growth and leadership aspirations.