Wes Moore sworn in as Maryland’s first Black governor

Wes Moore sworn in as Maryland Governor

Wes Moore was sworn in as Maryland’s first Black governor Wednesday during an inauguration ceremony at the State House in Annapolis. FOX 5's Tom Fitzgerald tells us about the historic swearing-in.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Wes Moore was sworn in as Maryland’s first Black governor Wednesday during an inauguration ceremony at the State House in Annapolis.

Moore took his oath office just after 12 p.m. on two bibles – one that belonged to his grandfather, a minister, and another once owned by Frederick Douglass, a Marylander who escaped slavery and went on to become an author and famed abolitionist.

Wes Moore sworn in as Maryland’s first Black governor

Wes Moore being sworn in as Maryland’s first Black governor on Wednesday, January 18 (Courtesy: Maryland Public Television)

Oprah Winfrey speaks at Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s inauguration

Oprah Winfrey speaks at the swearing in of Maryland Governor Wes Moore. (Courtesy: Maryland Public Television)

The new governor was surrounded his wife and his children. His oath was preceded by the swearing in of his running mate, Aruna Miller. Miller is the first immigrant and first Asian American elected statewide in Maryland.

Before his inaugural speech, Moore attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Annapolis City Dock, which was once a regional slave port and the site of a memorial to enslaved African Kunta Kinte, who arrived there in 1767 and was written about in Alex Haley's book "Roots."

Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s ceremonial 19-gun salute

A ceremonial 19-gun salute for Maryland Governor Wes Moore outside the State House in Annapolis on Wednesday, January 18. (Courtesy: Maryland Public Television)

Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s inaugural address

Wes Moore became Maryland's first Black governor Wednesday and delivered his inaugural address outside the State House in Annapolis. (Courtesy: Maryland Public Television)

Moore, a combat veteran and former CEO of one of the nation’s largest anti-poverty organizations, campaigned on creating equal opportunity for Maryland residents. He defeated the Republican candidate by a landslide.

Special guests at Moore’s inauguration included Maryland Rep. Kweisi Mfume, Attorney General Anthony Brown, former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, who was the second Black governor elected in the nation's history in 2006.

Aruna Miller sworn in as Maryland’s lieutenant governor

Aruna Miller sworn in as Maryland’s lieutenant governor (Courtesy: Maryland Public Television)

Former NAACP president Ben Jealous, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and former Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend also attended.

Oprah Winfrey, former television host and media personality, who was an early supporter of Moore, also spoke at the inauguration.

Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller’s inaugural address

Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller delivers her inaugural address on Wednesday, January 18 (Courtesy: Maryland Public Television)

The Associated Press contributed to this report