Maryland Gov. Wes Moore put pen to paper and officially registered to run for reelection this year.

During a brief stop at the state elections office in Annapolis on Monday afternoon, the incumbent Democratic governor and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller filled out their paperwork and were greeted by cheering supporters outside.

Moore launched his reelection bid last fall, but waited until the second-to-last day to file his candidacy paperwork. The deadline to file to run for office is 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Moore told reporters that he’s excited to campaign and tell Maryland voters about the first three years in office. He listed cutting crime rates, attracting businesses and lowering teacher vacancy rates among his accomplishments.

“We know we have still more work to do, but we’re excited to do it and we’re excited about the momentum,” Moore said.

Several candidates are hoping to get in the way of Moore returning to the State House for four more years. Moore said he welcomes them as part of the democratic process.

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“We run hard, and for anyone who comes in, I just want them to know: They should be ready,” he said.

Moore will first run in June’s Democratic primary, where he faces just one opponent so far: Eric Felber, a physician from Montgomery County whose medical license is suspended.

Perennial candidate Ralph Jaffe filed to run as a Democrat before he died this month.

The Republican primary is crowded with candidates hoping for a chance to take on Moore, but the party’s top options decided to sit out.

The best-known candidates are Dan Cox, a lawyer and former state delegate who lost to Moore in a landslide in 2022, and retired banker Ed Hale Sr., who switched parties for this election.

Other Republicans on the ballot: Carl Brunner Jr., L.D. Burkindine, John Myrick, Michael Oakes, Nancy Jane Taylor and Kurt Wedekind.

Former Gov. Larry Hogan opted not to run for his old job, saying a new generation of Republicans needs to step up.

And state Sen. Stephen Hershey, the Republican minority leader in the Senate, had explored a gubernatorial run but ended up filing to run for reelection in his Eastern Shore district instead.

Andy Ellis of the Green Party has filed to run and is seeking his party’s nomination.

Those hoping to unseat Moore face a difficult challenge: He has high name identification, solid approval ratings, the ability to get media coverage and more than $8 million in campaign funds.