Maryland Gov. Wes Moore silent as 2 Democrats threaten to leave governors' group he helps lead

BALTIMORE — After two of Gov. Wes Moore’s Democratic counterparts threatened to leave the bipartisan governors group he helps lead, Moore has not taken a public position. But Maryland lawmakers and political analysts are divided on the issue.

Moore’s office punted on The Baltimore Sun’s questions Tuesday about California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker threatening to withdraw their states from the National Governors Association (NGA) if the group does not condemn President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to major cities, including Los Angeles and Chicago. Moore has served as NGA vice chair since being elected to the position in July, and will serve as chair beginning in 2026.

Newsom wrote that the NGA “has lost its voice and its way in the face of the Trump administration’s onslaught against democratic norms,” while Pritzker called on the group’s leadership to speak out against the deployment of Texas National Guard troops to Illinois.

Moore’s communications director, David Turner, referred The Sun’s questions to an NGA spokesman, who did not respond by deadline. The office of Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican who serves as NGA chair, also did not respond to questions Tuesday.

This is not the first time Moore has refrained from criticizing fellow Democratic governors for threatening to leave the NGA.

Just before becoming vice chair, Moore did not directly answer “Morning Joe” host Jonathan Lemire’s question about Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz withholding their states’ NGA dues over concerns the group did not respond forcefully enough to Trump’s “federal incursions into state matters.”

Maryland lawmakers react

The Sun reached out to all of Maryland’s 188 state Senate and House lawmakers, eight of whom responded by an Oct. 7 deadline with their thoughts on Newsom and Pritzker threatening to pull out of the NGA — and the idea that Moore could do the same should Trump deploy the National Guard to Baltimore, which the president has flirted with before.

All five Republicans who replied — Del. Robin Grammer, Del. Matthew Morgan, Del. Ryan Nawrocki, Del. Jesse Pippy and Sen. Chris West — criticized Newsom and Pritzker’s threats to leave the NGA and stood firmly against the idea that Moore could follow suit.

Morgan, who represents St. Mary’s County, described the governors’ threats as a “political tantrum” and urged Moore to keep Maryland above the fray.

“Governor Wes Moore should stay firmly in the NGA and lead by example as vice chair. He’s got the charisma and military background to build coalitions, not burn bridges,” Morgan said. “If he plays it right, he could emerge as the adult in the room while Newsom and Pritzker chase headlines.”

Nawrocki, who represents Baltimore County, said “it’s inappropriate to pressure bipartisan organizations to issue partisan statements” and called on Maryland to show “leadership that unites rather than divides.”

Grammer, who also represents Baltimore County, called Newsom and Pritzker “extremists,” and said “nobody should follow their leadership.”

Pippy, who represents Frederick County, called the governors’ threats “childish,” arguing they are upset that the National Guard was needed to “clean up their own cities” because of their refusal to “address the issues” their residents face. Trump and his allies have argued Democratic politicians are to blame for crime and quality of life issues in cities, despite violence declining nationally in recent years.

West, who represents Baltimore County, said Moore “should do the responsible thing” and stay in NGA. “If he loses a policy dispute, there will always be another policy dispute on another day,” he told The Sun.

Among the three Democrats who responded, Del. Aaron Kaufman said he would defer to Moore’s judgment about handling Newsom and Pritzker. Del. Adrian Boafo and Sen. Clarence Lam criticized Trump’s deployment of the National Guard as an infringement on states’ rights.

“Using the National Guard from one state within the territory of a second state is a violation of the equal sovereignty that all states are guaranteed under the Constitution. Regardless of party, our nation’s governors should be unified in opposing this dangerous precedent,” Lam, who represents parts of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, wrote in a statement.

When asked to elaborate on how he believes Moore should respond to Newsom and Pritzker threatening to withdraw their states from the NGA, Lam’s office reissued the exact same response.

Political analysts react

Political analysts Matthew Crenson and Richard Vatz disagreed on the potential impact of Newsom and Pritzker’s threats to leave the NGA.

Crenson, a professor emeritus of political science at the Johns Hopkins University, said the governors withdrawing could “seriously undermine” the legitimacy of the NGA.

“Their departure will put pressure, at least, on the other Democratic governors to withdraw as well… to acknowledge that all states have a collective political interest,” Crenson said.

Vatz, a professor emeritus of rhetoric and communication at Towson University, said the governors’ threats would create “friction with the Trump administration” but ultimately have little impact on the NGA or the deployment of the National Guard. He added that both Newsom and Pritzker have “defined their political positions as a tether to opposition” to Trump, which diminishes the significance of their decisions.

“There are just innumerable organizations that don’t have much clout politically, and the National Governors Association, I think, is one of them,” Vatz said. “They’d really be getting beyond their skis if they thought they could influence the Trump administration — or that they would influence the public in supporting them.”

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