Updated July 9, 2026

Wes Moore's approval rating

In the most recent UMBC Institute of Politics poll, 48% of Maryland adults approve of the way Wes Moore is handling his job as governor and 42% disapprove (fielded March 17-22, 2026). It was the first UMBC poll to put his approval below 50% since he took office in 2023, down from 54% approval in October 2024.

Moore, a first-term Democrat, has stayed net positive across every UMBC reading even as his margin has narrowed. He is running for re-election in 2026 and is frequently listed among possible 2028 Democratic presidential contenders, though he has not taken formal steps toward a national campaign.

Maryland job approval over time

Wes Moore approval rating: the UMBC trend

The UMBC Institute of Politics, a nonpartisan university pollster, has asked Maryland adults the same question in each wave: whether they approve or disapprove of the way Wes Moore is handling his job as governor. Because the pollster and the wording are held constant, these readings form a clean trend. They are shown below, newest first.

Survey	Field dates	Approve	Disapprove
UMBC Institute of Politics, March 2026 804 Maryland adults, +/- 3.5 pts (9% no opinion)	March 17-22, 2026	48%	42%
UMBC Institute of Politics, October 2025 810 Maryland adults, +/- 3.4 pts (4% no opinion)	October 21-25, 2025	52%	44%
UMBC Institute of Politics, February 2025 803 Maryland adults, +/- 3.5 pts (7% no opinion)	February 11-15, 2025	52%	40%
UMBC Institute of Politics, October 2024 Maryland adults (baseline; restated in later UMBC releases)	September 23-28, 2024	54%	32%

Source: UMBC Institute of Politics, the UMBC Poll (Maryland adults). Each number is copied verbatim from the linked UMBC release. The October 2024 baseline figure is restated verbatim in UMBC's October 2025 and March 2026 releases. Latest data: March 17-22, 2026.

In their own words

Why the numbers moved

In the March 2026 poll, UMBC asked respondents to give, in their own words, the main reason they approve or disapprove of Moore. The most common volunteered answers were:

Top reasons for approving

Handling of the state economy, jobs, affordability, or crises: 20%
Leadership, character, integrity, or personal like: 18%
Cares about or works hard for Maryland residents: 17%
Standing up to the federal government or protecting Maryland: 16%

Top reasons for disapproving

Raised taxes and fees: 27%
Poor leadership, dishonesty, or personal dislike: 24%
Fiscal mismanagement, the state budget deficit, or too much spending: 14%
Cost-of-living increases, including utility bills: 12%

The same March 2026 survey found 59% of Marylanders said the state was on the wrong track, up from 48% the previous fall, and 76% rated the state economy as poor or fair. UMBC director Mileah Kromer said those conditions are "exactly the kinds of conditions that erode gubernatorial approval ratings," while noting Moore "remains above water."

How to read this

What Wes Moore's approval rating measures

Wes Moore is the governor of Maryland, so this is a state job-approval rating: pollsters ask Marylanders whether they approve of the way he is handling his job as governor. It is a current-sentiment number about his work in office, and it is separate from any national 2028 presidential polling.

One pollster, one question: this page tracks the UMBC Poll specifically because it holds the pollster and the question wording constant across every wave, which makes the trend cleaner than mixing different surveys.
Party shapes it: in March 2026, 69% of Democratic voters approved versus 25% of Republican voters and 39% of unaffiliated voters. Strong base support and broad opposition from the other party is typical for a governor.
Net positive, but narrowing: Moore's approval has stayed above his disapproval in every UMBC wave, but the gap shrank from about 22 points in 2024 to about 6 points in early 2026.

For where the 2028 field stands overall, see our 2028 primary polls and prediction-market odds.

The 2028 question

A rising Democrat, focused on 2026 first

Moore is often named as a possible 2028 Democratic presidential contender, but his own stated focus is his 2026 re-election in Maryland, and he has not taken formal steps toward a national campaign. A home-state approval rating is one signal of a governor's standing, but it measures how Marylanders rate his work now, not support for a future national bid, and it can move a great deal before 2028.

See our Democratic candidates 2028 hub and Wes Moore's full 2028 profile for the bigger picture. Approval numbers on this page are updated when a new UMBC survey is released.

Quick answers

Wes Moore approval rating: FAQ

What is Wes Moore's approval rating right now?

In the most recent UMBC Institute of Politics poll, 48% of Maryland adults approved of the way Wes Moore is handling his job as governor and 42% disapproved, with 9% offering no opinion (fielded March 17-22, 2026). That was the first UMBC poll to show his approval below 50% since he took office in 2023. His approval was 52% in October 2025, 52% in February 2025, and 54% in October 2024, so it has drifted down gradually while staying net positive.

Is Wes Moore's approval rating going up or down?

It has edged down across UMBC's series. Approval went from 54% in October 2024 to 52% in February 2025, 52% in October 2025, and 48% in March 2026, while disapproval rose from 32% to 42% over the same span. That narrowed his net approval from about +22 points to about +6 points. UMBC director Mileah Kromer said the gap between those who approve and disapprove has narrowed over time, though Moore remains above water.

Why did Wes Moore's approval rating drop?

In the March 2026 UMBC poll, the reasons Marylanders volunteered most often for disapproving were that he raised taxes and fees (27%), poor leadership or dishonesty (24%), fiscal mismanagement or the state budget deficit (14%), and cost-of-living increases including utility bills (12%). The same poll found 59% of Marylanders said the state was on the wrong track, up sharply from 48% the previous fall, and most rated the state economy as poor or fair.

How does Wes Moore's approval break down by party?

In the March 2026 UMBC poll, 69% of Democratic voters approved and 20% disapproved; 25% of Republican voters approved and 73% disapproved; and 39% of unaffiliated voters approved while 50% disapproved. Like most governors, Moore's standing is heavily shaped by party, with strong support from his own base and broad disapproval from the other party.

Does his Maryland approval rating affect a 2028 presidential run?

It is a state job-approval number, not a national one, and it measures how Marylanders rate his current work as governor rather than support for any presidential bid. Moore is frequently listed among possible 2028 Democratic contenders, but as of mid-2026 he is focused on his 2026 re-election and has not taken formal steps toward a national campaign. A home-state approval rating is one input among many, and it can move a great deal before 2028.

Stay current