Oprah Introduces Wes Moore at His Inauguration Ceremony for Maryland Governor

Wes Moore has officially been sworn into office. Earlier today, Oprah introduced him at his inauguration in celebration of this historic moment—Moore is the first Black governor of Maryland, and only the third Black governor to be elected in the country.

Oprah, along with President Biden and former President Obama, endorsed Moore during his campaign. Although he has never held public office, Moore is a seasoned businessman and philanthropist who served as CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, an organization focused on fighting poverty in New York City. While running for governor, Moore made that as well as protecting reproductive rights in Maryland two of his major issues.

“I know that, with Wes Moore as your governor, Maryland’s best days lie ahead,” Oprah said when introducing Moore at today’s inauguration. The state has a significant place in Oprah’s heart; she moved to Baltimore at just 22 years old to work as co-anchor of WJZ-TV’s 6 o’clock news. “When I moved to Maryland, I had no idea really who I was, or what an Oprah was,” she said during the inauguration speech. “But I will tell you something: Maryland is where I figured it out.”

She continued by saying that Maryland is full of opportunity, especially now that Moore is leading the way. “I always walk away from our conversations with a new perspective...new ideas...a new way of seeing things...a new burst of positive energy,” Oprah said of her relationship with Moore.

In addition to being a rising star of the Democratic party, a Rhodes scholar, and a combat veteran, Moore is a bestselling author. Oprah and Moore met when Oprah interviewed him about his first book, The Other Wes Moore, which was published in 2011 and follows two Wes Moores from Baltimore—the one who would become Maryland governor, and one who is serving a life sentence in prison. “I was so impressed then by his integrity, his wisdom,” Oprah said of that very first interview. “He knew who he was and had a vision for who he intended to be and how he wanted to serve.”

Oprah and Moore have continued to inspire each other since that conversation. During her speech, Oprah reflected on something Moore said when she had him and his wife, Dawn, over for dinner. “We were talking about...how to live with purpose and meaning...how to know if we are spending our precious days in a way we will look back on with pride,” she began. “Wes said to me: Your job title will change. Your occupation will also change. But your work will always be consistent.”

Through the many titles Moore has had, Oprah said that his integrity has stayed intact. “This might be his first day as an elected official. But Wes Moore has been a public servant his whole adult life. And there’s so much more to come. He’s just getting started.”

Oprah finished her introduction speech by telling the crowd another piece of wisdom Moore gave her. “I once asked Wes what service means to him. He told me, ‘It’s the thing that makes your heart beat a little bit faster.’”

That’s a sentiment we can all take with us—and something Moore will surely follow during his time in office. “As you prepare to serve the state that has meant so much to you, I know your heart must be pumping, pumping, pumping—pumping some wild, ecstatic excitement, and love for Maryland,” Oprah finished.

Watch Oprah’s speech here, or read her full remarks below.

Hello, Maryland!

I can tell you, it is such a joy, a joy to be here on this day. And what a joy to be back here in Maryland! I’m back!

I was just 22 years old when I first came to Maryland. I was starting a new job as a co-anchor of the 6 o’clock news on WJZ-TV. I left my home in Nashville, and I drove myself here in an Oldsmobile Cutlass, to Baltimore.

I moved into the third floor at 10109 Windstream Drive, Columbia, Maryland—which at the time was considered this new model city. I was so excited, living away from home for the first time, from my family for the very first time.

And as I walked around the city of Baltimore that first week, I saw the strangest thing. Their promo campaign was my face on billboards, and my face on the backs of buses. My face advertising the 6 o’clock news with Jerry Turner—remember Jerry Turner? And a question on the billboards and buses said, “What is an Oprah?”

Honestly, I didn’t really know the answer to that myself. When I moved to Maryland, I had no idea really who I was, or what an Oprah was. But I will tell you something: Maryland is where I figured it out.

The eight years that I lived here were some of the most significant years of my adult life. I grew up here, from a young, naive girl—I truly, like, had corn growing behind my ears, I was truly green behind the ears and grew into a woman becoming more and more of myself from every challenge and every experience.

I found community here at Bethel A.M.E. Church every Sunday. I found the freedom to perform and feed my creative spirit. I found my professional calling, sitting alongside Richard Sher for the talk show People Are Talking. Though it wasn’t the job I moved here to do, it was the job that sparked my desire to use television to tell stories that impacted people’s lives. And I found some of the closest friends of my life here—Maria Shriver and my BFF Gayle King.

Most important, in Maryland, I found myself.

This state is something special. It’s a place where so many others have done, and will do, exactly what I did: Plant the seeds of their wildest dreams, and watch those seeds grow into reality.

Maryland is full to the brim with opportunity. It was back then; it is now.

And I know that, with Wes Moore as your governor, Maryland’s best days lie ahead.

Let me tell you a little bit about the Wes Moore I know. The Wes that I’m proud to be standing with here today.

I met Wes for the first time in 2010, when I interviewed him about his bestselling book. Y’all read the book, right? Everybody’s going to want to read the book now.

I was so impressed then by his integrity and his wisdom. He was wise beyond his years.

He knew who he was and had a vision for who he intended to be and how he wanted to serve. Though, I have to say, I was delightfully surprised when he called me last year—on January 6, as a matter of fact—to tell me he wanted to serve as governor. And I said, “You want to run for governor in this political climate? Where everybody is so polarized? Where there’s such vitriol? Look at what’s happening right now, as we speak.”

Because as he was telling me, I could see the CNN screen behind him, and that’s the first I knew of the invasion of the capitol. So then I turned it on and go, “Look at what’s happening; you want to run in this climate?”

And he said, “Exactly.”

So I said, “Go for it, and I’ll be here if you need me.”

I always walk away from a conversation with Wes Moore with a new perspective…new ideas...with a new way of seeing things...with a new burst of positive energy. That’s what you do for people.

About five years ago, Wes and our now First Lady of Maryland, Dawn Moore, had come to my house for dinner. We had a conversation that stayed with me. I still think about that conversation.

We were talking about life, as we often do at the table—how to live life with purpose and meaning, and how to continue that into your later years. How to know that you are spending your precious days in a way that you’ll be able to look back on with pride and have absolutely never any regret.

Wes said to me, because I had just recently ended the show: Your job title—talk show host—will change. Your title changes throughout your life. Your occupation will also change. But your work will always be consistent.

Wes has had quite a few titles in his life.

Author. Army captain. CEO. And now...governor.

The man has worn many hats. But the work he’s done, the work he has always done—that has never changed. It has not changed. Not even a little.

He has always been committed to helping young people find purpose and direction in their lives. That’s why he started a small business in Baltimore that gave a helping hand to college students who needed one.

Wes has always believed that everyone deserves an equal shot at success—an opportunity to live well, to have lives that are meaningful, and provide for their families in the way that he’s able to provide for James and Mia. That’s why he joined the Robin Hood Foundation, one of the largest anti-poverty organizations in America, and distributed more than $600 million to families in need.

He has always loved our country and believed it is worth fighting for. That’s why he served as a captain and paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division.

So you see, this might be his first day as an elected official. But Wes Moore has been a public servant his whole adult life.

And there’s so much more to come. He’s just getting started.

I once asked Wes what service meant to him. He told me, “It’s the thing that makes your heart beat a little bit faster.”

Well, something tells me that, as you prepare to tell us all about your vision for a stronger, safer, and more equitable Maryland—a Maryland that leaves no one behind—as you prepare to serve the state that has meant so much to you, I know your heart must be pumping, pumping, pumping—pumping some wild, ecstatic excitement, and love for Maryland. And all who abide here.

It is my honor to introduce you as my friend…to introduce you as someone who I believe in…as a man I truly respect.

And a man I so trust. I trust you. I trust your vision, I trust your leadership, and I want you to know you can trust it, too. In your new governor, Wes Moore.

Video courtesy of Maryland Public Television.

Cassie Hurwitz

Associate Editor

Cassie Hurwitz (she/her) is an associate editor at Oprah Daily, where she covers everything from culture to entertainment to lifestyle. She can typically be found in the middle of multiple books and TV shows all at once. Previously, Cassie worked at Parents, Rachael Ray In Season, and Reveal. Her love language is pizza (New York slices, Chicago deep dish, and otherwise).