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Maryland Governor Wes Moore went on MS NOW’s The Assignment this week and accused President Donald Trump of “unconstitutional” interference in state elections. Moore said his state has been “red teaming and planning” for months to stop any federal meddling. That’s a big claim and it deserves a clear answer — not another round of political theater.
Moore’s Interview: Blunt Claims and a Loud Warning
On air, Maryland Governor Wes Moore — who also serves as chair of the National Governors Association — said plainly that the only elections President Donald Trump has problems with are ones he loses. Moore warned that recent federal steps amount to interference and vowed Maryland will guarantee “free, fair and safe” state-run elections. He stressed states should follow the Constitution and coordinated planning across states is under way to guard against what he called unconstitutional federal action.
The Federal Moves Moore Is Pointing At
What is Moore reacting to? There have been unusual federal actions lately: a Department of Justice filing in Alaska asking a court to block certification under certain conditions, federal immigration and homeland-security field operations that judges have said could intimidate voters, and a White House move to restrict access for some media outlets that sparked litigation. Those things are real and they explain why governors are on edge. But “unconstitutional” is a legal word, not a TV soundbite. Courts — not late-night interviews — decide that.
Red Teaming or Red Herring?
“Red teaming” sounds serious — and planning for threats to election systems is sensible. But there’s a line between sober preparation and political grandstanding. If Moore’s team has concrete steps they’re taking to secure voting and preserve chain-of-custody for ballots, voters should hear them. If it’s mostly rhetoric designed to rally a friendly audience, then it’s just more fear-fueled politics. Governors can and should protect elections without turning every federal action into a constitutional crisis before the court calendar even opens.
Bottom line: focus on facts, not theatrics
Accusations of “unconstitutional” behavior are serious. So is undermining confidence in elections. Governors who worry about federal overreach should show the public what they’ve actually done to secure ballots and follow the law. And critics should let judges and lawyers do the legal heavy lifting. If politicians want to save our elections, they should trade talking points for transparency and facts — and spare voters the late-night drama.
