Austin, Texas – Maryland Gov. Wes Moore had a message for Democrats, as polls show one of the state's most loyal Democratic bases is increasingly backing former President Trump.
Trump has seen his support among black voters increase since he ran for president in 2016. For example, a recent New York Times/Siena poll found that Trump has 17% support among black voters, a 10-point increase from a poll conducted in September 2020.
During an interview with Fox News Digital at the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival, Moore was asked about Trump's penetration with black voters and whether Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party as a whole should be concerned.
Maryland's Democratic governor says he'll drink beer and play football while many feel his masculinity is being voted for.
Maryland Democratic Governor Wes Moore speaks during the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival on September 6, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Joseph A. Wolfson/Fox News Digital)
““I think you have to earn the support of all voters, but particularly among Black voters,” Moore told Fox News Digital. “Black voters, and we as a group, are not a monolith. They don't support somebody because of their political affiliation. They don't support somebody because of their appearance. You have to earn their support. And when we talk about issues like jobs and wages and access to wealth, I think it's going to be really important that we highlight issues that are important to members of the Black community.”
Moore touted Harris' “opportunity economy” proposals as one that could win over black voters, and claimed that both he and his running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, were directly involved in winning the support of the black community.
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Former President Trump saw double-digit increases in support among black voters, a key constituency for the Democratic Party that Vice President Kamala Harris must win by a large margin to win the White House. (Doug Mills/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Moore did not answer why Trump is becoming increasingly popular among black voters, but suggested the focus isn't necessarily on whether certain voters will switch parties, but rather whether they will turn out to vote or stay home.
“I think the way we engage voters is really important is that we don't neglect our voters,” Moore said. “I think there's a lot of voters at stake right now. This election isn't going to be decided by whether you vote Democrat to Republican or Republican to Democrat. This election is going to be decided by people who choose to vote and people who choose not to vote. So I think there's a lot of work to be done.”
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Maryland Gov. Wes Moore warned Democrats that black voters are not a “monolith” and said Democrats must win their votes. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Moore, widely seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party, was also asked about his thoughts on masculinity, a topic that has dominated media coverage of the 2024 presidential election, and how the Trump-Vance and Harris-Waltz pairs would appeal to male voters.
“I'm incredibly proud of who I am. Yes, I'm someone who enjoys chugging beers before football games, watching sports and playing football,” Moore told Fox News Digital. “I'm also someone who deeply supports supporting the advancement of women in elected leadership. I don't think we box ourselves in on that.”
An avid Baltimore Ravens fan, Moore played college football at Johns Hopkins University where he was a star wide receiver averaging 25.2 yards per reception as a senior and is a U.S. Army veteran, having served in Afghanistan as a first lieutenant.
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The governor doesn't believe men should be pigeonholed into certain categories, even if their backgrounds are traditionally masculine.
“As we think about how to support boys as they develop into men, we think it's important that we don't dehumanize their development or take away their masculinity,” Moore said. “Just because we can say, 'We support women in leadership,' doesn't make us any less masculine. Just because women say, 'We support masculine roles,' doesn't make us any less femininity.”
“Being your true self is enough and you should be supported as such,” Moore added.
Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.
