FEBRUARY 7, 2026 — Maryland’s 122-year-old state flag has faced renewed examination after Governor Wes Moore described the banner as a “contradiction” during a recent podcast appearance, according to Maryland Matters.
The remarks, made while discussing redistricting and the state’s Civil War history, have sparked debate among legislators and residents regarding the potential for future design changes.
The flag was formally adopted by the Maryland General Assembly on March 9, 1904, reports Fox Baltimore. Its design is derived from the 17th-century heraldic shield of the Calvert family, the colonial proprietors of Maryland.
The banner features the alternating quadrants of the yellow-and-black Calvert arms and the red-and-white Crossland arms, representing the paternal and maternal lineages of George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore.
“Our flag is a contradiction because our flag is literally a Confederate symbol mixed with a Union symbol,” Moore stated.
Historical records from the Maryland State Archives indicate that while Maryland remained in the Union, its residents were deeply divided. Union supporters typically identified with the yellow-and-black Calvert colors, whereas Confederate sympathizers adopted the red-and-white Crossland colors and the cross bottony as symbols of secession.
Historians often interpret the integration of the two family arms as an intentional gesture of post-war reconciliation, aimed at reuniting a state where veterans had fought on opposing sides.
While Moore’s administration has characterized his comments as a way to explain the state’s complex history to national audiences, some Republican lawmakers expressed concern that the remarks could precede a formal push for change.
The debate occurs as other states, including Mississippi, Utah, and Minnesota, have recently moved to replace state flags that featured controversial historical symbolism.
In Maryland, previous efforts to decommission state symbols linked to the Confederacy resulted in the 2021 removal of the state song, “Maryland, My Maryland,” which had not been replaced as of early 2026.
Image: Maryland GovPics, CC BY 2.0
