Does Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's campaign staff shakeup spur a stability narrative?

BALTIMORE - Campaign staff departures aren't new in Maryland governor races, but the timing of Gov. Wes Moore's campaign manager's exit gave his potential challengers the momentum to look for signs of vulnerability.

The sudden departure of Ron Owens, Moore's senior-most campaign staffer, weeks before Maryland's primary, fueled new questions about stability inside the governor's political operation, offering Republicans a chance to spotlight broader concerns about turnover within Moore's orbit. Still, analysts say the incumbent remains politically strong entering the 2026 race.

"If this was a contested primary, if this was 2022 when he was running as a non-incumbent, I would say there should be a lot to be concerned about with so few weeks out from the primary," said Flavio Hickel, a political science professor at Washington College.

Owens will leave his role on Friday after having worked for the governor for almost a year.

Moore isn't the only Maryland gubernatorial candidate to have senior staff depart during crucial times. Former Gov. Larry Hogan in 2017 fired his campaign manager, who butted heads with fellow staffers and Hogan's associates. Former Gov. Parris Glendening in 1998 also fired his campaign manager for neglecting groups key to his voting coalition, including Black voters and labor unions.

A Democratic strategist close to one of Moore's personal advisers told The Baltimore Sun that it's "better now than later" for Owens to leave "before you know too much (and have access to) lots of proprietary information, lots of conversations, lots (that) happen later."

Owens has overseen some of Moore's momentous wins in the year he's worked for him. The governor's campaign raised more than $7 million in campaign contributions, the most any gubernatorial candidate in Maryland has ever raised. And despite polls showing Moore's approval rating dropping in recent months, Maryland voters still prefer the governor over other gubernatorial contenders.

Moore launched his second shot for governor earlier this month with two separate events in Baltimore City and Prince George's County. In Baltimore City, the governor touted his bipartisan work to "leave no one behind," and some of his broader policy wins, such as contributing to a sharp decline in crime across the state. He also took shots at President Donald Trump, who he said "launched an all-out assault on the state of Maryland."

In light of Owens's departure, the efficacy of Moore's campaign machine could come under scrutiny, John Dedie, a political science professor at the Community College of Baltimore County, said. He added that a change in senior staff at this time was "unusual considering everyone said the rollout was a success."

"The problem is: when you have situations like this, it raises more questions and more speculation," Dedie said. "For the average voter, they're like, ‘Oh, OK. Fine, he's changing people.' But for a lot (others), there's a lot of the why behind it, and the fact that when usually this happens, people like Owens are not going to say anything."

Some Republicans are now calling the governor's management capabilities into question. Ed Hale, one of Moore's Republican challengers, said staff changes at this time are "not a good sign."

"He's had a lot of turnover. People have been leaving in big numbers from upper positions," Hale said, seemingly referring to eight senior officials leaving Moore's administration in 2025 alone.

Early voting begins on June 11. Primary elections will take place on June 23.

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 3:23 PM.