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Smith admitted he’s not telling anyone how to vote, but he made it clear he sees Shapiro and Moore as far more compelling choices than the embattled Newsom.
Moore Takes Himself Out of the Game
The problem? Moore himself has no interest in the Oval Office. Appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press, host Kristen Welker pressed the Maryland governor on his 2028 intentions.
“Yeah, I’m not running for president,” Moore said flatly.
When asked again if that was a final decision, he doubled down. Instead of national ambitions, Moore pointed to his record at home, stressing that he would seek a second term in Maryland.
“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,” Moore explained.
While national Democrats may be disappointed, Moore seems content to stay focused on Baltimore and Annapolis.
Gerrymandering, Congress, and the Bigger Fight
Moore also used his Meet the Press appearance to weigh in on the looming redistricting battles, saying “all options are on the table.” That includes redrawing Maryland’s already heavily Democratic congressional map, which currently features only one Republican, Rep. Andy Harris.
At the same time, Moore tried to temper expectations by condemning partisan maps. He told Welker that “gerrymandering is actually a true stain on a larger democratic soul.”
Smith Still Won’t Let Go
Even with Moore’s refusal, Smith warned his listeners not to write him off completely.
“Gov. Wes Moore is the real deal. Make no mistake about it, I doubt he’ll run, but he is the real deal,” Smith said. He praised Moore’s ability to “walk and communicate … across the aisle” and his focus on “getting things done.”
“You better pay attention to this man,” Smith added, calling him a rare Democrat who might actually connect with voters outside the party’s base.
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Newsom’s Record Comes Under Fire
As for California’s governor, Smith didn’t mince words. He conceded that Gavin Newsom has the “look” of a president and wears “blue suits well,” but stopped there.
“He looks so presidential, right? And Gavin Newsom is smart, he’s articulate, he’s bright, he’s very polished, and he could debate with the best of them,” Smith acknowledged.
But then came the hammer: “They’re going to point to a lot of different things that have ravaged that state,” Smith warned. He listed homelessness, suffocating taxes, and a mass exodus of businesses fleeing California as issues that would sink Newsom in a general election.
Smith went further, saying Newsom is “a kind man whose heart is in the right place,” but simply lacks the ability to say “no” when leadership requires it. “When you are in office, you have to say no sometimes, and it doesn’t seem to be his gift,” he concluded.
A Party Without a Leader
Democrats now face a troubling picture: one of their most promising governors has pulled himself out of the running, and their most polished one comes with political baggage too heavy to carry into a national contest.
With Joe Biden stepping aside after a disastrous presidency, the party is left with a gaping hole at the top of its 2028 ticket. And the clock is ticking.
