[♪♪] [♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING FROM ANNAPOLIS WHERE A 12:00 NOON TODAY MARYLAND'S 63rd GOVERNOR TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE.

THE OFFICIAL INAUGURATION OF GOVERNOR WES MOORE TOOK PLACE IN THE STATE SENATE CHAMBER HE IS THE STATE'S FIRST BLACK GOVERNOR ELECTED IN A LANDSLIDE ON HIS PLEDGE TO LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND.

Mr. MOORE IS JOINED ON THE PODIUM BY HIS WIFE, DAWN.

Mr. MOORE IS NEW TO THE STATE HOUSE AND DAWN IS NOT.

SHE WAS AN AID TO NOW ATTORNEY GENERAL ANTHONY BROWN WHEN HE SERVED AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

PLACE YOUR LEFT HAND ON ANDED BIBLE AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

I WESTLEY WATENDE OMARI MOORE.

>> I WESTLEY WATENDE OMARI MOORE >> DO SWEAR.

>> DO SWEAR.

>> THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.

>> THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.

>> OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> AND THAT I WILL BE FAITHFUL.

>> AND THAT I WILL BE FAITHFUL.

>> AND BEAR TRUE ALLEGIANCE.

>> AND BEAR TRUE ALLEGIANCE.

>> TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

>> TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

>> AND SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND OF LAWS THEREOF.

>> AND SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS THEREOF.

>> AND THAT I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY SKILL AND JUDGMENT.

>> AND THAT I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY SKILL AND JUDGMENT.

>> DILIGENTLY AND FAITHFULLY.

>> DILIGENTLY AND FAITHFULLY.

>> WITHOUT PARTIALITY OR PREJUDICE.

>> WITHOUT PARTIALITY OR PREJDICE > EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF E EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF.

>> GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND.

>> GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND.

[CHEERING] [APPLAUSE] >> ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS STATE.

>> ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS STATE.

>> AND THAT I WILL NOT.

>> AND THAT I WILL NOT.

>> DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.

>> DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.

>> RECEIVE THE PROFITS.

>> RECEIVE THE PROFITS.

>> OR ANY OF THE PART OF THE PROVES.

>> OR ANY OF THE PART OF PROFITS.

>> DURING THE TERM OF MY ACTING AS GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND.

>> DURING MY TERM OF MY ACTING AS GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND.

>> CONGRATULATIONS GOVERNOR.

[CHEERING] [APPLAUSE] >> TONIGHT WE BRING YOU THE PUBLIC PROGRAM THAT TOOK PLACE BEFORE A LARGE CROWD OUTSIDE THE STATE HOUSE, INCLUDING A MUSICAL PROGRAM AND THE NEW GOVERNOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

>> >> I, ARUNA MILLER.

>> I, ARUNA MILLER.

>> DO SWEAR.

>> DO SWEAR.

>> THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.

>> THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.

>> OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> AND THAT I WILL BE FAITHFUL.

>> AND THAT I WILL BE FAITHFUL.

>> AND BEAR TRUE ALLEGIANCE.

>> AND BEAR TRUE ALLEGIANCE.

>> TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

>> TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

>> AND SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND OF LAWS THEREOF.

>> AND SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS THEREOF.

>> AND THAT I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY SKILL AND JUDGMENT.

>> AND THAT I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY SKILL AND JUDGMENT.

>> DILIGENTLY AND FAITHFULLY.

>> DILIGENTLY AND FAITHFULLY.

>> WITHOUT PARTIALITY OR PREJUDICE.

>> WITHOUT PARTIALITY OR PREJDICE > EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND.

>> EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND.

>> ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS.

>> ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS.

>> OF THIS STATE.

>> OF THIS STATE.

>> AND THAT I WILL NOT.

>> AND THAT I WILL NOT.

>> DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.

>> DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.

>> RECEIVE THE PROFITS.

>> RECEIVE THE PROFITS.

>> OR ANY PART OF THE PROFITS.

>> OR ANY PART OF THE PROFITS.

>> OF ANY OTHER OFFICE.

>> OF ANY OTHER OFFICE.

>> DURING THE TERM.

>> DURING THE TERM >> OF MY ACTING.

>> OF MY ACTING.

>> AS LIEUTENANT OF MARYLAND.

>> AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

[CHEERING] US [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] >> OH, MY GOODNESS.

GIRLS, MOMMY LOVES YOU SO MUCH.

YES, THEY STILL CALL ME MOMMY AS YOU HEARD.

I AM SO PROUD OF THE STRONG, SMART, BEAUTIFUL SOULS THAT YOU HAVE BECOME.

12 YEARS AGO I WAS SWORN IN TO THE SAME STATE HOUSE.

AS THE DELEGATE FROM DISTRICT 15 WHERE I SERVED FOR EIGHT YEARS.

THEY SAY YOU CAN NEVER GO HOME AGAIN.

AND I SAY MY PRESENCE HERE TODAY IS PROOF, YES YOU CAN.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU WANT TO SERVE THE PEOPLE, YOU CAN ALWAYS GO HOME.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MARYLAND.

[APPLAUSE] WHAT AN AMAZING DAY IN OUR GREAT STATE.

WHAT ABOUT THIS WEATHER?

IS IT BEAUTIFUL OR WHAT?

I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU YESTERDAY IT WAS RAINING, TODAY IT'S 60° AND SUNNY.

TOMORROW IT'S SUPPOSED TO RAIN AGAIN.

SO MARYLANDERS, YOU SHOULD KNOW DESTINY IS ON OUR SIDE.

[APPLAUSE] TO MY FRIEND AND MARYLAND'S 63rd GOVERNOR, WES MOORE, I AM HUMBLED TO JOIN YOU ON THIS JOURNEY.

TO SERVE THE STATE WE LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE WE LOVE IN A PLACE WE CALL HOME.

TO THE FIRST LADY, DAWN MOORE, AND THE FIRST FAMILY WE LOOK FRWARD TO THE JOY YOU WILL BRING TO THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

ALONG WITH THE NEW PUPPY YOU WERE PROMISED.

RIGHT, JAMIE?

AND MIA THAT NEW PUPPY.

TO ALL OUR FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, MUNICIPAL ELECTED LEADERS, JUSTICES, NATIONAL GUARD, FAMILY, FRIENDS, MENTORS, AND MARYLANDERS, WELCOME.

I AM ARUNA MILLER AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN ME TO BE YOUR 10TH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND.

I ARRIVED TO THE UNITED STATES WHEN I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD.

AND I WILL NEVER FORGET MY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

I REMEMBER WALKING IN AND IT WAS IN POUGHKEEPSIE NEW YORK.

WALKED INTO THE CLASSROOM.

LOOKED AT ALL MY CLASSMATES AND NONE OF THEM LOOKED LIKE ME AND I COULDN'T SPEAK A WORD OF ENGLISH.

BUT I WANTED TO FIT IN.

SO WHERE IS THE BEST GATHERING PLACE OTHER THAN THE CAFETERIA?

SO WHEN WE WENT TO THE CAFETERIA, I HAD A PLAN.

I WAS GOING TO DO EXACTLY WHAT EVERYONE ELSE WAS DOING.

SO I ATE AMERICAN FOOD FOR THE FIRST TIME.

I DRANK COLD MILK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE.

I WAS FEELING PRETTY GOOD.

I THOUGHT OK, I THINK I WON OVERALL THESE CLASSMATES THEY ARE MY FRIENDS NOW.

WALKED BACK TO THE CLASSROOM.

AND PROCEEDED TO VOMIT ALL OVER THE DESK.

[LAUGHTER] I WAS MORTIFIED.

MY TEACHER CALLED MY MOM, MY MOM CAME TO PICK ME UP.

AND ON THE DRIVE HOME, I TOLD HER I WANT TO GO BACK TO GRANDMA WHO RAISED ME IN INDIA.

I HATE COLD MILK, TOO, MOM BY THE WAY.

BY THE TIME WE GOT HOME WE HEARD A KNOCK ON THE DOOR.

AND I OPENED THE DOOR AND OUTSIDE STANDING IN THE SNOW WAS ONE OF MY CLASSMATES WITH A STACK FULL OF PAINTINGS IN HER HAND.

PAINTINGS THAT HAD HEARTS, SMILEY FACES, LITTLE FACES WITH TEARS COMING DOWN.

AND IT WAS IN THAT MOMENT I KNEW I BELONGED IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY.

IT TOOK AN EDUCATOR TO TEACH WHAT I BELIEVE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALITIES OF A HUMAN BEING.

AND THAT IS TO HAVE EMPATHY AND COMPASSION FOR OTHERS.

[APPLAUSE] IT WASN'T JUST THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL WHERE I FELT I DIDN'T BELONG.

IN FACT, I WOULD SAY I SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE TRYING TO FIT INTO A SPACE THAT DIDN'T HAVE ME IN MIND.

AS AN IMMIGRANT GROWING UP IN A NEW COUNTRY, OR AS A FEMALE ENGINEER IN A MALE-DOMINATED FIELD.

AS AN INDIAN AMERICAN LEGISLATOR IN A LEGISLATURE THAT LOOKED NOTHING LIKE ME.

IT TOOK ME A LONGTIME TO REALIZE THAT IT WAS NEVER ABOUT NEEDING TO FIT INTO A SPACE CREATED BY OTHERS.

IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT HAVING THE COURAGE TO BE MY AUTHENTIC SELF IN EVERY SPACE.

[APPLAUSE] BUT THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, TOO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN DENIED OPPORTUNITIES TO LIVE FULLY, FREELY, AND TO BE THEIR AUTHENTIC SELFS.

TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND FROM OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES SEEKING TO FEEL SAFE IN THEIR OWN SKIN.

WOMEN WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR AUTONOMY OVER THEIR OWN BODIES.

PEOPLE WANTING TO LOVE WHO THEY LOVE AND BE WHO THEY ARE IN THEIR LIVED IDENTITY.

FAMILIES AND CHILDREN STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE WITHOUT ADVOCATE ACCESS TO FOOD, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION AND HEALTHCARE.

GOVERNOR MOORE AND I SEE YOU.

WE HEAR YOU.

WE WILL FIGHT FOR YOU.

WE WILL ADDRESS THE INEQUITIES OF THE PAST AND BUILD A MARYLAND WHERE EVERYONE WILL THRIVE.

BECAUSE YOU SEE, OUR FORTUNES ARE TIED TOGETHER IN INSURING WE CREATE A STATE THAT WE GROW EQUITABLY.

IT WILL TAKE ALL OF US TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THIS VISION.

TOGETHER WITH YOU, WE WILL WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER OF MARYLAND'S HISTORY.

A CHAPTER THAT WILL BE FILLED WITH REALTIME HEROS LIKE YOU.

YOU WHO ADVOCATES EVERYDAY FOR POLICIES THAT RIGHT THE WRONGS.

YOU WHO NEVER GIVES UP ON THE UNDERDOGS TO BE CHAMPIONS AND ACHIEVERS.

YOU WHO BELIEVES THAT EACH OF US HAS THE POWER WITHIN US TO MAKE TOMORROW BETTER THAN TODAY.

MY STORY WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THE HEROS IN MY LIFE.

THEY INSPIRE ME TO BE BETTER AND TO TRY HARDER.

SO THANK YOU TO MY HUSBAND, DAVID MILLER.

YOU'VE MADE MY LIFE A FAIRY TALE.

[APPLAUSE] TO MY MOM AND DAD WHO TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH TO COME TO THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED IN THE PROMISE OF AMERICA.

TO MY SIBLINGS, YOU WERE THE BEST PART OF MY CHILDHOOD AND I THANK YOU AND I LOVE YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE.

AND, OF COURSE, ALSO TO MY DAUGHTERS THAT I RECOGNIZE.

I AM SO PROUD AND THEY'VE BECOME MY FAVORITE TYPE OF PEOPLE: TAXPAYERS.

[LAUGHTER] TO MY FAMILY, FRIENDS AND MENTORS, THANK YOU FOR NEVER, EVER GIVING UP ON ME, TO MARYLANDERS, THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING ME TO HELP LEAD OUR STATE INTO THE FUTURE.

AND TO GOVERNOR MOORE, FROM THE MOMENT WE MET, I KNEW YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND.

[APPLAUSE] AND APPARENTLY, SO DID 1,293,944 OTHER MARYLANDERS.

[APPLAUSE] I'M SAYING YES TO YOU WHEN YOU ASKED ME TO BE YOUR RUNNING MATE WAS LIFE CHANGING.

YES, IS A TINY BUT POWERFUL WORD.

WHEN WE SAY YES, WE DO MORE, WE LOVE MORE, WE CREATE MORE.

SAYING YES IS TO TRUST THE UNIVERSE HAS BIGGER PLANS FOR US, ONE THAT WE CAN ONLY UNDERSTAND WITH HINDSIGHT.

AND NOW, HERE WE ARE, GOVERNOR, IT WAS AN HONOR TO RUN BY YOUR SIDE.

AND IT WILL BE THE GREATEST HONOR OF MY LIFE TO SERVE BY YOUR SIDE.

FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON ACROSS THE STATE FROM MOUNTAIN MARYLAND TO THE EASTERN SHORE FROM BALTIMORE CITY TO SOUTHERN MARYLAND AND EVERY SPACE IN-BETWEEN, YOU BELONG HERE.

THIS IS YOUR HOME.

THIS IS OUR HOME.

YES, THIS IS OUR MARYLAND.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MILLER.

WE ARE SO READY FOR YOUR INSPIRED LEADERSHIP.

NOW, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT TO YOU ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITY CHORAL ENSEMBLES THE MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY CHOIR UNDER THE DIRECTION OF Dr. ERIC CONWAY PERFORMING "GOD BLESS AMERICA" [♪♪] ♪WHILE THE STORM CLOUDS GATHER♪ ♪FAR ACROSS THE SEA♪ ♪LET US SWEAR ALLEGIANCE♪ ♪TO A LAND THAT'S FREE♪ ♪LET US ALL BE GRATEFUL♪ ♪FOR A LAND SO FAIR♪ ♪AS WE LIFT OUR VOICES♪ ♪IN THE SOLEMN PRAYER♪ ♪GOD BLESS AMERICA♪ ♪THE LAND THAT I LOVE♪ ♪STAND BESIDE HER♪ ♪AND GUIDE HER♪ ♪THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH THE LIGHT FROM ABOVE♪ ♪FROM THE MOUNTAINS♪ ♪TO THE PRAIRIES♪ ♪TO THE OCEANS♪ ♪WHITE WITH FOAM♪ ♪GOD BLESS AMERICA♪ ♪IT'S MY HOME, SWEET, HOME♪ ♪OH, GOD BLESS AMERICA♪ ♪IT'S THE LAND THAT I LOVE♪ ♪STAND BESIDE HER♪ ♪AND GUIDE HER♪ ♪THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH THE LIGHT FROM ABOVE♪ ♪FROM THE MOUNTAINS♪ ♪TO THE PRAIRIES♪ ♪TO THE OCEANS♪ ♪WHITE WITH FOAM♪ ♪GOD BLESS AMERICA♪ ♪MY HOME, SWEET, HOME♪ ♪GOD BLESS AMERICA♪ ♪MY HOME, SWEET, HOME♪ ♪AMERICA, AMERICA, AMERICA♪ [APPLAUSE] >> PLACE YOUR LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE AND REPEAT AFTER ME.

>> I WESTLEY WATENDE OMARI MOORE.

>> I WESTLEY WATENDE OMARI MOO MOORE.

>> DO SWEAR.

>> DO SWEAR.

>> THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.

>> THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.

>> OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> AND THAT I WILL BE FAITHFUL.

>> AND THAT I WILL BE FAITHFUL.

>> AND BEAR TRUE ALLEGIANCE.

>> AND BEAR TRUE ALLEGIANCE.

>> TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

>> TO THE STTE OF MARYLAND.

>> AND SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND OF LAWS THEREOF.

>> AND SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS THEREOF.

>> AND THAT I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY SKILL AND JUDGMENT.

>> AND THAT I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY SKILL AND JUDGMENT.

>> DILIGENTLY AND FAITHFULLY.

>> DILIGENTLY AND FAITHFULLY.

>> WITHOUT PARTIALITY OR PREJUDICE.

>> WITHOUT PARTIALITY OR PREJDICE > EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF >> EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF.

>> OF GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND.

>> OF GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND.

>> ACCORDING TO THE TUMTION.

>> ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION.

>> AND LAWS OF THIS STATE.

>> AND LAWS OF THIS STATE.

>> AND THAT I WILL NOT.

>> THAT I WILL NOT.

>> DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY >> DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.

>> RECEIVE THE PROFITS.

>> RECEIVE THE PROFITS.

>> OR ANY PART OF THE PROFITS.

>> OR ANY PART OF THE PROFITS.

>> OF ANY OTHER OFFICE.

>> OF ANY OTHER OFFICE.

>> DURING THE TERM.

>> DURING THE TERM >> OF MY ACTING.

>> OF MY ACTING.

>> AS GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND.

>> AS GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND.

>> CONGRATULATIONS GOVERNOR MOORE.

[CHEERING] [APPLAUSE] [♪♪] >> IT IS NOW MY GREAT HONOR TO INVITE FORWARD THE BELOVED AMERICAN WHO INTRODUCED WES MOORE TO AMERICA 10 YEARS AGO SO THAT SHE COULD INTRODUCE WES MOORE TO US AS OUR 63rd MARYLAND GOVERNOR.

WELCOME MS. OPRAH WINFREY.

[APPLAUSE] >> WHOA.

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!

[APPLAUSE] I WAS JUST 22 YEARS OLD WHEN I FIRST CAME TO MARYLAND.

I WAS STARTING A NEW JOB AS A COANCHOR OF THE 6:00 P.M. NEWS ON WJZ-TV.

AND I LEFT MY HOME IN NASHVILLE AND I DROVE MYSELF HERE IN AN OLDINGS MOBILE CUTLASS TO BALTIMORE.

I MOVED INTO THE THIRD FLOOR AT 10109 WIN STREAM 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.

AND MY FACE ADVERTISING THE 6:00 P.M. NEWS WITH JERRY TURNER.

REMEMBER JERRY TURNER?

AND A QUESTION ON THE BILLBOARDS AND THE BUSES SAID: WHAT IS AN OPRAH?

[LAUGHTER] 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.

[APPLAUSE] THE EIGHT YEARS THAT I LIVED HERE WERE SOME OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT YEARS OF MY 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 AME CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY.

I FOUND THE FREEDOM TO PERFORM AND FEED MY CREATIVE SPIRIT.

I FOUND MY PROFESSIONAL CALLING SITTING ALONGSIDE RICHARD SHARE FOR THE SHOW PEOPLE ARE TALKING.

AND THOUGH IT WASN'T THE JOB THAT I MOVED HERE TO DO, IT WAS THE JOB THAT SPARKED MY DESIRE TO USE TELEVISION TO TELL STORIES THAT WOULD IMPACT PEOPLE'S LIVES.

AND I FOUND SOME OF THE CLOSEST FRIENDS OF MY LIFE HERE.

MARIA SHRIVER AND MY BFF GAYLE KING.

BUT MOST IMPORTANT IN MARYLAND I FOUND MYSELF.

[APPLAUSE] 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 AND IT IS NOW.

AND I KNOW THAT WITH WES MOORE AS YOUR GOVERNOR, MARYLAND'S BEST DAYS LIE AHEAD.

[APPLAUSE] >> LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WES MOORE THAT I KNOW.

THE WES THAT I'M PROUD TO BE STANDING HERE WITH TODAY.

WHEN I MET WES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2010 WHEN I INTERVIEWED HIM ABOUT HIS BEST-SELLING BOOK.

Y'ALL READ THE BOOK, RIGHT?

EVERYBODY'S GOING TO WANT TO READ THE BOOK NOW.

I WAS SO IMPRESSED EVEN THEN BY HIS INTEGRITY AND HIS WISDOM.

HE WAS WISE BEYOND HIS YEARS.

HE KNEW WHO HE WAS.

AND HE 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 6TH AS A MATTER OF FACT TO TELL ME THAT 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 WHAT IS HAPPENING AS WE SPEAK.

AS HE WAS TELLING ME I COULD SEE THE CNN SCREEN BEHIND HIM AND THAT IS 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.

EXACTLY.

[APPLAUSE] 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.

WITH NEW IDEAS, WITH A NEW WAY OF SEEING THINGS.

A NEW BURST OF POSITIVE ENERGY.

THAT'S WHAT YOU DO FOR PEOPLE.

AND ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, WES AND OUR NOW FIRST LADY OF MARYLAND, DAWN MOORE HAD COME TO MY HOUSE FOR DINNER.

AND WE HAD A CONVERSATION THAT STAYED WITH ME.

I STILL THINK ABOUT THAT CONVERSATION.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AS WE OFTEN DO AT THE TABLE, HOW TO LIVE WITH PURPOSE AND MEANING.

AND HOW TO CONTINUE THAT INTO YOUR LATER YEARS.

AND HOW TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE SPENDING YOUR PRECIOUS DAYS IN A WAY THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK WITH PRIDE AND HAVE ABSOLUTELY NEVER ANY REGRET.

AND I REMEMBER WES YOU SAID TO ME, BECAUSE I HAD JUST RECENTLY ENDED THE SHOW, AND YOU SAID YOUR JOB TITLE TALK SHOW HOST WILL CHANGE.

YOUR TITLES CHANGE THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE.

YOU SAID.

BUT YOUR OCCUPATION WILL ALSO CHANGE.

BUT YOUR WORK, YOU SAID, WILL ALWAYS BE CONSISTENT.

[APPLAUSE] WES HAS HAD QUITE A FEW TITLES IN HIS LIFE.

AUTHOR, ARMY CAPTAIN, C.E.O., AND NOW GOVERNOR.

[APPLAUSE] BUT THE WORK HE'S DONE, THE WORK HE HAS ALWAYS DONE THAT HAS NEVER CHANGED.

IT IS 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.

HE'S ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT EVERYONE DESERVES AN EQUAL SHOT AT SUCCESS.

AND 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 ROBINHOOD FOUNDATION.

ONE OF THE LARGEST ANTIPOVERTY ORGANIZATIONS IN AMERICA AND DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN $600 MILLION TO FAMILIES IN NEED.

HE HAS ALWAYS LOVED OUR COUNTRY.

AND BELIEVED THAT OUR COUNTRY IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR.

THAT'S WHY HE SERVED AS A CAPTAIN IN A PARATROOPER IN THE 82nd AIRBORNE DIVISION.

THIS MIGHT BE HIS FIRST DAY AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

BUT WES MOORE HAS BEEN A PUBLIC SERVANT HIS ENTIRE ADULT LIFE.

[APPLAUSE] AND THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO COME.

[APPLAUSE] HE'S JUST GETTING STARTED.

I ONCE ASKED WES WHAT SERVICE MEANT TO HIM.

AND 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 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 DO BELIEVE THAT 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.

[APPLAUSE] [CHEERING] HONOR THAT YOU HAVE BESTOWED UPON ME AND ARUNA MILLER AS YOUR NEXT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

[APPLAUSE] PRESIDENT FERGUSON, SPEAKER ADRIAN JONES, MEMBERS OF THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THANK YOU ALL.

IT IS AN HONOR TO BE YOUR PARTNER.

AND TO ALL OF OUR STATE WORKERS AND ALL WHO ORGANIZED THIS INAUGURATION THANK YOU IT IS AN HONOR TO BE YOUR NEW COLLEAGUE.

TO GOVERNOR HOGAN WE ARE GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR THE KINDNESS THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE SHOWN THROUGHOUT THE TRANSITION PERIOD.

THANK YOU FOR EIGHT YEARS OF GREAT SERVICE TO A STATE THAT WE BOTH LOVE.

[APPLAUSE] TO MY DEAR FRIEND OPRAH WINFREY, A MARYLAND GIRL AT HEART, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLY KIND AND GRACIOUS INTRODUCTION.

IT IS AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU TODAY AND ALWAYS AND THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING IN MY CORNER.

[APPLAUSE] TO YOUR NEW FIRST LADY.

[APPLAUSE] MY AMAZING WIFE, DAWN, AND TO THE NEW FIRST BABIES MIA AND JAMES.

YOU ARE MY HEART.

YOU ARE MY SOUL.

YOU'RE MY EVERYTHING.

AND I LOVE YOU.

[APPLAUSE] AS WE STAND HERE TODAY LOOKING OUT OVER LAWYERS MALL AND YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THERE THE MEMORIAL TO JUSTICE THURGOOD MARSHALL.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO THINK ABOUT OUR PAST AND OUR PATH.

WE'RE BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE ANNAPOLIS DOCKS.

WHERE SO MANY ENSLAVED PEOPLE ARRIVED IN THIS COUNTRY AGAINST THEIR WILL AND WE ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF A CAPITOL THAT WAS BUILT BY THEIR HANDS.

WE HAVE MADE UNEVEN UNIMAGINABLE PROGRESS SINCE THEN AND IT IS A HISTORY THAT HAS BEEN CREATED BY GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE WHOSE OWN HISTORY WAS LOST, STOLEN OR NEVER RECORDED.

BUT ONE THING WE KNOW IS THAT RIGHT NOW WE ARE STANDING HERE IN OUR HISTORY IN OUR SHARED HISTORY, IN OUR COLLECTIVE HISTORY.

MADE BY PEOPLE WHO OVER THE PAST TWO CENTURIES REGARDLESS OF THEIR ORIGIN STORY TO THE STATE, BOUGHT AND BUILT A STATE AND A COUNTRY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.

AND THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE HERE TODAY WHO EMBODY THAT SPIRIT WHO ARE SITTING RIGHT HERE NEXT TO ME.

TWO EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN.

NAMED HAMA AND JOY.

[APPLAUSE] HAMA CAME TO THIS COUNTRY FROM INDIA.

JOY FROM JAMAICA.

YEAH, MON.

THEY IMMIGRATED TO AMERICA WITH HOPE IN THEIR HEARTS NOT JUST FOR THEMSELVES, BUT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

AND NOW, TODAY THEY ARE SITTING HERE TOGETHER AT THE INAUGURATION OF THEIR CHILDREN TO BECOME THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

[APPLAUSE] PLEASE STAND UP SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE YOU BOTH.

[APPLAUSE] TO ARUNNA'S MOM AND TO MY MOM, YOU EPITOMIZE EVERYTHING SPECIAL ABOUT THIS STATE.

AND YOU ARE PROOF THAT IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

NOW, YES, ARUNA AND MY PORTRAITS ARE GOING TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM THE ONES WE'VE ALWAYS SEEN IN THE CAPITOL.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT: THIS JOURNEY HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT MAKING HISTORY.

IT'S ABOUT MARCHING FORWARD.

TODAY IS NOT AN INDICTMENT OF THE PAST, TODAY IS A CELEBRATION OF OUR COLLECTIVE FUTURE.

[APPLAUSE] AND TODAY OUR OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN THIS FUTURE IS SO BRIGHT IT IS BLINDING.

BUT ONLY IF WE ARE INTENTIONAL, INCLUSIVE, AND DISCIPLINED.

IN CONFRONTING CHALLENGES, MAKING HARD CHOICES, AND SEIZING THIS OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF US.

OUR STATE IS TRULY REMARKABLE.

FROM MY BIRTHPLACE OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY TO MY ADOPTIVE HOME OF BALTIMORE CITY, FROM THE SANDY BEACHES OF THE EASTERN SHORE TO THE ROLLING HILLS OF -- GO AHEAD EASTERN SHORE.

GO AHEAD AND MAKE YOURSELVES KNOWN.

TO THE ROLLING HILLS OF WESTERN MARYLAND, AND EVERYONE IN-BETWEEN.

MARYLAND IS HOME TO SPECTACULAR NATURAL BEAUTY AND DYNAMIC INDUSTRIES AND PEOPLE AS TALENTED AS THEY ARE DETERMINED.

BUT THE TRUTH IS MARYLAND IS ASSET RICH AND STRATEGY POOR.

AND FOR TOO LONG WE HAVE LEFT TOO MANY PEOPLE BEHIND.

WE KNOW WHAT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT WHILE MARYLAND HAS THE HIGHEST MEDIAN INCOME IN THE COUNTRY, ONE IN EIGHT OF OUR CHILDREN LIVE IN POVERTY.

WE KNOW IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT IN A HOME OF SOME OF THE BEST MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS ON THE PLANET THAT MORE THAN 250,000 MARYLANDERS LACK HEALTH COVERAGE.

WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO ACCEPT THAT SOME OF US MUST BE LEFT BEHIND.

AND THAT IN ORDER FOR SOME TO WIN IT MEANS OTHERS MUST LOSE.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, WE'VE COME TO EXPECT THAT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST WILL KEEP LOSING.

WE MUST REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT.

[APPLAUSE] INSTEAD I'M ASKING YOU TO BELIEVE THAT MARYLAND CAN BE DIFFERENT, I'M ASKING YOU TO BELIEVE THAT MARYLAND CAN BE BOLD AND I'M ASKING YOU TO BELIEVE THAT IN THIS MOMENT MARYLAND CAN LEAD.

I'M ASKING YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS TIME FOREVER OUR POLICIES TO BE AS BOLD AS OUR ASPIRATIONS AND TO CONFRONT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN OFFERED FALSE CHOICES.

WE DO NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A COMPETITIVE ECONOMY AND AN EQUITABLE ONE.

MARYLAND SHOULD NOT BE 43rd IN UNEMPLOYMENT OR 44TH IN THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS.

WE SHOULD NOT TOLERATE AN 8 TO ONE RACIAL WEALTH GOT BECAUSE IT HURTS CERTAIN GROUPS BUT BECAUSE IT PREVENTS ALL OF US FROM REACHING OUR POTENTIAL.

WE CAN ATTRACT AND RETAIN TOP INDUSTRIES LIKE AEREO SPACE AND CLIMATE CHANGE AND CYBERSECURITY AND RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $15 TO HELP FOLKS FEED THEIR FAMILIES.

MARYLAND CAN REWARD ENTREPRENEURS WHO TAKE BOLD RISKS AND PROVIDE STABILITY FOR FAMILIES IN NEED.

MARYLAND CAN BE THE BEST PLACE IN AMERICA FOR EMPLOYERS.

AND EMPLOYEES.

IT SHOULDN'T BE A CHOICE, IT ISN'T A CHOICE AND THE PATH FORWARD REQUIRES US TO DO BOTH OF THESE THINGS TOGETHER.

AND THERE'S ANOTHER FALSE CHOICE WE OFTEN HEAR.

THE PEOPLE MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN FEELING SAFE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY AND FEELING SAFE IN THEIR OWN SKIN.

OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN THE RATE OF VIOLENCE CRIME RISE.

AND MANY MARYLANDERS HAVE GROWN WARY IN THEIR FAITH THAT GOVERNMENTS CAN ACTUALLY KEEP THEM SAFE.

WE CAN BUILD A POLICE FORCE THAT MOVES WITH APPROPRIATE INTENSITY AND ABSOLUTE INTEGRITY AND FULL ACCOUNTABILITY AND EMBRACE THE FACT THAT WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT MILITARIZE OURSELVES TO SAFETY.

[APPLAUSE] WE CAN AND WE WILL SUPPORT OUR FIRST-RESPONDERS WHO RISK EVERYTHING TO PROTECT US AND CHANGE THE INEXCUSABLE FACT THAT MARYLAND INCAR RATES MORE BLACK BOYS THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE WILL WORK WITH COMMUNITIES FROM WEST BALTIMORE TO WESTMINSTER.

TO SHARE DATA SO WE CAN KEEP VIOLENT OFFENDERS OFF OUR STREETS AND WELCOME PEOPLE WHO EARNED A SECOND CHANCE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE HANDCUFFS ON MY WRISTS.

WE'RE NOT ALONE.

I FELT THAT WHEN I WAS 11 YEARS OLD.

I ALSO KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO STAND WITH FAMILIES AND MOURN THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME.

WE DO NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BEING A SAFE STATE AND A JUST ONE.

MARYLAND CAN AND WE WILL BE BOTH.

[APPLAUSE] WE'RE OFTEN TOLD THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS A PROBLEM FOR THE FUTURE.

OR SOMETHING THAT YOU ONLY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IF YOU LIVE IN FARMLANDS OR IN A FLOOD ZONE.

BUT CLIMATE CHANGE IS A THREAT AND IT'S HAPPENING NOW IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND SO CONFRONTING CLIMATE CHANGE REPRESENTS ANOTHER CHANCE FOR MARYLAND TO LEAD.

WE CAN AND WE WILL BE A LEADER IN WIND TECHNOLOGY AND ELECTRIFICATION AND CLEAN TRANSIT.

WE'LL PROTECT OUR JEWEL, THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

AND ADDRESS TOXIC AIR POLLUTION THAT CHOKES OUR CITIES AND WE WILL PUT MARYLAND ON TRACK TO GENERATE 100% CLEAN ENERGY BY 2035 AND CREATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN THE PROCESS.

CLEAN ENERGY WILL NOT JUST BE A PART OF OUR ECONOMY, CLEAN ENERGY WILL DEFINE OUR ECONOMY IN MARYLAND.

BUT THAT REQUIRES EVERYBODY.

COMPANIES, COMMUNITIES, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND THE PEOPLE TO TAKE BOLD AND DECISIVE ACTION TOGETHER.

AND IMPORTANTLY, WE DO NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN GIVING OUR CHILDREN AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION AND AN EQUITABLE ONE.

[APPLAUSE] WE WILL INSURE THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR STUDENTS IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR CHILDREN KNOWS THAT THIS STATE LOVES AND NEEDS THEM AND WE WILL CREATE POLICIES THAT CAN HELP THEM THRIVE.

WE WILL INVEST IN OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, OUR LGBTQ IA STUDENTS, STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HE HOMELESSNESS AND EVERY CHILD WHO NEEDS EXTRA HELP.

AND WE WILL SEE TO IT THAT MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES DO NOT PREVENT OUR CHILDREN FROM GETTING THE EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE AS WELL.

AND WHILE MARYLAND IS HOME TO SOME OF THE BEST AND SOME OF THE GREATEST INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THIS COUNTRY, SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE VERY, VERY PROUD OF, WE MUST END THIS MYTH THAT YOUNG PEOPLE MUST ATTEND ONE OF THEM IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

THAT'S NOT THE PATH FOR EVERY STUDENT.

TO BE CLEAR, IT WASN'T MY PATH.

I JOINED THE MILITARY WHEN I WAS 17 YEARS OLD.

I WENT TO A TWO-YEAR COLLEGE.

AND I THINK THINGS WORKED OUT PRETTY WELL.

EVERY STUDENT IN MARYLAND WILL KNOW THAT THERE ARE PATHS TO THEIR SUCCESS AND THOSE PATHS BEGIN WITH HIGH QUALITY AND HIGHLY INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS FROM PRE-K TO 12TH GRADE.

AND MY OWN JOURNEY STARTED IN MILITARY SCHOOL.

WHERE I LEARNED ONE OF MY CORE VALUES.

SERVICE.

I WENT ON TO LEAD SOLDIERS IN AFGHANISTAN AND MY YEARS OF SERVICE TRANSFORMED ME.

MY CHARACTER WAS STRENGTHENED.

MY VISTAS WERE WIDENED.

AND MY LEADERSHIP WAS TESTED.

I WANT EVERY YOUNG MARYLANDER OF EVERY BACKGROUND AND EVERY COMMUNITY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR STATE THAT'S WHY WE WILL OFFER A SERVICE YEAR OPTION FOR ALL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES.

[APPLAUSE] A YEAR OF SERVICE CAN PREPARE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THEIR CAREERS AND ALSO PROVIDE OUR STATE WITH FUTURE LEADERS, PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED.

AND CHALLENGES WE WILL FACE WILL REQUIRE ALL OF US TO ANSWER THIS CALL TO SERVICE.

TO GO OUT AND JOIN THE RANKS OF OUR TEACHERS AND FIREFIGHTERS OR POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR NURSES AND UNION MEMBERS.

YOU'VE ELECTED ME TO SERVE AS YOUR GOVERNOR.

BUT THE WORK WILL BE DONE TOGETHER.

NOW, FAIR WARNING...

THERE ARE GOING TO BE SKEPTICS.

AND PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT WE CANNOT RISE ABOVE THE TOXIC PARTISANSHIP THAT WE SEE TOO OFTEN IN TODAY'S POLITICS.

WHERE PEOPLE CARE MORE ABOUT WHERE THE IDEA CAME FROM THAN IS IT A GOOD IDEA?

THOSE ARE THE SAME VOICES THAT TOLD ME AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS CAMPAIGN YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW POLITICS WORKS.

AND TO THEM I SAID AND I SAY WE MUST GOVERN ON BIG PRINCIPLES AND NOT ON PETTY DIFFERENCES.

[APPLAUSE] THAT WE MUST GOVERN IN A WAY THAT ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF ALL OF OUR FAMILIES AND NOT WORRYING ABOUT WHAT THE A POLITICAL IDEOLOGY ASKS US TO BELIEVE AND ASKS US TO DO.

THAT WE MUST GOVERN IN A WAY THAT WE WILL NEVER FORGET WHO IT IS WE'RE FIGHTING FOR.

AND WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FIGHTING FOR.

WE KNOW THAT IN THIS MOMENT WE HAVE A CHANCE, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AND WE HAVE A UNIQUE PLACE IN SPACE TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL.

KNOW YOU CAN DO THIS OR EXECUTE UPON THIS IN THIS TIME OF DIVISIVENESS, MY ANSWER IS THIS...

IT'S THE ONLY WAY I'VE EVER LED.

YOU KNOW A QUESTION I NEVER ONCE ASKED MY SOLDIERS WHEN I WAS LEADING SOLDIERS IN AFGHANISTAN, WHAT IS YOUR POLITICAL PARTY?

IT DIDN'T MATTER.

[APPLAUSE] WE HAD ONE JOB, ONE GOAL IN MIND AND ONE MISSION.

MY JOB WAS TO UNIFY OUR UNIT AND ACCOMPLISH THAT MISSION AND IT'S THE SAME JOB AND RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

IF WE ARE DIVIDED, WE CAN'T WIN.

BUT IF WE ARE UNITED WE CAN'T LOSE.

[APPLAUSE] NOW, WE KNOW WE STAND HERE ON THE CUSP AND A TIME OF A MEASURE OF A HISTORIC MEASURE.

AND WE'RE VERY HUMBLED BY THAT.

WE KNOW THAT IN THIS TIME THAT WHILE FOR BOTH ARUNA AND MYSELF THAT WE'RE WALKING IN A SPACE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SEE HIGHER BECAUSE OF THE SHOULDERS WE'RE STANDING ON.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT IS NOT THE ASSIGNMENT.

THAT IN THIS TIME AND IN THIS MOMENT WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD AND TO LOVE.

WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD AND TO GROW.

BUT THAT OPPORTUNITY CAN ONLY HAPPEN IF WE'RE DOING IT TOGETHER.

NOW IS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO MARCH FORWARD.

AND TO MARCH TOGETHER.

AND LET US MARCH ON UNTIL VICTORY IS WON.

[APPLAUSE] TODAY IS NOT THE VICTORY.

TODAY IS THE OPPORTUNITY.

IT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD WITH LOVE.

IT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE WITH COMPASSION.

IT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO FIGHT FEARLESSLY FOR OUR FUTURE.

MARYLAND OUR TIME IS RIGHT NOW.

[APPLAUSE] OUR TIME IS NOW TO BUILD A STATE THAT FOR THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US THAT THEY FOUGHT FOR AND A STATE THAT LEAVES NO ONE BEHIND.

THIS IS NOT A SLOGAN IT'S THE FULFILLMENT OF A HOPE.

MARYLAND IT'S TIME.

LET'S LEAD AND LET'S DO IT TOGETHER.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[APPLAUSE] >> IT SURE DOES FEEL GOOD TO BE A MARYLANDER TODAY.

THE BENEDICTION WILL BE OFFERED BY RABBI STEWART WINEBLATT.

>> I'D LIKE TO GO OFF SCRIPT FOR A MOMENT AND SAY WHEN WE WATCH THE TV SHOWS AND OPRAH HAS A PRZE FOR EVERYONE, SO SHE HAS A GIFT FOR EVERYONE HERE TODAY.

AND THAT GIFT IS THAT YOU HAVE WITNESSED HISTORY.

[APPLAUSE] DEAR GOD TODAY WE CELEBRATE AND TOMORROW A TOMORROW WE BEGIN TO WORK.

TO DO THE WORK OF GOVERNING, TO DO THE HARD WORK OF MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS, TO DO THE WORK OF SERVING THE PEOPLE OF THE GREAT STATE OF MARYLAND.

BUT TODAY, TODAY WE CELEBRATE.

FOR IT IS THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA.

SO LET US PAUSE IN GRATEFUL PRAYER TO TAKE IN TO APPRECIATE AND TO REVEL IN THE GLORY OF THIS MAGNIFICENT DAY AS A SOUTH VIETNAM WAS PROCLAIMED SUCH AN OCCASION.

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE.

LET US REJOICE AND LET US BE GLAD.

WE REJOICE.

AND WE ARE GLAD.

AND WE FEEL JOY.

FOR WE ARE GRATEFUL, OH, GOD TO YOU FOR SENDING US WES MOORE AND ARUNA MILLER TO LEAD AND TO GUIDE US.

WE'RE GRATEFUL GOD FOR THE GRACE, GOODNESS AND KINDNESS THAT HAS BEEN STIRRED AND AWAKENED IN ALL CORNERS OF OUR STATE BY THE INSPIRING CAMPAIGN THAT WES MOORE CONDUCTED.

WE'RE GRATEFUL, OH, GOD, FOR THE VISION AND POSITIVE EMPOWERING MESSAGE THAT WES MOORE HAS ARTICULATED.

HE HAS TOUCHED, MOVED AND UPLIFTED ALL SEGMENTS OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT STATE.

AND HE HAS SHOWN US THAT WHEN WE ARE UNITED WHEN WE HAVE A SENSE OF PURPOSE TOGETHER WE CAN AND WE WILL ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS.

2,000 YEARS AGO, OFFERED AN INSIGHT IN WORDS OF WISDOM THAT WE SHOULD AND WE MUST TAKE TO HEART.

THEY USED TO SAY I AM A CREATURE OF GOD.

AND MY NEIGHBOR IS A CREATURE OF GOD.

I WORK IN THE CITY.

AND HE WORKS IN THE COUNTRY.

I RISE EARLY FOR WORK.

AND HE RISES EARLY FOR WORK.

HE CANNOT PERFORM MY WORK.

AND I CANNOT PERFORM HIS.

BUT LESS ONE THINK THAT I DO GREAT THINGS AND HE DOES SMALL THINGS OR THAT I SOMEHOW AM BETTER THAN HE IT HAS BEEN TAUGHT.

IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER A PERSON DOES MUCH OR LITTLE AS LONG AS HE DIRECTS HIS HEART TO HEAVEN.

AND SO WE DIRECT OUR HEARTS.

WE DIRECT OUR HEARTS TO HEAVEN AND WE PRAY THAT GOVERNOR MOORE AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MILLER WILL BE GUIDED BY THE NOBLE PRINCIPLES AND VIRTUES THE HOPES THE DREAMS THE LOFT IDEALS AND THE HIGH EXPECTATIONS THAT CARRIED THEM TO THIS OFFICE AND THIS MOMENT AND THAT HAVE INSPIRED SO MANY OF US.

MAY THEY ALWAYS REMEMBER WHY THEY ASPIRED TO SEEK OFFICE AND TO SERVE THE PEOPLE SO THAT WHEN IT IS TIME TO BEGIN TO WORK, THEY WILL REMEMBER WHY WE CELEBRATE TODAY AND WHAT IT IS THAT WE CELEBRATE.

AND WHEN THERE ARE DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING DAYS, AS THERE WILL BE, MAY THEY REMEMBER THE WORDS OF THE SOLEMNIST WHICH Dr. KING USED TO LOVE TO QUOTE.

HIS ANGER LAUGHS FOR A MOMENT, BUT HIS LOVE IS FOR A LIFETIME.

TEARS MAY LINGER FOR A NIGHT.

BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING.

SO DEAR, GOD, DO NOT LET THEIR IDEALS BECOME TARNISHED.

WHEN THEY ARE WARY, GIVE THEM STRENGTH.

WHEN THEY ARE DISCOURAGED DO NOT LET THEM DESPAIR.

SEND THEM ENCOURAGEMENT.

SHOULD THEY ENCOUNTER DISAPPOINTMENT, SEND THEM HOPE.

WE ASK FOR THEIR WELL-BEING.

WE ASK BLESSING FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.

MAY YOU WATCH OVER THEM, MAY YOU PROTECT THEM AND MAY YOU BE WITH THEM AND MAY THEY BE WITH YOU.

WHAT IS REQUIRED OF YOU ONLY TO DO JUSTLY, TO LOVE MERCY, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH THY GOD TO MAY BE THY WILL.

AMEN.

[APPLAUSE] >> MARYLAND HAS A NEW LEADER AND NOW THE BUSINESS OF GERPING BEGINS.

WE WILL HAVE A FULL REPORT ON MPT'S STATE CIRCLE PROGRAM FRIDAY EDGE AT 7:00 P.M.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

[♪♪]