BALTIMORE, MD — As early in-person voting begins across Maryland, Governor Wes Moore and Republican candidate Dan Cox participated in separate interviews where they discussed issues including the state’s budget challenges, the reconstruction of the Key Bridge, and crime rates.
In recent years, Maryland has faced significant budget shortfalls, at one point surpassing $3 billion. During the interview, Moore was asked if there is a strategy in place to break the cycle of annual budget issues.
“There are essentially two approaches to tackling this problem and fostering sustainable growth. First, we need to manage our spending, and second, we must focus on increasing revenue, which requires fostering business growth and development. We’ve been making strides in that regard during our administration,” Moore articulated.
Cox, however, presented a starkly different perspective on the financial situation in the state.
“Under Governor Wes Moore, we are witnessing a surge in taxes with 338 new taxes and fees. This is not trivial,” Cox asserted.
“We need to restore a sense of fiscal sanity to ensure that our budget returns to being responsibly managed. Currently, we find ourselves $3 billion in deficit. We can certainly do better, and we are committed to improving, aiming to create a safer and more prosperous Maryland,” Cox emphasized.
In recent comments at a press conference, Cox claimed he could expedite the Key Bridge construction, contradicting the timeline proposed by Moore. When pressed on how he plans to achieve this, he expressed doubt about the project’s current progression.
“We are 2.5 years away from completion, and there isn’t even a contract in place for the bridge’s construction. Governor Moore has been misleading. His website claims that demolition is 100% completed, but just a day after that announcement, an email was sent out solicitating bids to finalize the demolition,” Cox explained.
Moore responded to Cox’s claims, defending the rebuild efforts.
“The Key Bridge reconstruction should not be a subject of political division as Cox suggests. His arguments represent nothing more than MAGA rhetoric. We are genuinely proud of the rapid recovery and the opening of the channel accomplished in an unprecedented timeframe. The same commitment is driving the rebuild, with bipartisan support from both Democrats and Republicans,” Moore stated.
Since Moore took office, Baltimore has experienced a notable decrease in crime rates. Maryland has also reported significant declines in crime, reflecting national trends. When asked about his greatest achievement, Moore highlighted public safety.
“I take pride in the fact that we have recorded one of the fastest declines in violent crime across the United States, with Maryland now experiencing crime levels not seen in 40 years. We are quite proud of that accomplishment,” Moore remarked.
Cox countered by asserting that more effective measures can be taken to address crime, particularly among youth, and vowed to amend policies established by Moore, specifically targeting the Youth Charging Reform Act.
“We can implement numerous initiatives to support state attorneys and restore law and order. I will work to repeal the policy enacted by Governor Moore, as it is widely recognized that this law needs to be revised. Ironically, the governor is currently trying to reclaim the narrative with a top-down review of youth accountability. The reality is, he is the cause of the problem we face,” Cox stated.
Early voting continues through October 29, with the general election set for November 3.
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