Wes Moore

President Trump visited Baltimore to announce a $3.7 billion investment by Anduril Industries in a new submarine-related shipyard, paired with a separate $2.9 billion deal between Anduril and the U.S. Navy. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and the state's congressional delegation did not attend after being told they would not be allowed to participate in the announcement, according to people familiar with the matter. Moore's office said he would "work with anyone" to help Marylanders but would "bow to no one" in standing up for them.

A White House spokesperson denied Trump barred Moore from the event, saying the governor was invited as a guest and accusing him of "throwing a tantrum" over not getting to speak. The White House and Maryland officials issued competing statements crediting their own roles in the project, which is expected to create more than 13,000 direct and indirect jobs. The episode follows Trump's earlier move to rescind Moore's invitation to a bipartisan governors' dinner.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said Thursday he would "absolutely sign" a statewide moratorium on new data center development if it reached his desk, though he stressed local jurisdictions should retain say over such decisions. Thirteen of Maryland's 24 jurisdictions, including Baltimore and Montgomery and Prince George's counties, have already imposed temporary bans amid resident concerns over housing and utility costs.

Moore's comments add to a growing wave of pushback against data center expansion tied to the AI boom. New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland also backed a moratorium, citing environmental concerns and calling for centers to build their own renewable power. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed regulators to penalize data centers violating water-use rules. At the federal level, Sen. Martin Heinrich blocked a GOP bill on data center electricity costs, calling it insufficient. President Trump has urged data centers to cover their own power and water costs but criticized New York's moratorium, warning it risks losing AI investment to China.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, seen as a potential 2028 presidential contender, headlined the Democratic Party of Illinois' annual fundraiser at Navy Pier in Chicago, criticizing President Donald Trump and Republicans while rallying Democrats ahead of the midterm elections. Moore accused Trump's administration of "lining their own pockets" on issues including the Iran conflict and economic policy.

Moore, introduced by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker — who also has White House ambitions — recounted Pritzker's outreach after the 2024 collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, then drew parallels between Maryland and Illinois's civil rights legacies to applause from more than 800 attendees. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, and Senate nominee Juliana Stratton also spoke, with Durbin criticizing Trump's spending priorities.

The event underscores early jockeying among Democratic governors positioning themselves for 2028 while shoring up party support in battleground-adjacent states ahead of the midterms.

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), term-limited and widely viewed as a likely 2028 presidential contender, began a three-day swing through South Carolina and North Carolina, his fourth visit to the early primary state. State Democrats say the trip serves a dual purpose: giving Newsom exposure to primary voters while boosting volunteer energy and attention for state legislative races ahead of a critical election roughly 60 days away. Newsom is campaigning in more than 10 counties, including six that President Trump carried in 2024, focusing on competitive state House districts in the Lowcountry region.

Democrats say they are fielding candidates in all 124 state House districts for the first time in about 50 years, and are using visits from potential 2028 contenders like Newsom, Andy Beshear, and Wes Moore as surrogate appearances to energize grassroots organizing. South Carolina Republicans dismissed the visit, arguing Newsom's record makes him an unappealing messenger for the state's voters.

A Maryland circuit court has ruled that a Democratic-backed constitutional amendment cannot appear on the November ballot, blocking a measure that could have let lawmakers redraw the state's congressional districts ahead of the 2028 elections. Anne Arundel County Judge Robert Thompson found lawmakers missed their own July 1 deadline for certifying ballot summaries, siding with Republican lawmakers and the conservative Oversight Project, which sued to stop the measure. The ruling is paused to allow an appeal to the state Supreme Court.

The amendment, pushed after Gov. Wes Moore called a special session, would have exempted congressional districts from compactness and "natural boundaries" rules, potentially letting Democrats target the Eastern Shore seat held by Republican Rep. Andy Harris. Democrats hold seven of Maryland's eight House seats. The decision follows a similar setback in Virginia and comes amid a broader mid-decade redistricting fight, spurred by Republican efforts backed by President Trump, that has also played out in California and Texas.