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Judy: One highlight for
Democrats this year was flipping
three governor's mansions from
red to blue.
Joining me now is one of those
winners -- Maryland governor
elect Wes Moore.
He's the state's first black
governor, and will be the only
sitting black governor
nationwide.
Congratulations.
Thank you for joining us.
Your predecessor, governor Larry
hogan, has already given you a
tour of the state capital.
Tell us what shape is he leaving
the state of Maryland in for
you?
Mr. Moore: I am thankful that
the governor has been great
about making sure we are going
to have an orderly and smooth
transition.
And also the governor was clear
from early days about what he
felt would be the danger of this
Maga movement, this idea that
election denying would be a
political path forward.
I think what we saw in this
whole election, and when you
look at the results of the
election -- we were able to win,
this has been the largest margin
in the Maryland governor's race
in victory, in 40 years.
We were able to win Democrats,
independents and a large truck
-- large chunk of Republicans
because the state is ready to go
fast, be bold, and frankly have
a governor's office that
understands the priority should
be a good idea rather than where
it comes from.
Judy: You've talked about a long
list of needs for Maryland and
put together an ambitious list
you want to get done, including
a greater expansion of free
kindergarten in Maryland on top
of offering to compensate high
school graduates for college if
they take part in a service
year.
Can you get it all done?
Mr. Moore: I like getting into
the weeds and details of this
stuff, and the reason we will
get pre-k for every child in
need in Maryland done is not
just because it sounds good,
it's because that's where the
data leads us.
80% of brain development happens
in a child by the time they are
five years old so we've got to
start earlier.
We will have a service year
option for every high school
graduate -- they have an option
of doing a year of service in
the environment, education,
serving veterans, it will be
their choice.
Don't because it sounds good,
but because the data continues
to show it will address the
college affordability crisis.
I am a big believer in
experiential learning.
And because service is sticky.
Those who serve together
generally stay together.
I saw that in the military.
I have people I served with in
Afghanistan who were
doorknocking.
Many of them were not
marylanders or even Democrats,
and they were knocking on doors
assaying it let me tell you who
I served with.
Service is sticky and Maryland
will lead.
Judy: You also talked about a
so-called baby bonds program
that will act like a trust fund
for newborns of poor families.
How would this work?
Mr. Moore: We've got to address
child poverty.
There is no reason for a state
as affluent and wealthy as ours
to still be dealing with the
challenge of child poverty,
especially in a case where the
destinies of our children are
being determined before they
even have a say.
We have to make sure it's not
just about policies, that give
people the opportunity to go
from one place to another, where
opportunity and ambition can
meet each other.
Judy: You've talked about a
number of other things,
including affordable housing.
How do you pay for this?
You've talked about cutting
taxes, but isn't it more likely
you would have to raise taxes to
pay for everything?
Mr. Moore: It is not.
One of the things that I went
into this campaign with the
course -- a core understanding
of, I have been a public all my
life.
I run a successful small
business, Iran a poverty service
organization, and we know how to
leverage capital.
If you look at the state of
Maryland, we have a structural
surplus.
We have billions of dollars
earmarked from the federal
government that are specifically
targeted toward these types of
issues.
Info structure, education, $3.9
billion earmarked toward this
cautionary spending.
We have new forms of capital
coming on board, everything from
cannabis sports betting.
We have new utilizations of
capital we have to put to use.
In addition to leveraging
private capital.
Judy: We mentioned you will be
the state's first black
governor and you will be the
nations fourth only black
governor.
We know a lot of candidates did
not make it this year running
for senator or governor.
Stacey Abrams, Cheri Beasley,
Mandela Barnes.
As the democratic party doing
enough for black candidates
right now?
Mr. Moore: I'm thankful because
last Tuesday, the state of
Maryland sent a message.
Let's be clear, this is a state
that is the state of Frederick
Douglass and Harriet tubman and
Thurgood Marshall.
But it is also a state that
understands progress is not
inevitable, but progress is
possible.
When I think about what happened
last Tuesday, I am grateful --
not only did we win, but it is
how we won.
If you look at every
demographic, if you look that we
won areas in Maryland that were
urban, rural, suburban, western
Maryland and the eastern shore,
I think it's because in this
moment, this state was ready.
Judy: In terms of the other
candidates I mentioned who did
not make it this year, does it
say some thing about where we
are as a country?
Mr. Moore: I think we know that
the history of this country, it
has been a journey, but it has
been an uneven journey.
You don't have to look any
further than the state of
Maryland to understand the
competition's official history.
What I do know is as a state and
as we saw in the state of
Maryland was we had to be
unafraid to approach it,
unafraid to talk about it, but
also unafraid to know that if we
are going to move forward as a
collective in the future, we
could not be constrained by the
past.
We had to invest in those,
making sure people have the
right to vote, but also making
sure we are giving people
something to vote for.
And as a party, yes, it means we
have to be able to support
candidates who are coming up who
might come from different and
diverse backgrounds.
Judy: You have said you will
support president Biden if he
runs for reelection, but if he
doesn't, your name is already
out there as one of the people,
the names being mentioned.
Would you think about it?
Mr. Moore: I would not.
I'm excited to support the
president in his reelection.
The importance of having a
strong partnership between
Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Will be crucial.
This will be Maryland's decade,
this is Maryland's time to lead,
to grow and compete.
To do that we need strong
partners in Washington and I am
excited to have six more years
of the Biden administration to
do just that.
Judy: Governor-elect Wes Moore,
congratulations again and thank
you.
Mr. Moore: Thank you, Judy.