Moore Drops a Massive Slate of Primary Endorsements Across Maryland

Moore Drops a Massive Slate of Primary Endorsements Across Maryland

In a sweeping show of political muscle ahead of the 2026 Democratic primaries, Governor Wes Moore rolled out a broad, county‑spanning slate of endorsements today — backing candidates from Congress down to county council and circuit court. The list reads less like a routine political gesture and more like a full deployment of gubernatorial capital across the state’s most competitive and strategically important districts.

Moore’s team framed the endorsements as part of a coordinated effort to “strengthen the bench,” protect vulnerable seats, and reinforce the administration’s legislative partners heading into the next term.

Below is the full breakdown of today’s endorsements.

U.S. Congressional Elections

Moore threw his support behind five incumbents and one newly elected member, signaling continuity and alignment with Maryland’s federal delegation:

- Rep. Johnny Olszewski (MD‑02)

- Rep. Sarah Elfreth (MD‑03)

- Rep. Glenn Ivey (MD‑04)

- Rep. April McClain Delaney (MD‑06)

- Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD‑07)

- Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD‑08)

The congressional slate reflects Moore’s preference for experienced partners in Washington — especially those tied to infrastructure, education, and public safety funding pipelines that intersect with his administration’s priorities.

Maryland General Assembly Elections

Moore’s largest block of endorsements landed in the General Assembly, where he backed candidates across nearly every region of the state. The list includes incumbents, rising progressives, and several challengers in districts where Democrats are defending or attempting to expand their margins.

Western Maryland & Frederick Region

- Del. Matthew Schindler (2B)

- Sen. Karen Lewis Young (3)

- Del. Kris Fair (3)

- Del. Ken Kerr (3)

- Del. Karen Simpson (3)

- Justin Holliday (6)

- Sen. Carl Jackson (8)

- Del. Nick Allen (8)

- Del. Harry Bhandari (8)

- Del. Kim L. Ross (8)

Howard & Carroll Counties

- Sen. Katie Fry Hester (9)

- Del. Chao Wu (9A)

- Del. Natalie Ziegler (9A)

- Del. Courtney Watson (9B)

- Sen. Clarence Lam (12)

- Del. Jessica Feldmark (12A)

- Del. Terri Hill (12A)

- Sen. Guy Guzzone (13)

- Del. Pam Lanman Guzzone (13)

- Del. Gabriel Maximilian Moreno (13)

- Amy Brooks (13)

Montgomery County

A full slate across MoCo’s deep-blue districts:

- Sen. Craig Zucker (14)

- Del. Anne Kaiser (14)

- Del. Bernice Mireku‑North (14)

- Matt Post (14)

- Sen. Brian Feldman (15)

- Del. Linda Foley (15)

- Del. David Fraser‑Hidalgo (15)

- Del. Lily Qi (15)

- Sen. Sara Love (16)

- Del. Marc Korman (16)

- Del. Sarah Wolek (16)

- Del. Teresa Woorman (16)

- Sen. Cheryl Kagan (17)

- Del. Julie Palakovich Carr (17)

- Del. Ryan Spiegel (17)

- Del. Joe Vogel (17)

- Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher (18)

- Del. Aaron Kaufman (18)

- Del. Emily Shetty (18)

- Del. Jared Solomon (18)

- Sen. Ben Kramer (19)

- Del. Charlotte Crutchfield (19)

- Del. Vaughn Stewart (19)

- Sen. Will Smith (20)

- Del. Lorig Charkoudian (20)

- Del. David Moon (20)

- Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (20)

- Sen. Jim Rosapepe (21)

- Del. Ben Barnes (21)

- Del. Mary Lehman (21)

- Speaker Joseline Peña‑Melnyk (21)

Prince George’s County

Moore’s deepest bench of support remains in PG County, where he endorsed across nearly every district:

- Sen. Alonzo Washington (22)

- Del. Ashanti Martinez (22)

- Tracy Gant (22)

- Molly McKee‑Seabrook (22)

- Sen. Ron Watson (23)

- Del. Kym Taylor (23)

- Del. Marvin Holmes (23)

- Del. Derrick Coley (24)

- Del. Andrea Harrison (24)

- Sen. Nick Charles (25)

- Del. Kent Roberson (25)

- Del. Denise Roberts (25)

- Del. Karen Toles (25)

- Sen. C. Anthony Muse (26)

- Del. Kris Valderrama (26)

- Del. Jamila Woods (26)

- Sen. Kevin Harris (27)

- Del. Darrell Odom (27A)

- Del. Jeff Long (27B)

Southern Maryland & Anne Arundel

- Del. CT Wilson (28)

- Del. Debra Davis (28)

- Del. Edith Patterson (28)

- Adrianne M. Mathis (29B)

- Sen. Shaneka Henson (30)

- Del. Dylan Behler (30A)

- Del. Dana Jones (30A)

- Del. Mark Chang (32)

- Del. Sandy Bartlett (32)

- Del. Mike Rogers (32)

- Steven Thomas (32)

- Sen. Dawn Gile (33)

- Del. Andrew Pruski (33A)

- Del. Heather Bagnall (33C)

Baltimore Region

- Sen. Mary‑Dulany James (34)

- Del. Andre Johnson Jr. (34A)

- Del. Steve Johnson (34A)

- Del. Sheree Sample‑Hughes (37A)

- Michele W. Johnson (37B)

- Sen. Nancy King (39)

- Del. Gabriel Acevero (39)

- Del. Lesley Lopez (39)

- Del. Greg Wims (39)

- Sen. Antonio Hayes (40)

- Del. Marlon Amprey (40)

- Del. Melissa Wells (40)

- Tiffany Welch (40)

- Del. Malcolm Ruff (41)

- Del. Sandy Rosenberg (41)

- Del. Sean Stinnett (41)

- Del. Michele Guyton (42B)

- Sen. Mary Washington (43)

- Del. Regina Boyce (43A)

- Del. Elizabeth Embry (43A)

- Del. Cathi Forbes (43B)

- Sen. Charles Sydnor (44)

- Del. Eric Ebersole (44A)

- Del. Shelia Ruth (44B)

- Sen. Cory McCray (45)

- Del. Jackie Addison (45)

- Del. Stephanie Smith (45)

- Del. Luke Clippinger (46)

- Del. Mark Edelson (46)

- Del. Robbyn Lewis (46)

- Sen. Malcolm Augustine (47)

- Del. Diana Fennell (47A)

- Del. Julian Ivey (47A)

- Del. Deni Taveras (47B)

Maryland Local Elections

Moore also weighed in heavily at the county and municipal level — a sign he intends to shape the next generation of local leadership.

Anne Arundel County

- Kelly Smith (Council District 1)

- Rebecca Baucom (Council District 3)

- Natalie Ogilvie (Council District 5)

- Gavin Buckley (Council District 6)

- Hon. Ginina Jackson‑Stevenson (Circuit Court)

- Hon. Sydney Butcher (Circuit Court)

Baltimore City & County

- State’s Attorney Ivan Bates

- Councilman Julian Jones (County Executive)

- Karson Kamenetz (Council District 4)

Charles, Frederick, Harford

- Commissioner Ralph Patterson (Charles 4)

- County Executive Jessica Fitzwater (Frederick)

- Councilman Brad Young (Frederick At‑Large)

- Councilmember Renee Knapp (Frederick At‑Large)

- Vice President Kavonte Duckett (Frederick 4)

- Councilwoman Nolanda Robert (Harford A)

Howard County

- Del. Vanessa Atterbeary (County Executive)

- Councilwoman Christiana Rigby (District 3)

Montgomery County

- County Executive Marc Elrich

- Councilwoman Laurie‑Anne Sayles (At‑Large)

- Mayor Jud Ashman (District 3)

- Councilwoman Kate Stewart (District 4)

- Hon. Sharon Burrell (Circuit Court)

- Hon. Kate McQueen (Circuit Court)

- Hon. Jim Dietrich (Circuit Court)

- Hon. Victor Del Pino (Circuit Court)

- Councilwoman Dawn Luedtke (District 7)

Prince George’s County

- County Executive Aisha Braveboy

- Tara Jackson (State’s Attorney)

- Councilwoman Sydney Harrison (At‑Large)

- Councilwoman Jolene Ivey (At‑Large)

Eastern Shore

- Megan Outten (Wicomico Council District 7)

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What Today’s List Signals

Moore’s endorsements are not scattershot — they map closely onto:

- Districts critical to his legislative agenda

- Counties where Democrats are defending gains

- Emerging leaders aligned with his policy priorities

- Judicial and local offices that shape day‑to‑day governance

It is the most expansive single-day endorsement release of his governorship — and a clear sign that Moore intends to be an active player in shaping Maryland’s political landscape heading into 2026.