Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and his supporters are criticizing an online campaign they say targets the governor with racist content using what they believe is artificial intelligence and dark money.
A website called “NoMoore.org” links to social media accounts appearing to host digitally altered content. The group that runs it says it’s not about race, but policies.
The No Moore campaign features posts criticizing Moore’s policies and positions, but some say the posts have gone too far – especially the use of what appear to be digitally altered photos and videos depicting Moore, the state’s first Black governor, as a clown.
“I think people just realize how ridiculous it is and – particularly with these racist attacks – are not helping make life easier on the people of Maryland,” the governor said.
“To characterize a Black man as a clown when we’ve seen those type of caricatures during segregation and Jim Crow, it screams of racism,” Democratic Del. Jeffrie Long Jr. said. “It’s blatant.”
Some videos show Moore on a boat with actor George Clooney. A Google search found reports Moore did take a personal vacation with Clooney, but the video and images posted on “NoMooreMD” social accounts also appear to be digitally altered.
Moore and the Maryland Democratic Party demand No Moore backers reveal who they are and where their funding comes from.
“This is what people hate about politics,” Moore said. “It’s this dark money, shadowy, out-of-state, billionaire-funded type of activities that people are really disgusted by.”
In a statement to News 4, No Moore described itself as a grassroots movement built by and for Marylanders.
The campaign did not answer News4’s questions about who’s behind it or how it’s funded, but in a statement, the campaign said the movement involves those who are fed up with Moore’s spending, tax hikes and misplaced priorities.
“It’s irresponsible for a sitting governor to play the race card against more than 15,000 hardworking Marylanders who are raising concerns about his failed policies of higher taxes and growing state deficits,” the statement reads, in part.
When asked by News4 if No Moore uses AI in its social media posts, the organization said, in part, “Some of our content uses AI, but only in the same way campaigns have always used humor, satire and parody in politics.”
The group went on to say, “If Democrats think clown images are their biggest problem, they’re in for a rough election.”
Republican Del. Jesse Pippy said he and his fellow GOP lawmakers are not involved in NoMoore. But criticism that the posts and memes are racist is a distraction, he said.
“If he’s dressed in a clown outfit and they’re suggesting that’s a racist, I mean, I guess that’s their purview,” Pippy said. “We’re focused on policies that impact Marylanders, and the reality is, is that the governor’s policies are terrible.”
Howard University political science professor Dr. Ravi Perry said AI has gotten ahead of campaign laws.
“It is a free for all, actually, and there are no rules,” he said.
Congress needs to act on AI and dark money, Perry said, because it will only get worse.
“This is a nationwide problem that Congress has to solve, but we have to be willing to go back to our values, and the values being that we should be able to trace where money is coming from,” he said.
Moore, who’s running for reelection, said he’s proud to run on his record and those behind No Moore are spreading misinformation.
“I think it says more about them than it does about me or our movement,” he said.
Some Maryland Democrats suggested former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan is connected to the group No Moore and are calling on Hogan to either admit he’s involved or denounce the group. News4 asked a Hogan spokesperson if the former governor is involved in the No Moore campaign and if he plans to run for governor again. “We’ll see,” was the response.
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