A federal campaign filing by NoMoore.org, a group that Democratic Party operatives called “shadowy,” raises more questions than it answers about the group that is using social media to needle the first-term Democratic governor.
The group in August filed a statement of organization with the Federal Election Commission for the NoMoore Political Action Committee, a “hybrid” PAC that can raise unlimited amounts of money for independent expenditures, and limited amounts for candidate donations. But the PAC has yet to report any fundraising activity and its sole listed officer, who also oversees two dozen other conservative PACs out of a Northern Virginia mail drop, did not respond to requests for comment.
NoMoore.org, in an unsigned response to a reporter’s questions, insisted its efforts are focused on issue education not electioneering.
“Our organization is focused solely on supporting or opposing policies at the state level and calling out the failures of those in power in Annapolis. Our mission is to fight back against the reckless tax-and-spend policies that are destroying our state,” the organization said in its email.
Rumors persist about the identity of those behind the group. Democrats, including the state party and those who support Moore, insist the group has motivations beyond issue education.
“We love that we are living in the head of Governor Moore and the out-of-touch Maryland Democratic Party,” the group wrote.
Some theorize the virtual jabs are an effort to soften Moore up in anticipation of the 2026 election and a potential head-to-head contest with former Gov. Larry Hogan. The Republican predecessor to Moore is often mentioned as a potential 2026 candidate, and has at times teased the idea himself, but has not made any public moves that indicate he is running.
Others suggest the NoMoore campaign is meant to strip the shine off Moore, a rising national star in his party and considered a potential candidate for president in 2028. So far, Moore maintains that he is not considering such a run.
A spokesperson for the Moore re-election campaign declined to comment on this story.
Complaints referred to state prosecutor
NoMoore.org gained attention earlier this year with social media posts targeting Maryland’s governor.
In March, the Maryland Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Maryland State Board of Elections, questioning whether NoMoore’s activities violate state election laws. In particular, the party expressed concerns that the group had failed to file as a campaign entity in Maryland.
The party recently criticized the group for what it called racist AI-generated content lampooning the governor. One post drawing specific criticism features Moore in a red clown nose and rainbow wig. An identical theme was used in a post about Carter Elliott, a white Moore spokesperson who recently moved to the governor’s campaign staff.
NoMoore said the Democratic Party was “screaming ‘racism’ and inventing conspiracies” to distract from what it said was Moore’s “record on spending and taxes.”
Allen Norfleet, director of candidacy and campaign finance at the board of elections, said the Democratic Party complaint and an anonymous second, previously unreported, complaint were forwarded to the Office of the State Prosecutor.
Norfleet said forwarding the complaints to the state prosecutor is not an indication of election law violations. “It’s just because they are the investigative agency for the state board,” Norfleet said.
The prosecutor’s office does not acknowledge the existence or status of investigations.
“It’s deeply concerning that the Maryland Democratic Party will do anything and everything in its power to weaponize our judicial system against political opposition,” NoMoore.org said in its unsigned response to questions. “We are following every law and simply exercising our First Amendment rights. Opposing higher taxes is the very basis on which our country was founded.”
A spokesperson for the Maryland Democratic Party declined to comment.
NoMoore is a federal PAC
NoMoore.org has not registered with the State Board of Elections, but with the FEC instead.
“At this time, we have no intention of being involved in next year’s election,” the group said in its email. “We only began raising money in September and are powered by small-dollar donations and volunteer energy, not special interests. Our goal is simple: to educate, organize, and empower Marylanders who feel left behind.”
The August filing established NoMoore PAC as a hybrid PAC, which can operate with two segregated bank accounts.
One can solicit and accept unlimited contributions. The money can come from individuals, corporations, unions and other political committees. The contributions can be used for independent expenditures, including ads referring to a federal candidate or generic voter drives in federal elections, according to the FEC.
The second bank account — subject to contribution limits — can make donations to individual federal candidates.
NoMoore PAC has yet to report any financial activity. Contributions and expenditures, if any, will become public in future filings, possibly after the first of the year.
The identities of the organizers remain unknown, and the subject of much speculation around the State House. The organization sidestepped questions about who was involved in the group.
“NoMoore.org is a grassroots movement built by and for Marylanders who are deeply concerned about the direction of our state under Wes Moore’s leadership,” the group wrote. “We are everyday citizens who have come together out of shared frustration and a desire for change. Moore’s record of spending, tax hikes, and misplaced priorities compelled us to act.”
Connections to conservative PACs
The statement of organization filed with the federal agency appears to tie the group to a network of national Republican PACs.
It is not clear why the group opted to create a federal campaign entity. Norfleet said the creation of a federal account surprised him.
“I don’t see any interest at the national level based on their activity,” Norfleet said.
The treasurer and bank named in the federal filing — Melodie Johnson and Chain Bridge Bank, respectively — have ties to other PACs backing Republican and Libertarian interests.
Johnson is also treasurer and custodian for at least two dozen other right-leaning political action committees, according to a review of FEC and IRS records. Some of those committees date back over a decade.
On that list are committees supporting Donald Trump, Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and groups including FreedomWorks, Change New York – Save America PAC, and the GOPAC Election and GOPAC Education Funds.
A mail drop
The address for many of those federal committees — including NoMoore PAC — is a store front in a McLean, Virginia, shopping center three miles from CIA headquarters. The business offers private mailbox rentals.
Many of the committees overseen by Johnson, including NoMoore PAC, have accounts at Chain Bridge Bank, which was founded by former U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald, a Republican from Illinois. The online bank has one physical location in McLean, roughly half a mile from the store front that serves as a mailing address for NoMoore PAC and other committees.
The bank has worked with every major Republican presidential candidate since 2008, including Donald Trump, according to Reuters.
A phone number for Johnson, found in FEC filings, is no longer in service. She did not respond to an email requesting an interview.
Norfleet said Johnson did not respond to emails he sent. He did receive an out-of-office vacation message.
Johnson is also listed as the treasurer or custodian of other PACs that operated in Maryland.
Ties to Hogan allies
Some of those organizations employed or were run by political operatives connected to Hogan.
One such committee, a 501(c)(4) called New Path Inc., was engaged in educating the public on new policies that would improve the economy and quality of life, according to IRS records.
The group hired a Pennsylvania-based political consulting firm called Red Maverick Media. Mike Leavitt, a founder and partner at the firm, worked as a consultant to Hogan’s 2014 campaign.
New Path also hired Steve Crim, a senior aide and campaign manager for Hogan, in 2016. Crim was the architect behind Hogan’s Change Maryland effort. The social media juggernaut billed as a grassroots campaign helped propel Hogan into the governor’s mansion in 2014.
Crim was also listed as a contact person for an organization known as Common Sense America Inc., according to IRS records. Johnson was listed as the principal officer using the same McLean address used for NoMoore.org.
NoMoore.org did not respond to questions about Crim’s involvement in the organization.
Crim, in an email, said he was not working for NoMoore.org, but that, “This summer, as a professional courtesy, I connected NoMoore.org to a compliance team that helps organizations navigate the complexities of grassroots advocacy.”
‘No plans to engage in the 2026 election’
Establishment of a federal PAC does not necessarily mean NoMoore.org will not have to register with state elections officials eventually.
Currently the group is walking a line between campaigning and what might be considered protected political speech.
But there are activities that could trigger registration with state elections officials including aggregate donations of $10,000 or aggregate donations of $6,000 or more in an election cycle. Either would require the group to file in Maryland.
That filing under the so-called 48-hour rule would have to include details about spending and donations, donors and the person directing and controlling the activities of the group.
Norfleet said those triggers were provided to NoMoore.org.
“As we have no plans to engage in the 2026 election and are not advocating for the election or defeat of a candidate, registering as a state committee did not make sense,” the group said in its email. “If we ever engage in a Maryland election and reach the required reporting thresholds, we will fully comply.”