Posted on 03/10/26
| News Source: FOX45
Annapolis, MD - Mar. 10, 2026 - A state lawmaker moved to enshrine the Maryland flag’s current design into the state constitution on the same day it celebrated its 122nd birthday of being adopted by the same body.
Sen. J.B. Jennings, R-Baltimore and Harford counties, told Spotlight on Maryland by phone Monday night, shortly after introducing his late-filed bill, that its drafting began soon after Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said the state’s flag was a “contradiction” on a national podcast.
Ideas create a spark, which the spark creates flames and the flames create change,” Jennings said. “I don’t want anybody to change our flag.”
After Spotlight on Maryland was the first to report Moore’s comments about the Maryland flag on the podcast, the governor quickly faced widespread backlash on social media.A senior Democratic legislative staffer, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of his position in government, told Spotlight on Maryland in early February, “Don’t mess with the flag” when asked about the governor’s remarks.
“He should know better,” the staffer said.
Moore’s office was repeatedly asked whether he would change the state flag, with his press office responding, “I’m not sure how you’ve missed the Governor saying this at least a half dozen times over the last 10 months,” before issuing a more formal written statement.
Moore himself posted an animated GIF of him shaking the state flag in a stadium photo as the topic became a trending conversation on X.
“Love the flag. Ain’t changing it. Back to work, everyone,” Moore wrote on Feb. 5.
In his early February appearance on The Press Box podcast, Moore discussed broadly mid-decade redistricting, a key legislative effort the governor wanted to pass but has been unsuccessful at moving through the Senate.
“And do I understand kind of the history of this country? Absolutely – like you can’t look at this history of Maryland,” Moore said. “I mean, literally, you look at our flag. Our flag is a contradiction because our flag is literally a Confederate symbol mixed with a Union symbol.”
“Like Maryland is the northernmost southern state in this country. The bloodiest battles of the Civil War were fought in the state of Maryland, and despite that, I stand here as the governor of the same state,” Moore added.
Although he backtracked a week earlier, Moore reiterated part of his comments during his State of the State address at a joint session of the Maryland General Assembly on Feb. 12.
Maryland’s is a story that is deeply uneven,” Moore said. “Listen, I love our flag, and to be clear, it ain’t changing, but neither are the facts.”
“Our flag, by definition, is a contradiction. A combination of symbols and ideals that were diametrically opposed. A contradiction. In the case of our flag, won in during the Civil War, and that’s not a bad thing, it’s just a reminder that Maryland is complicated,” Moore added.
The governor continued by saying, “Some are twisting the truth to divide us and others, using a symbol we all love. Because they know when we stand together, Maryland cannot lose.”
Days later, the governor again addressed the flag controversy by saying, “The contradiction of our flag is actually a source of strength.”
“The flag is not changing,” said Moore on Feb. 10. “Listen, if I wanted the flag changed, it would have changed already.”
Meanwhile, a month later, Jennings said, after “a couple tweaks and a couple of changes” and getting the constitutional amendment to enshrine the state flag back earlier today from bill drafting aides, he knew he had to introduce the bill this evening to capture the historic moment.
“I believe him [Moore] saying that is what he believes, but there are 188 legislators who might have a different idea,” Jennings said. “Who knows if other legislators might say, ‘You know, he’s right, we need to change that,’ or what legislator might come after somebody because we are in an election year.”
I think the governor didn’t realize how much people love our state flag when he said it,” Jennings added.
If Jennings's bill passes the legislature and receives Moore’s signature, it will be a referendum on the November ballot because the bill designates the flag’s design as a constitutional amendment. Jennings was asked by Spotlight on Maryland on Monday night who he thinks might oppose his bill.
“Who knows,” Jennings said. “I’m pretty sure it would definitely pass the Senate. The House, I hope, too. The question is whether they think it is enough of a priority to try to pass it this year, I don’t know.”
Spotlight on Maryland sent an email Monday night to Moore’s office asking if the governor supports Jennings' bill. Moore’s office did not immediately respond.