Gov. Wes Moore released his latest list of campaign endorsements on Thursday and one notable name not on the list is Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City).

Ferguson has represented Southern Baltimore for 15 years and was elected to lead the Senate in 2020.

Moore’s decision not to endorse Ferguson comes after months of disagreement between the two leaders over pushing Maryland to redraw its Congressional map to favor Democrats.

The House of Delegates approved a map in February that would loop more Democratic voters into the state’s only district represented by a Republican, which has been held by Congressman Andy Harris (R-District 1) for 15 years.

But at the behest of Ferguson, the Senate never brought the map up for a vote before the legislature adjourned in April — a decision Moore repeatedly expressed frustration with.

Maryland’s role in the nationwide redistricting arms race — or lack thereof — has drawn national attention, including a surprise visit from U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries during the legislative session in February.

Senior Communications Advisor for the Moore campaign Carter Elliott would not comment if the lack of endorsement had to do with redistricting, but he told WYPR the following:

“Gov. Moore and Senate President Ferguson continue to communicate consistently and work alongside one another to accomplish big things in Maryland. The governor is proud of the work they have accomplished together, and he will continue to work with him and his team to lower costs, continued record drops in crime and make our schools even stronger,” Elliott said.

Ferguson attended Moore’s campaign reelection launch event this Saturday.

His office did not provide comment on Moore’s decision not to endorse him.

A Democratic state senator who asked not to be named publicly told WYPR that in his conversations with Ferguson over the past several weeks, the senate president was under the impression that a mutual endorsement would occur.

That senator also shared that just over a week ago, they received communications from the governor’s campaign team that a list of endorsements would be dropping soon, and it was the senator’s impression that he and Ferguson would both be on that list.

A different Democratic state senator who also asked to have their name withheld told WYPR it was their sense that Moore had committed some time ago to support Ferguson, and they expressed a desire for unity within the Democratic Party under the current Trump administration.

The Moore campaign did not provide comment on if the governor and senate president had agreed to a mutual endorsement.

State Sen. Cheryl Kagan (D-Montgomery County) expressed similar concerns about how the move could signal division within the Democratic Party.

“I find this news to be just astonishing and perplexing,” Kagan told WYPR. “In my opinion, President Ferguson is a thoughtful, smart, diligent, collaborative, effective leader and a Democrat who shares our values. I’m disappointed in the possibility that we may be fracturing our Democratic Party at a time when we need to be united against Donald Trump and his dangerous policies.”

Kagan says she cannot speak to whether Moore had previously committed to endorse Ferguson.

She did not want to speculate on if Ferguson’s opposition to early redistricting had anything to do with Moore’s decision.

“I’m not a mind reader, so I would not venture to guess as to intention or motivation. I think there’s so much that we all agree on: education, transportation, climate change, civil rights and voting rights, fighting the Trump administration’s impact on our budget and everything we hold dear. We’re allowed to disagree. We live in a democracy, and we can have a difference of opinions, but still work together,” Kagan said.

Moore did not announce an endorsement for the only other Democrat running to represent the 46th Senate District, local sailboat charter company owner and veteran “Captain Bobby” LaPin.

LaPin says he will not directly seek Moore’s endorsement.

“The only endorsement I am actively seeking is from the people of Baltimore, and if the governor or any other leader wants to endorse this campaign, it’s because they believe in this movement and they stand with the people,” LaPin told WYPR.

LaPin supports redrawing Maryland’s congressional map, saying the state “must take a tactical defense to this rise of authoritarianism and redistrict,” referring to the policies of the Trump administration.

LaPin and State Sen. Arthur Ellis (D-Charles County) — who is running in Maryland’s 5th Congressional District race — have called on Moore to bring the legislature into a special session to early redistrict.

Moore’s office has not indicated an intention to call a special session.

Ferguson and LaPin go head to head on the June 23 primary.