Steny Hoyer Endorses Wes Moore for Maryland Governor
Wes Moore has received another major endorsement in his quest to become the Democratic Party’s nominee for Maryland governor – most recently from House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.
Hoyer, the second-highest-ranking Democratic in the House of Representatives and one of the longest-serving members in Congress, said Moore brings youthful exuberance, extraordinary leadership and counts as the only combat veteran in the race. Moore served in the Army as a paratrooper reaching the rank of captain.
Hoyer made the announcement Friday at Bowie State University [BSU] near its MARC train stop which proposes to add student housing, a grocery store and other businesses on the campus.
“I did not plan to endorse any of the gubernatorial candidates in this primary given the talented field of Democratic contenders. All are highly qualified and would do an honest and credible job as governor of Maryland,” said Hoyer, who represents Southern Maryland and parts of Prince George’s County which includes BSU.
“I’ve been in public office in Maryland for half a century. Wes Moore is unlike any other. He is uniquely suited to bring a message of hope and possibility to this race. He is a new candidate for a new and better day for Maryland,” Hoyer said.
The Moore campaign, joined by several supporters including his running mate and former Del. Aruna Miller of Montgomery County, gratefully received Hoyer’s endorsement as the candidate pushes forward in hopes of being elected and making good on his promise to change the status quo.
Moore, whose decision to enter the race serves as his first time seeking political office, spoke to the significance of Hoyer’s endorsement.
“Leader, I cannot tell you enough how humbling your support and endorsement is,” Moore said while looking at Hoyer. “But I’ll tell you what’s even more humbling is my excitement to get a chance to work with you because we are going to get this done.”
Moore said Bowie State and Maryland’s other three historically Black colleges and universities – Coppin State, Morgan State and University of Maryland Eastern Shore, count as assets to the state. However, he continues to point to an unresolved lawsuit, more than 14-years-old, that must be settled with the state so the aforementioned universities can receive funding budgeted for their ongoing operations.
“We believe in the long-term growth of our state which must both include what we’re going to do with HBCUs as well as our commitment to allowing them to be in front of our conversation – from rebuilding a workforce to deciding how we are going to build entrepreneurial pipelines.”
Despite being a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford, Moore placed greater emphasis on his first years in higher education during which he earned an associate degree at Valley Forge Military College in Pennsylvania and the impact on his life.
During his career, he once served as CEO of the nonprofit Robin Hood Foundation, one of the nation’s largest organizations committed to fighting poverty.
Daryl Thorpe, 21, a Bowie State student leader, said he supports Moore’s vision to incorporate HBCUs into the overall discussion whose focus remains on facilitating improvements within the state from which all would benefit.
“I’ve never seen anybody out here at the MARC train station – that’s how I know he’s honest because this is the heart of Bowie and the focal point on the campus,” said Thorpe of Baltimore City, who’s working as an intern for Del. Nicole Williams (D-District 22) of Greenbelt.