governor Wes Moore's job performance ratings dip in recent survey, Democratic Governors Association disregards findings
In the political landscape of Maryland, Governor Wes Moore's job approval rating has taken a dip, according to a poll conducted in late July. The survey revealed that only 50% of respondents rated Moore's performance as good or excellent, a decline from an earlier poll in March that showed a 55% approval rating.
The poll, conducted by Donna Victoria, director of research for Blended Public Affairs, revealed a continued trend of Moore's approval rating declining since the start of 2025. The gap between those who approve and disapprove of Moore’s performance has narrowed to 8 percentage points, down 13 points in six months.
Demographic data from the poll showed that 56% of respondents identified as female, and 35% said they identified as either liberal or progressive. The results were weighted by age, region, and race to accurately represent the makeup of the expected 2026 Maryland voting population.
Del. Caylin Young, D-Baltimore City, believes the poll results indicate Marylanders still support Moore. Young stated that leadership includes difficult decisions that impact popularity. On the other hand, Maryland Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready believes the governor and the Democratic majority have done nothing to protect and stimulate growth in reliable sources of energy like natural gas and coal.
One of the challenges facing Moore is the issue of juvenile crime increases and budget pressures. Maryland's structural deficit will grow to $1.9 billion by fiscal year 2028, and 67% of those surveyed believe they are paying too much in state taxes.
The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) stated that Moore is "fighting every day for Maryland," while another survey showed the governor with an approval of 60%. However, Kevin Donohoe, a DGA spokesperson, mentioned that the governor inherited a structural deficit from former Governor Larry Hogan.
Criticisms over Moore's governorship have been raised by Doug Mayer, a Republican strategist, who feels Moore's polling numbers reflect his governorship due to raising taxes. "A lack of in-state generation forces Maryland to import energy, leading to higher prices" is rated as the most significant factor contributing to "skyrocketing" energy prices in Maryland.
As of August 2025, Moore's job approval rating remains at approximately 50%, a figure that reflects eroding enthusiasm, especially among Democrats, and growing political challenges.
[1] Poll 1 Source [2] Poll 2 Source [3] Poll 3 Source [4] News Article Source [5] Poll 5 Source
- In the context of the given text, discussions about the Maryland governor's job approval rating are often found within the realms of policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news, as the approval rating relates to the governor's performance in office, which is heavily influenced by policy decisions and legislative actions.
- The news article delves into various aspects of Maryland's political landscape, including policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news, as it covers issues such as energy prices, taxation, juvenile crime, and budget pressures, all of which are significant policy concerns that have an impact on the governor's job approval rating.
