Wes Moore, a bestselling Baltimore-born author and educator who headed a nonprofit organization that fights poverty, says he is considering running for Maryland governor.

“I’m having great conversations with family, friends, and community leaders, and seriously considering serving the great people of this state by seeking to become their governor,” Moore, a Democrat, said in a statement released Wednesday by associates.

Moore joins a number of high-profile Democrats and Republicans considering campaigns to succeed two-term Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who cannot run in the 2022 elections because of term limits.

Moore announced earlier this month that he would step down in May after four years as CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, a New York nonprofit that fights poverty.

Under Moore, the organization raised more than $650 million and launched several initiatives, including the Power Fund to increase support for nonprofits led by people of color. Last year, Robin Hood raised over $230 million amid the coronavirus pandemic, which was the second-highest fundraising total for the history of the organization.

Maryland’s Democratic Comptroller Peter Franchot has already announced he is running for governor. Republican Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford has said publicly that he is also considering running.

Republican Michael Steele, the former lieutenant governor who is now an MSNBC commentator, and former Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez have also said they will consider entering the race.

Democratic Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. and Republican County Executive Barry Glassman of Harford County have acknowledged to The Baltimore Sun that people have been talking about whether they might seek the job. And U.S. Rep. Anthony Brown, a Democrat who represents parts of Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties, is considering running too.

Moore, an Army combat veteran, said in his statement that he was born and raised in Maryland and has “experienced tragedy here, found love here, my wife and I are raising our kids here. This is a moment where we are facing unprecedented challenges that we must come together to solve.”

Moore’s statement was first reported by Maryland Matters, a government and politics website.

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