Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says he was uninvited from this year’s National Governors Association (NGA) dinner, a decision he described as disrespectful and at odds with the spirit of bipartisan cooperation the event is meant to represent.
Moore shared the news in a post on X, explaining that the annual NGA dinner has long been a tradition designed to bring governors from both parties together with the president to build relationships and celebrate public service. According to Moore, learning that he was excluded from the gathering came as a surprise and a disappointment, particularly given his current leadership role within the organization.
“My peers, both Democrats and Republicans, selected me to serve as the Vice Chair of the NGA,” Moore wrote, adding that the decision makes it “hard not to see this as another example of blatant disrespect and a snub to the spirit of bipartisan federal-state partnership.”
This week, I learned that I was uninvited to this year’s National Governors Association dinner — a decades-long annual tradition meant to bring governors from both parties together to build bonds and celebrate a shared service to our citizens with the President of the United…
— Governor Wes Moore (@GovWesMoore) February 8, 2026
Moore is currently the only Black governor in the United States. While he stopped short of accusing organizers of explicit bias, he said the symbolism of being singled out for exclusion carries additional weight.
“As the nation’s only Black governor, I can’t ignore that being singled out for exclusion from this bipartisan tradition carries an added weight — whether that was the intent or not,” he wrote.
What makes the situation more perplexing, Moore added, is how recently he had been working alongside the administration in a cooperative setting. Just weeks ago, he said, he joined a bipartisan group of governors at the White House to collaborate on lowering energy costs and strengthening grid reliability.
“We proved in that moment what’s possible when we stay focused on outcomes over politics,” Moore said.
Despite the snub, Moore emphasized that his governing philosophy remains unchanged. As Maryland’s governor and Vice Chair of the National Governors Association, he says he remains willing to work with any administration when it leads to tangible results for the people he serves.
“My approach will never change: I’m ready to work with the administration anywhere we can deliver results,” Moore wrote. At the same time, he made clear that cooperation does not mean submission. “I promised the people of my state I will work with anybody but will bow down to nobody. And I guess the President doesn’t like that.”
The NGA has not publicly commented on Moore’s claims or explained the circumstances surrounding the dinner invitation.
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