Republican Governor Larry Hogan, known for his opposition to Donald Trump within his party
Trump-led Republican Party: Decision-making rests with the former president. Critics either exit or are swapped with Trump loyalists. The state of the GOP somewhat resembles ancient Rome: Trump's thumb up or down determines political careers. His endorsement carries weight, acting as a stamp of approval for right-wing candidates. However, it can also be a burden, potentially dragging a candidate down.
Larry Hogan prefers minimal contact with Trump. At 68, he aims to secure one of Maryland's two US Senate seats in the Democrat-dominated state, and doesn't hold back on criticism of the convicted felon. Any association with Trump could jeopardize his chances.
Interestingly, Trump stated on Fox News last week that he wants Hogan to win and endorsed him. This sparked a flurry of removal attempts within the moderate faction. "Governor Hogan has made it clear that he does not support President Trump," said a campaign spokesperson. "I didn't ask for it, and I have no interest in it," Hogan told Wtop radio about the sudden endorsement from the possible presidential candidate of his party. "That's not something we'll use, that's a fact."
Republicans in the Blue State
With Trump as a backer, winning a Senate seat in Maryland is almost impossible. Democrats hold the majority there. Joe Biden won the last presidential election in this state with almost two-thirds of the votes against incumbent Trump. Republicans failed in the Senate elections as well. Maryland, a state on the US East Coast, typically offers little to the "Grand Old Party" under normal circumstances. But with the departure of long-term representative Ben Cardin, an opportunity arises.
And Hogan intends to seize it. He was Governor of Maryland from 2015 to 2023 and was popular. In 2018, he won against the Democratic challenger with 55% of the votes - largely because he was not aligned with federal politics. During Trump's first term, he spared no criticism of the President. In his own words, he did not vote for the Republican candidate in 2016 or 2020 and will not do so this year for Trump or Biden.
On a key issue, he differs significantly from the party line: Hogan advocates turning the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling, which overturned the abortion law, into legislation and thus enabling women to have abortions nationwide. In stark contrast to his party - and Trump. The former Governor has criticized Trump and his colleagues in the past for questioning the 2020 election results. In his view, Trump even caused the losses in the last three national elections.
Hostile fire from the Trump camp
Hogan's opposition to Trump has not gone unnoticed. Trump's supporters have responded with hostility. "Traitor," "RINO," and "NeverTrumper" are just a few of the insults hurled at Hogan. Some have even called for a primary challenge to unseat him.
But Hogan remains unfazed. He has a proven track record of winning elections in a Democrat-leaning state and is confident in his ability to appeal to moderate and independent voters. He believes that his stance on key issues, such as abortion and infrastructure, will resonate with voters and help him secure the Senate seat.
Despite the challenges, Hogan remains focused on his goal. He knows the road ahead will be difficult, but he is determined to make history and bring a Republican voice to the Senate from Maryland.
During the top representatives of his party, such as the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, described the ruling in the New York hush money trial as "false," "dangerous," or "embarrassing." Hogan urged the public to respect court proceedings and the verdict. "We need to uphold what this Nation has made great: the rule of law," said the moderate Republican.
However, criticism came from the Trump camp. Lara Trump, Co-Chair of the National Committee of the Republicans, declared that Hogan now "deserves no respect in the Party." The Co-Campaign Manager of Trump, Chris LaCivita, threatened under the radar: "You have just ended your campaign."
A Critic Leaves the Senate Race
Hogan is quite alone in his party. Many Trump critics have not remained in prominent positions. One of the last ones, Mitt Romney, is leaving the Senate race. Other critics were eliminated in primaries by Trump supporters. And actually, the 68-year-old Moderate provided enough ammunition in recent years to also be punished by Trump.
But it seems that the race in Maryland is too important to him to possibly also gain the majority in the Senate alongside the Presidency and the House of Representatives. Such a success ("unified government") would likely enable Trump to implement many of his plans without significant opposition.
Whether it will succeed is open. Hogan had personal popularity ratings of over 77 percent when his tenure as Governor ended, but that alone is not enough. In surveys, his Democratic opponent Angela Alsobrooks is several percentage points ahead, and various institutes currently predict the seat for the Democrats.
Should it still work for Hogan in roughly four and a half months, it would at least be a small sensation - and for the democratic goal of holding the Senate majority, a disaster. Whether it will turn out that way is up to the voters: In November, they will raise or lower their thumb.
Read also:
- In the upcoming US congressional elections, Larry Hogan, the moderate Republican Governor of Maryland, has positioned himself against endorsing Donald Trump, despite Trump's endorsement of him for the US Senate race.
- With Trump's endorsement and the associated backlash from his supporters, the US presidential election 2024 landscape in Maryland could significantly impact the US elections, given the state's historical preference for Democratic candidates.
- In the context of the US presidential election 2024, Republican candidates facing endorsements from Donald Trump must assess the potential pros and cons, as his endorsement can either boost their chances or negatively affect their prospects given the divisive nature of his political stance within the party and the USA as a whole.
