Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s reelection campaign has launched its first television advertisement of the election cycle, broadcasting across multiple Baltimore news stations but notably excluding Fox 45, the flagship station of Sinclair Broadcast Group. The campaign purchased approximately $1 million in advertising on various local stations, although it opted not to air ads on WJLA, a Sinclair-owned station in Washington, D.C.
This choice comes amid an ongoing feud between Moore and David Smith, Sinclair’s executive chairman, who also owns The Baltimore Sun. The conflict has escalated recently, with Sinclair accusing Moore’s administration of infringing on its press freedoms. This situation reflects a broader tension, as Sinclair is often associated with promoting conservative viewpoints.
“The Moore-Miller for Maryland campaign reserves the right to communicate with Marylanders through whatever means we deem appropriate,” said Carter Elliott IV, a spokesperson for the campaign. He emphasized the administration’s commitment to using local media to engage with residents.
The dispute has included coverage by Sinclair’s media outlets scrutinizing Moore’s professional history, particularly allegations that he misrepresented his military service for political gain. Moore and his allies have described this coverage as biased and politically motivated.
In July, Smith filed a defamation lawsuit against Moore following comments the governor made that linked him to Jeffrey Epstein, the financier who faced serious criminal charges. While Moore’s statements referenced Sinclair’s past financial ties to Epstein, no evidence of a direct relationship between Smith and Epstein has emerged.
In response to the lawsuit, the Moore administration began delaying responses to inquiries from Sinclair’s outlets. Although some press freedom advocates criticized this decision, Moore’s office stated that it has answered a number of questions from Sinclair reporters in recent weeks.
Both Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott are not the first Maryland politicians to confront Sinclair’s coverage. Scott has also had contentious interactions with Fox 45, which he often uses to highlight perceived discrepancies in reporting. State Delegate Marlon Amprey expressed concerns that Sinclair’s approach can unfairly attack the character of Black political leaders, rather than genuinely evaluating their policies.
Despite the tensions, political analysts suggest that the absence of Moore’s ads on Sinclair platforms may not significantly impact the upcoming election. Sarah Oates, a professor at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism, stated Moore leads comfortably in polls against Republican opponent Dan Cox, allowing him the flexibility to bypass engagement with Sinclair.
The situation remains dynamic, with upcoming campaign strategies and Sinclair’s role in local media likely to develop further as the election approaches.
