Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan, known for his criticism of former President Donald Trump, received Trump's endorsement in his Maryland Senate bid on Thursday during an interview on Fox News. Trump expressed his support for Hogan, stating that he believes Hogan has a good chance of winning the Senate seat, which could impact control of the Senate.
Hogan, a popular former governor, aims to become the first Republican in over 40 years to win a Senate seat in Maryland, a state where Democrats significantly outnumber Republicans. Despite his past disagreements with Trump, Hogan has now secured Trump's endorsement for his Senate campaign.
However, Hogan's stance on Trump has not always been favorable. Last month, Hogan's comments urging respect for the legal process before Trump's conviction by a Manhattan jury on multiple felony counts drew criticism from Trump's campaign. Hogan emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law and avoiding further division in the country.
As Hogan navigates his Senate campaign in a predominantly Democratic state, he has chosen not to attend the upcoming Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. In both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, Hogan did not vote for Trump, opting to write in the names of his father and former President Ronald Reagan instead.
In the Maryland Senate race, Hogan is running against Democrat Angela Alsobrooks, the chief executive of Prince George’s County. The Senate seat is open due to the retirement of Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin, setting the stage for a closely watched and potentially pivotal election in Maryland.
