New questions are now arising.
Maryland Democratic Governor Wes Moore, a politician frequently mentioned as a possible 2028 presidential contender, is facing growing scrutiny over a personal story he has repeatedly shared about his family’s past—one that critics now say does not match available historical records.
Moore has long claimed that his family was forced to flee the South after his grandfather was targeted by the Ku Klux Klan, a story he has used to explain his views on race, patriotism, and American history. In a widely circulated 2023 interview, Moore said he is the grandson of a man who was “run out of the country” because of racial threats, presenting the account as a defining part of his identity.
The governor has specifically identified his grandfather, James Thomas, as the individual at the center of the story. Moore has previously said Thomas served as a minister in South Carolina before escaping to Jamaica under pressure from the Klan.
However, a recent report by the Washington Free Beacon raises serious questions about that narrative. According to the outlet, historical church records and newspaper accounts indicate that Thomas did not flee in secrecy or under threat. Instead, the documents suggest he left South Carolina through a formal and publicly documented church reassignment after being selected to replace a deceased pastor in Jamaica.
The report further states that archival materials from the Episcopal Church and local historical sources describe Thomas as a respected figure in his community. Those records reportedly show his church was well regarded for its medical outreach and community services, with no documented evidence of Klan intimidation or racial conflict connected to his departure.
Moore’s office pushed back against the report, dismissing it as an attempt to undermine a family’s oral history. A spokesperson said that racial intimidation in the Jim Crow South was widespread and often went undocumented, arguing that the broader historical reality should not be questioned based on incomplete records.
Still, the renewed attention has added to an existing pattern of scrutiny surrounding Moore’s public biography. In recent years, questions have also been raised about aspects of his military service and academic background, issues that critics have highlighted as concerns about credibility and transparency.
The controversy comes as Moore continues to be discussed in political circles as a potential future Democratic presidential candidate. Conservative commentators and political analysts have pointed to the story as another example of what they see as exaggeration among rising Democratic figures seeking national office.
Moore has publicly stated that he is not planning to run for president in 2028 and says his focus remains on serving Maryland and pursuing re-election. Nonetheless, with early maneuvering already underway for the next presidential cycle—and President Trump and his allies closely watching potential challengers—questions about Moore’s past are likely to remain part of the political conversation.
