Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Tuesday he will seek a second term as the state’s top elected official, distancing himself from speculation that he was eyeing a presidential run in 2028.

Mr. Moore, a Democrat, made the announcement in a video recounting the highlights of his first term, such as reducing crime and gains for the middle class.

He also paid homage to his local roots and dismissed the idea of joining the nation’s capital’s political scene.

“The games of Washington are exhausting, and worse, are hurting people,” Mr. Moore says in the video. “I’m not from that world.”

Mr. Moore became the state’s first Black governor when he was elected in 2022.

• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.