PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY Wes Moore Officially Sworn In As Maryland’s First Black Governor

Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

Wes Moore and Aruna Miller made history on Jan. 18, having officially been sworn in as Maryland’s new Democratic governor and lieutenant governor. Following the official, private ceremony in the Senate Building with many electeds on hand, a more public ceremony was held outside of the State Capitol with thousands of attendees seated and standing there to take in a glimpse of the barrier-breaking moment. Moore is Maryland’s first Black Governor and Miller is Maryland’s first Asian-American and first immigrant Lieutenant Governor.

While overlooking the Lawyers’ Mall monument in honor of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Moore openly reflected on Maryland’s rich Black history and spoke of his promises for what his administration will do for Maryland.

“We have made uneven and unimaginable progress since then, history created by generations of people whose own history was lost, stolen, or never recorded,” he said.

The pre-inaugural ceremony featured the 229th Army Band, a Polynesian music and dance group, and performances by the Bowie Bulldogs Marching Band and Clarksburg High School’s chamber singers.

With thousands of attendees present to celebrate the day with roaring applause throughout the event, the swearing in began with a 19-gun salute and a jet flyover.

The inauguration festivities were star-studded with local officials and national celebrities.

Media mogul Oprah Winfrey, whom Moore called a “Maryland girl at heart,” presented the new governor before his speech. Winfrey worked as a co-anchor on WJZ-TV in her 20s before breaking out into superstardom in Chicago. “What a joy to be back here in Maryland,” she said before explaining her path in the state. After moving from Nashville to Columbia, she found community and colleagues and opportunity in Maryland.

“Maryland is where I figured it out. The eight years I lived here were some of the most significant years of my life,” said Winfrey, who even met her best friend, Gayle King, in Maryland.

Winfrey first met Moore in 2010 while interviewing him about his best-selling book, “The Other Wes Moore,” and she was impressed by his wisdom, integrity and desire to serve. She closed by promising onlookers that just as she trusted his leadership and vision, they should as well.

Former Attorney General Eric Holder and Chelsea Clinton were also spotted at the inauguration.

Elected officials were also present for the monumental event. Prince George’s Councilmembers Sydney Harrison (D- District 9) and Jolene Ivey (D- District 5), Delegate Julian Ivey (D- District 47A), Greenbelt Councilmember Ric Gordon, and Laurel Councilmember Martin Mitchell were among those spotted walking into the swearing in.

Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee Vice Chair Antwan Brown, who had a leadership role for Moore during the general election, said he came out because he “wanted to be part of history,” and Councilmember Harrison said he is particularly looking forward to what Moore and his administration will do for equity and inclusion in government.

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman (D) served as master of ceremonies.

Some of the loudest applause of Pittman’s opener were his account of his endorsement and Moore’s rise during the election. During his speech, Pittman gave an honest reckoning of his family history: one of his ancestors, Dr. Stewart, was an Anne Arundel politician and tobacco planter who made his fortune during slavery.

During the celebration, Moore said the racial wealth gap, school funding gaps and environmental racism are among some of the many challenges he and his administration hope to rectify. Building on Winfrey’s message, he pledges to ensure that Maryland better utilizes the opportunities on hand.

Moore’s tenure as the first Black governor of Maryland has begun, and many residents proclaimed they hold great pride with high expectations for his administration. Throughout the day, shuttles brought Marylanders from the Navy Stadium parking lot to the inauguration and many Black elders came from across the state to witness history. For those who had witnessed the intense segregation and racism of Maryland in the 1960s and prior, this was a particularly turning moment.

Maryland’s first Black governor is beginning his administration with a Democratic supermajority in both the State House and State Senate, which will make enacting his agenda and getting his cabinet picks confirmed easier. Moore has selected Black nominees for the Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Veterans Affairs positions, and has created a new office of Opioid Recovery which will be headed by Hagerstown Mayor Emily Keller (D).

Moore pledged to introduce a $15 minimum wage, a service year option for high school graduates, expanding clean energy, and simultaneously address violent crime and mass incarceration.

Since being sworn in, Moore has held meetings with Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) and U.S. Attorney Erek Barron (D), both of whom are also the first Black men to hold their position. Moore’s first orders in office have been to implement new ethical standards for state employees and highlighting the high vacancy rate in state government positions left following Hogan’s departure. He has also pledged additional funds for the Kirwan Commission to fund new specialists in schools.

For those traveling into Maryland, state signs are now adorned with the new governor’s name and his rallying call that he learned and adopted while serving in the U.S. Army: “Leave No One Behind.”

WI

Micha Green WI Managing Editor

Thousands of well-dressed people donned gowns, tuxedos and loads of pride as they descended upon the Baltimore Convention Center for “The People’s Ball,” the inaugural celebration for Maryland’s barrier-breaking leader Gov. Wes Moore, the first Black man to lead the state. Star-studded, with performances from the likes of Grammy-winning singer Maxwell and Club Quarantine’s DJ D-Nice, Moore didn’t hold back in throwing a major party before kicking off, what he promised to be, a term of hard work.

“I hope y’all wore comfortable shoes, because we’re about to party tonight. But, party responsibly, because tomorrow we get to work,” said Moore, who walked and danced on stage, greeting the crowd to the A Tribe Called Quest’s hit “Can I Kick It?” “Tomorrow Maryland’s decade begins, and it is our time to make this happen.”

About 12,000 folks deep, the celebration felt like one big family affair, where several people embraced as they ran into friends and loved ones, some who they hadn’t seen since before the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Don’t get it twisted, it was packed, but the joy of the7 history-making moment oozed from every corner of the hard-to-navigate room. The place was full of average Joe’s, hard workers, doctors, lawyers, politicians, businessmen, actors, television stars, and athletes alike.

From basketball star Carmelo Anthony, comedian Chris Tucker and political strategist, commentator and media personality Symone Sanders-Townsend, to everyday proud celebrators, people proudly marched through the convention center floor, marking the monumental occasion with victorious cheer.

“[There’s] so many good people here, so much great history. I’m going to come back and spend more time. This is a great place to be. Y’all should be proud of your state and your new governor. And you’ve got a young governor, you’ve got some spark in office,” Tucker, 51, said of Moore, 44. “He’s going to bring some new ideas. He’s going to do some new things. About time this young generation takes over.”

A self-proclaimed “fan of Baltimore,” Charm City native Vernon Ross came from New York City to be part of the barrier-breaking moment.

“It makes me feel so proud, because Baltimore has a lot of areas and a lot of need for things to change,” Ross said. “I believe it’s going to happen, and with Wes Moore becoming the governor of Maryland, it’s an indication of that change and progress.

As singer Maxwell performed a swinging set jam packed with some of his biggest hits including, “Fortunate,” “Pretty Wings,” and “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder),” and DJ D-Nice spun, like the master he is on the ones and twos, people dined, drank and danced the night away, while emphasizing the weight of the moment of history.

“I’m here to celebrate the first African American governor of Maryland and wonderful human being, Wes Moore,” said Steve Loyka, who played football with the new governor, while they were students at Johns Hopkins.

Having followed his career, the governor’s former teammate, who works as a business consultant in Washington, D.C., is excited to see what Moore will do for Maryland.

“I know he’s interested in letting the people lead, so he’s going to listen to the citizens of Maryland and I know that’s going to drive his administration,” Loyka continued. “One of the best things I’ve ever heard him say is ‘governing is an open book test. We’re going to listen, we’re going to listen to the experts and we’re going to create better outcomes for the citizens of Maryland.’”

Moore has remained dedicated to his goal to “leave no one behind.”

“For us to win, it means we’ve got to win collectively, and it means we need everybody on board. And when I say leave no one behind, that does not mean only for the people who voted for us, it means, leave no one behind, and that is how we plan on going.”

Looking ahead, Loyka sees Moore going on to do powerful things not only in the state, but the nation.

“His leadership qualities were evident from the very beginning, before he served in Afghanistan, before he was CEO of the largest anti-poverty foundation in the country, he’s just a tremendous human being. He’s going to go on and do great things, not only in the state of Maryland, but long term, I think for the United States.” WI

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