Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, who would succeed Moore if he resigned, has also not responded to questions about whether she is prepared to govern independently. Under the Maryland Constitution, the lieutenant governor becomes governor upon a resignation; there would be no special election, and voters would next choose a governor in November 2030.

The uncertainty has drawn attention as Moore’s growing national profile fuels speculation about a possible 2028 presidential campaign. At an Oct. 6 debate, Moore was asked whether he would serve a full second term. He replied that he was “committed to the people of Maryland” and running for reelection, but did not give a direct yes-or-no answer. The response differed from an earlier commitment to serve another four years.

Moore’s office did not respond to a request for comment on whether Miller was prepared to lead. Miller’s office did not respond to interview requests or written questions about her record, role in state decisions, or readiness to take over.

Miller, who immigrated to the United States from India at age 7, holds a civil engineering degree, worked for 25 years in Montgomery County’s transportation agency and served eight years in the Maryland House of Delegates. Elected in 2022, she became Maryland’s first immigrant to hold statewide office. If she became governor, she would be the state’s first woman in the role.

Her responsibilities in the Moore administration have included chairing a work group formed after six road workers were killed on Interstate 695 in 2023. Its work helped shape the 2024 Maryland Road Workers Protection Act. State figures show 1,148 work-zone crashes in 2025, a 12% decrease from 2024, while work-zone fatalities fell to nine. Miller has also chaired the state’s Overdose Response Advisory Council. Overdose deaths declined 26% in 2025, though 1,315 people died.

Democratic strategist Len Foxwell praised Miller as an experienced public servant, pointing to her decades in government. Former Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich said he could not assess whether she was ready to lead, while arguing that voters who elect a governor expect that person to do the job for the full term.

Republican state Del. Ryan Nawrocki criticized Miller’s record and said he did not believe she was prepared to lead. His comments represent a partisan assessment; Miller’s office did not respond to questions about her accomplishments or independent decision-making as lieutenant governor.

Miller also drew criticism after a vendor error led election officials to send replacement mail-in ballots to more than 500,000 voters before Maryland’s June primary. Miller said ballot mailing errors occur, while her office said election officials acted promptly and safeguards worked. Officials attributed the issue to the vendor.

The unanswered questions leave voters weighing both Moore’s commitment to a potential second term and the experience of the person constitutionally positioned to replace him. The succession issue could become especially consequential if Moore leaves for another office before the term ends.