Wes Moore Bows Out: First Democrat Drops from 2028 Presidential Speculation
The Democratic bench for 2028 just thinned.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore — long considered a rising star within the Democratic Party — confirmed Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press that he will not pursue a White House run in 2028.
When pressed by host Kristen Welker on whether he would commit to serving a full gubernatorial term if re-elected, Moore responded definitively.
“Do you rule out a run for president, governor?” Welker asked.
“Yeah, I’m not running for president,” Moore replied.
Welker pushed again: “You rule it out?”
“Yes, I’m not running for president,” he reiterated.
When asked a third time if he “completely” ruled it out, Moore emphasized his focus on Maryland:
“I’m so excited about what we’re doing. That we’ve gone from 43rd in the country in unemployment to now one of the lowest unemployment rates. We’ve had amongst the fastest drops in violent crime anywhere in the United States of America. Our population is growing. Maryland is moving, and so I’m really excited about going back in front of the people of my state and asking for another term.”
Betting Markets Show GOP Strength
Moore’s decision comes just as prediction market Polymarket launched its 2028 presidential election board. The platform allows users to trade shares on potential outcomes, and the early numbers show Republicans holding the upper hand.
Vice President JD Vance, who has quickly risen to prominence in President Trump’s second term, leads the field with a commanding 27 percent overall. California Gov. Gavin Newsom trails at 17 percent, with New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 10 percent.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and other Democrats lag far behind. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, the party’s failed 2024 nominee, sits at just 4 percent — even lower than President Trump, who is constitutionally ineligible after completing two terms.
Within the Democratic ranks, Newsom narrowly leads with 22 percent, followed by Ocasio-Cortez at 18 percent, Buttigieg at 12 percent, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro at 7 percent, and Harris at 6 percent.
Vance Emerges as GOP Frontrunner
On the Republican side, the picture is clear. Vance dominates with 56 percent, far ahead of Sen. Marco Rubio at 6 percent.
Vance’s influence has only grown since he became the first sitting vice president to chair RNC campaign finance — a role that has made him one of the GOP’s most prolific fundraisers ahead of the 2026 midterms. He’s also become a fixture in conservative media, helping shepherd key Trump administration nominees such as Director of Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. through the Senate.
Florida Rep. Byron Donalds summed it up earlier this year: Vance is “the leader in the clubhouse” — and, by all accounts, the man to beat in 2028.
Meanwhile, Newsom has been maneuvering on the left, courting influential endorsements like that of South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, whose pivotal backing once rescued Joe Biden’s failing 2020 campaign.
Yet, while Democrats scramble for a leader, Republicans enter the race with a clear favorite — Vice President JD Vance — carrying the momentum of the Trump administration’s ongoing successes.