TV ad urges Marylanders to ‘vote yes for Wes’ but against redistricting question

A new ad in Maryland’s redistricting fight borrows Gov. Wes Moore’s slogan and colors to make a case that the governor surely will not approve: Vote against Question 3 on this year’s ballot.

A newly formed political action committee called Truth for Maryland has ads on streaming TV services that encourage voters to vote “yes for Wes” but also “against Question 3.”

Moore, a Democrat, has championed congressional redistricting for more than a year and is backing Question 3, which would change the state constitution to make it easier for Democrats to gerrymander boundaries. Some hope to oust Maryland’s sole Republican in Congress, U.S. Rep. Andy Harris.

Question 3, if approved, would specify that constitutional requirements that districts be compact and respect natural boundaries apply only to state legislative districts, not to congressional districts.

Competing polls have shown weak voter support for the change. Of three polls publicly released this fall, none indicated 50% support for Question 3.

Truth for Maryland’s TV ad and companion website use a font and blue-and-yellow color scheme similar to what Moore uses in his reelection campaign. The tagline at the end of the ad echoes Moore’s campaign slogan: “Together, we’ll leave no one behind.”

The 30-second ad opens with scenes across Maryland, with a narrator declaring: “Marylanders never follow blindly. We make up our own minds. And protect our rights.”

“That’s why we know extreme gerrymandering is wrong,” the narrator continues as a map of Texas unfolds. A black-and-white photo of President Donald Trump pops up as the narrator says, “No politician should have unchecked power. But that’s what Question 3 does, rewriting our constitution, ending fair elections and taking away our voice — permanently.”

The ad transitions to multiple photos of Moore smiling and concludes: “Gov. Moore fights for every Marylander. Let’s do the same. Vote yes for Wes, and against Question 3.”

Truth for Maryland was formed last week, according to state campaign finance records. The PAC’s listed officers, Chair Andrew Brightwell and Treasurer Hugh Halloran, did not respond to voicemail and email messages Tuesday morning.

Brightwell is a Republican strategist who previously worked for former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan and Ed Hale Sr., a retired banker who made an unsuccessful run for governor in the Republican primary this year.

It wasn’t immediately clear how much Truth for Maryland paid for the ads or how widely they are airing. The group is not yet required to file campaign finance reports on its spending, but issued a statement describing the ad buy as “multi six figures.”

Question 3 is shaping up to be one of the most interesting contests on the ballot. Polling shows Moore well-positioned to defeat his Republican opponent, Dan Cox, and few county executive races appear competitive.

The outcome of Question 3 will not only determine whether Maryland redraws its congressional districts to favor Democrats in the next election but also test the governor’s political clout. A defeat of Question 3 would be another setback in Moore’s year-plus quest to redistrict.

Dueling committees have been advocating for and against the measure.

Fight Back MD, backed by Moore and Democrats, has advertised on TV, by mail and in text messages in support of Question 3, arguing it’s a way for Marylanders to “fight back” against Trump and Republican-led gerrymandering in other states.

Luca Amayo, spokesperson for Fight Back MD, described the new ad as “dirty tricks” that voters won’t buy.

“Donald Trump began rigging maps because he knew he couldn’t win fairly at the ballot box,” Amayo said in a statement. “Trump’s MAGA allies know they can’t defend that power grab with Maryland voters, so they are shamelessly trying to deceive them instead.”

Moore’s campaign was not thrilled with the new ad.

“Ripping off Governor Moore’s identity and branding through Trump-style misinformation and disinformation won’t work in Maryland,” Moore campaign spokesperson Carter Elliott IV said in a statement. “Marylanders know Governor Moore is voting yes on Question 3 to put a stop to Donald Trump and his MAGA power grabs across the country.”

Protect Maryland Votes, a bipartisan group that’s less well-funded, has argued that Question 3 would lead to gerrymandering that would shut out the voices of Republican and independent voters when electing members of Congress.

Doug Mayer, spokesperson for Protect Maryland Votes, said in a statement that the new PAC’s ad is “obviously brilliant.”

“It perfectly encapsulates both the issue and the other side’s blatant hypocrisy and never-ending lies when it comes to explaining what this ballot amendment actually does,” Mayer’s statement said.

Mayer said his group is not affiliated with Truth for Maryland and the new ad, but there is a link between the two. Mayer and Brightwell, the Truth for Maryland chair, are both Hogan alums and are listed as officers on a separate anti-Question 3 committee. That group, called Maryland Truth, has yet to report any activity.