Gonzales Poll: Moore Approval Falls to 52% as Tax Concerns Grow

A Gonzales Research poll of 808 registered voters found Gov. Wes Moore’s approval rating slipped to 52% in January, down from a 64% high in September 2024 and 55% in March 2025. The poll recorded 41% disapproval and signaled growing frustration with taxes and fees, a complaint that could have material effects on Baltimore residents and local policy priorities.

Partisan support remains a stabilizing factor for the governor: 73% of Democrats in the sample approved of Moore’s job performance. Independents, however, showed erosion of support, with 41% approving and 49% disapproving. On the broader direction of the state, 47% said Maryland is headed the right way while 44% said it is headed the wrong way, indicating a narrowly divided public mood.

The poll underscored tax dissatisfaction statewide: 58% of respondents said they feel they pay too much in taxes and fees. That sentiment reverberates in Baltimore, where residents and city officials depend on state funding for schools, transit and public safety. Concerns about the tax burden could increase pressure on state leaders to propose relief measures or to reexamine fees that affect everyday costs for city households.

If an election were held at the time of the poll, 50% of respondents said they would vote for Moore, 28% for a Republican challenger, 16% were undecided and 6% favored a third-party candidate. The gap between approval and vote intention suggests partisan loyalty remains strong for some, while a sizable bloc of undecided voters could tip competitive matchups later in the year. For Baltimore-area contests and suburban precincts that can swing, independent voters and undecideds will be a key constituency to watch.

The political implications are immediate: a sustained perception of high taxes could shape the 2026 legislative session and future budget negotiations, forcing trade-offs between tax relief and funding for programs that Baltimore relies on. For municipal leaders, the poll numbers are a cue to press for clarity on how state revenue choices will affect city services and capital projects.

For Baltimore residents, the poll points to what will matter in the months ahead: proposed state budget moves, any tax or fee changes, and campaign messages aimed at independents and undecided voters. The coming weeks should bring legislative proposals and candidate positioning that will reveal whether the drop in approval is a temporary fluctuation or the start of a more consequential shift heading into 2026.