Democrat Wes Moore declares victory, will become Maryland’s first Black governor

Wes Moore, whose vibrant and organized campaign catapulted him from outsider candidate to a rising star in Democratic politics, will be Maryland’s next governor, the first Black person to lead the state and only the third Black elected governor in U.S. history, based on The Associated Press call of Tuesday’s race. Moore declared victory over Republican Del. Dan Cox, and was congratulated by incumbent GOP Gov. Larry Hogan in a phone call. “What an amazing night and what an improbable journey,” Moore told a raucous crowd of his supporters gathered at the Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore at 10 p.m. “It’s because you believed that I stand here humbled and grateful to become the 63rd governor of the state of Maryland.”