Nia-Malika Henderson, Columnist

Does Wes Moore Really Want to Be the Next Barack Obama?

The Maryland governor’s political future may depend more on how well he can emulate an obscure Midwestern governor’s response to a crisis.

April 17, 2024 at 12:30 PM UTC

By Nia-Malika Henderson

Nia-Malika Henderson is a politics and policy columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. A former senior political reporter for CNN and the Washington Post, she has covered politics and campaigns for almost two decades.

Building bridges, literally and figuratively.
Photographer: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images North America

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I realize it’s still 2024, so indulge me: Grab your crystal ball and set it to 2028. If you see an image of a telegenic Democratic governor with a winning smile, that means Maryland’s Wes Moore is having a moment.

Hyped as a presidential contender since grade school and often compared to Barack Obama, Moore now finds himself and his state at a crossroads: After the deadly collapse last month of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, he has become the face of the response. His success may depend more on how well he can emulate a mostly forgotten Midwestern governor instead of the nation’s first Black president.