Moore Hype, Empty Wallets

Look, I get it—Maryland fell for the glossy cover. The book jacket said “charisma,” “optimism,” and “historic firsts.” Then you opened it and found… a receipt. A long, ugly, line-item receipt. Over the last year, Wes Moore’s approval rating didn’t just slip; it BASE-jumped off the Key Bridge—down from 65% to 50%, a 15-point nosedive that makes him the least popular Maryland governor in over a decade. Translation: even the brunch crowd is putting down the avocado toast to say, “Wait, how much is my car registration now?”

Marylanders are discovering, in real time, the difference between a TED Talk and a balance sheet. Moore promised leadership; he delivered invoices. He promised “service;” he delivered service fees. He promised “we’re all in this together;” he delivered budgets that make middle-class families feel very alone when the tax bill hits the mailbox. You can only stage so many photo ops before people notice the billboards went up while the roads went down and somehow the state still “needs more revenue.”

Wes Moore’s approval rating is dropping as fast as the cash in the pockets of Marylanders after his record-breaking tax and fee increases. It turns out “reckless spending” plays great on panel discussions but not so hot on household spreadsheets. When your constituents are canceling streaming services to afford the streaming rainwater through the ceiling of yet another public project over budget, guess what? The applause stops. The decline isn’t random; it’s the product of choices. The state keeps choosing image over infrastructure, press releases over performance, and your wallet over, well, your wallet.

And the spin—oh, the spin. “Investments.” “Bold vision.” “Transformational.” Sure. If by “transformational” you mean transforming paychecks into state revenue and transforming commuters into unpaid extras in the never-ending drama called “We’ll Fix Transit Next Year, Promise.” Meanwhile, the climate of the business climate remains… chilly. Entrepreneurs read the part about “shared sacrifice” and somehow conclude the “sharing” runs one way. Families see “for the children” attached to everything except measurable results. It’s like a magician who keeps saying “look over here” while your watch is liberated from your wrist.

Here’s the political reality: the façade is cracking. When even Democrats whisper, “Maybe this is a bit much,” you know the act’s getting old. Independents are doing the math. Republicans are saying “we told you so,” but with receipts. Everyone is noticing the contradiction at the heart of Moore-ism: you can’t simultaneously be the avatar of competence and the architect of cost-of-living creep. Eventually, the Instagram filter flickers and you’re left with a state budget that looks like a teenager’s room: cluttered, chaotic, and defended with a lot of attitude.

Now is the time to act. Not with rage, not with memes (okay, fine, a few memes), but with relentless clarity. Marylanders of all stripes—Republicans, Independents, and yes, EVEN Democrats—are waking up. They’re asking the most dangerous question in politics: “What exactly am I getting for all this money?” The answer is a master class in diminishing returns: higher taxes, higher fees, higher rhetoric—and lower satisfaction.

So let’s capitalize. Tell the truth, everywhere. Draw the straight line between policies and pain points: the check you wrote, the service you didn’t get, the promise that turned into a press conference. Build the coalition around common sense: affordability, public safety, schools that teach, projects that finish on time and on budget, and a government that treats taxpayers like partners, not ATMs. This isn’t ideological extremism; it’s adult supervision.

Heading into 2026, we have the winning message, the right principles, and—finally—the momentum. The approval slide is the alarm clock. Don’t hit snooze. Organize, persuade, and fund the ground game. If Maryland wants a governor who manages more than a highlight reel, voters will need options—and those options need resources. Put bluntly: if you want change, invest in it.

Wes Moore’s brand was hope wrapped in a hoodie. Marylanders now want results wrapped in a budget that respects them. Keep telling the truth, keep connecting the dots, and keep pressing the case. Do that, and the approval rating won’t be the only thing falling—the Moore myth will, too. And in its place? A Maryland that can add without subtracting your savings.

Endnotes

1. Latest approval at ~50% (July 24–30, 2025 field dates). Maryland Now/Blended Public Affairs poll reported by Maryland Matters (Aug. 11, 2025): “Five in 10 surveyed … approved,” gap to disapproval narrowed to 8 points. Maryland Matters
2. Prior high at 65% (mid-2024). Morning Consult’s governor tracker (reported by CBS Baltimore, July 25, 2024) found Moore at 65% approval, 3rd-highest nationally. CBS News
3. Downward trend through early 2025. Gonzales Research poll (March 12, 2025) showed approval at 55%; UMBC Institute of Politics poll (Feb. 25, 2025) showed 52%. Maryland Matters+1
4. “Least popular in over a decade” context. Former Gov. Larry Hogan’s approvals were consistently well above 50%—ending office at 77% (Gonzales, Jan. 2023)—and commonly among the nation’s most popular governors (Morning Consult/WJZ, Jan. 2020). This makes a 50% reading the lowest for a Maryland governor since before Hogan’s 2015–2023 tenure. Maryland MattersCBS News
5. $1.6B in new taxes/fees in FY2026 package. Moore signed the $67B budget on May 21, 2025, which included more than $1.6B in tax and fee increases. Maryland Matters
6. Income-tax and related revenue measures tied to deficit. AP and Washington Post coverage detail new upper-bracket rate hikes and other measures to address a ~$3B structural gap (early 2025). AP NewsThe Washington Post
7. Vehicle registration fee hikes (took effect July 1, 2024). Fee increases of ~60–75% and EMS surcharge raised from $17 to $40, per Maryland Matters (May 21, 2024) and CBS Baltimore (July 2, 2024). Maryland MattersCBS News
8. Follow-on registration increases noted in 2025 updates. Additional schedule specifics reported June 30, 2025 (The BayNet). The BayNet
9. Voter sentiment on taxes. In the July 2025 Maryland Now poll, 67% said taxes in Maryland are “too high.” Maryland Matters
10. Structural deficit backdrop. Multiple reports throughout 2025 reference a ~$3.3B structural deficit driving revenue actions. Maryland MattersThe Washington Post

Jacob Silver is a contributor for Direct Line News, he can be reached at Jacob.Silver@mcgopclub.com

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Jacob Silver

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