Maryland Gov. Wes Moore enjoys a lot of support among Democrats in the state, but among more conservative residents, it鈥檚 a different story.
Complaints about increased taxes and fees have many Republican and right-leaning voters wishing for a Republican challenger who will limit Moore to one term in office 鈥� hoping enough voters will say, 鈥淣o Moore.鈥�
It鈥檚 even prompted a political action committee of that name.
The group touts itself as a 鈥済rassroots movement born out of frustration鈥� with what it describes as Moore鈥檚 failed leadership. And on the group鈥檚 Facebook page is a long list of posts expressing that frustration, with links to news articles and interviews from the governor, as well as comments about the direction the state has moved 鈥� especially economically 鈥� during Moore鈥檚 term in office.
But some AI-generated videos also found on the page have Democrats, as well as Moore himself, decrying what they argue are racist dog whistles about Maryland鈥檚 first Black governor.
The videos include an AI-generated Moore dressed like a circus clown, saying 鈥渢he gaslight tour continues. It鈥檚 not hard, all you have to do is just lie.鈥�
To Moore’s supporters, it evokes a depiction of the governor as a minstrel. In another post on the issue of redistricting, it shows a deepfake of Moore coloring a map of Maryland with a blue crayon, and asking in an exaggerated voice, 鈥淲here is WEE-com-EE-co? It doesn鈥檛 matter,鈥� before he starts laughing.
鈥淲hat we’re seeing from ‘No Moore’ is what people hate about politics,鈥� Moore said last week. 鈥淚t’s this dark money, shadowy, racist platform that doesn’t disclose who their people are, that doesn’t disclose who’s giving them their money. But they鈥檙e just continuing to put out these racist, white supremacist tropes.鈥�
It鈥檚 an allegation that the No Moore PAC, and other Republicans in the state, dispute.
After Moore commented on it last week following questions from a reporter, on Monday the state Democratic Party put out a statement calling on former Gov. Larry Hogan to denounce the group, with the belief that Hogan supporters are behind the PAC.
There鈥檚 a belief that the group is led by people who have worked for Hogan in the past. A spokesman for the former governor , when asked for comment.
But at least one Republican said the group is simply critical of the governor and his policies.
鈥淭here is real outrage out there related to very much kitchen-table items,鈥� Republican Del. Jesse Pippy, of Frederick County, said.
Pippy said he also doesn鈥檛 think the content put out by the No Moore campaign is racist the way Democrats in Maryland said it was.
鈥淭hey don’t like criticism, and when they hear things about their policies, they want to turn their attention to something else,鈥� Pippy said. 鈥淏ut do I think there are some people online that take things too far? Absolutely, and it happens on all sides.鈥�
An unsigned statement from the No Moore PAC described the allegations of racism as 鈥渆gregious鈥� when asked 草莓传媒 for comment on the claims made by Democrats.
鈥淢aryland Democrats can鈥檛 defend Moore鈥檚 record on spending and taxes, so they鈥檙e screaming 鈥榬acism鈥� and inventing conspiracies instead. They鈥檒l do anything to distract from his failed leadership.鈥�
But Moore feels there鈥檚 鈥渉istorical context鈥� behind some of the statements and posts by the group and he said, “They know it.”
鈥淚 would hope that the people who are claiming to be leaders inside this moment would come out and speak out against it,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淏ut I’m not going to hold my breath.鈥�
The No Moore PAC calls the insinuation outrageous.
鈥淭his isn鈥檛 about race. It鈥檚 about results,鈥� the No Moore PAC statement said. 鈥淲e deserve fiscal responsibility and leadership that tells the truth. That鈥檚 what we鈥檒l continue to focus on.鈥�
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