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Larry Hogan Gives GOP Huge Senate Opportunity in Deep Blue Maryland

Posted on Monday, April 8, 2024
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by Alan Jamison
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44 Comments
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AMAC EXCLUSIVE

Larry-Hogan

Former Maryland Republican Governor Larry Hogan has never been viewed as a great champion of traditional conservative values or a hero to the Republican Party base. But if he can win Maryland’s U.S. Senate race this November, Hogan might nonetheless hand the GOP one of its most significant and consequential victories in decades.

While Hogan has often received criticism for his soft stance on issues like gun control and abortion, he is nonetheless a Republican who won back-to-back gubernatorial elections in deep-blue Maryland and created a reputation for himself as a very popular governor. A moderate Republican representing Maryland in the Senate would do more for conservatives than a far-left Democrat ever would.

At the very least, Hogan could be for Republicans what Senators Joe Manchin (WV), Jon Tester (MT), and Sherrod Brown (OH) are for Democrats. The liberal party owes its current 51-49 Senate majority to these three members from red states.

While Manchin, Tester, and Brown don’t have nearly as far-left a voting record as figures like Bernie Sanders or Chuck Schumer, they all nonetheless voted with Democrats to pass every Biden administration policy. When Democrats needed to push through their enormous spending packages or a controversial nomination, these three ensured their party carried the day when it mattered most.

Take the Supreme Court, for example. Manchin, Tester, and Brown all voted to confirm far-left Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson. If it were up to the voters in West Virginia, Montana, and Ohio, Brown-Jackson would almost surely not be on the Court.

The fact that Hogan won at all in Maryland with a Republican label is itself a minor miracle. Hillary Clinton won the state by 27 points in 2016, while Joe Biden won there by 33 points in 2020. Yet Hogan carried the state in his gubernatorial elections by almost 4 percent in 2014 and 12 percent in 2018. When he left office in 2023, he had a 77 percent approval rating.

The keys to Hogan’s victories were winning Baltimore’s suburbs and minimizing Democrats’ margins in the Washington, D.C. suburbs.

While Democrats were able to run up their advantage in Baltimore proper, Hogan managed to win Baltimore County, comprising the suburbs outside of Baltimore, in both of his races. In 2014, he lost the city by a margin of 31,000 to 106,000 votes, but won Baltimore County 156,000 to 103,000. In 2018, he lost the city 58,000 to 123,000, but won the County 198,000 to 123,000. Hogan also managed to win Howard County and Anne Arundel County, which are situated between Baltimore and Washington.

By comparison, former President Donald Trump lost Baltimore County by nearly 69,000 votes in 2016 and by more than 112,000 votes in 2020. While Hogan is hardly the conservative Trump is, he has nonetheless proven he has what it takes to win over left-leaning voters while still advancing some conservative priorities.

Maryland’s Senate primary contests are scheduled for May 14. Hogan holds a commanding lead for the Republican nomination, while current polling shows the likely Democrat nominee will be either Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks or Congressman David Trone, with Trone leading in current polling.

The latest general election polling out on April 2 has Hogan beating both Alsobrooks and Trone – but just barely. A Goucher College survey has Hogan up 44 percent to 40 percent over Alsobrooks, with 11 percent undecided, and up 43 percent to 42 percent on Trone, with 10 percent undecided. Both results are within the poll’s margin of error.

The fact that Hogan is competitive at all in the race is a sign that his popularity as governor has carried over into the Senate contest – a promising development for Republicans’ hopes of retaking the Senate. But Democrats will likely pour immense financial resources into the state, as they know they cannot afford to lose a deep-blue seat in a cycle where they already have so many other vulnerable incumbents in red and purple states.

The policy differences between Hogan and his Democrat opponents are stark. Both leading Democrat candidates support providing illegal aliens with amnesty. In 2020, Alsobrooks chose to shift money away from local law enforcement, while Trone wanted law enforcement officers to be trained on “implicit bias” and “non-lethal interventions.” Both would certainly be far-left voices in the Senate.

Meanwhile, Hogan has, to his credit, stood with Republicans on several issues of importance to conservatives. In 2021, he vetoed legislation that would turn Maryland into a sanctuary state for illegal aliens by forcing counties to end their contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). (Democrats in the state legislature did, however, override his veto.)

That same year, Hogan pushed a $150 million initiative to fund police in the state. “Trying to reduce crime by defunding police is dangerous, radical, far-left lunacy. Thinking that you can improve law enforcement by defunding the police is like saying you want to improve education by defunding the schools,” he said.

In a time when Democrats are becoming increasingly anti-Israel, Hogan has also affirmed his support for the Jewish State, calling himself a “pro-Israel champion.”

While Larry Hogan may be no Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Ron Johnson, or Rand Paul, he would represent the interests of conservatives more than any Democrat who could plausibly win in Maryland. This is a seat that Republicans saw no chance of winning until Hogan entered the race, and as such, conservatives should welcome his candidacy and potential ascension to the Senate.

Alan Jamison is the pen name of a political writer with extensive experience writing for several notable politicians and news outlets.

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Laxxreff
Laxxreff
7 months ago

I live in Maryland. Hogan is the only R who could get elected in this sorry state. As Governor, he cut taxes and balanced the budget. I own and carry a firearm because he supported the 2nd amendment. As soon as the Supremes said concealed carry is in the Constitution, he directed the state police to immediately drop their onerous restrictions on concealed carry. He is a Republican and will caucus with the Republican majority.
Remember William F. Buckley’s rule for candidates. Nominate the most conservative candidate WHO CAN GET ELECTED. What a bonus if we can get an R from Maryland.

snert
snert
7 months ago

sorry i don’t hold your admiration for that man. he’s as anti trump as they come, and with him in there with trump, he’ll spend most of his time trying to put trump down. the #1 reason most politicians are anti trump, is they’re here to make “money”, and if it somehow benefits America, yippee. i made a huge mistake supporting romney, and swore then, never again with a rino anti trump!!!

Newday
Newday
7 months ago

It’s the price we have to pay to get another” R” in the senate and take control to keep the gestapo democrats from barring discussion by the republicans

Joseph
Joseph
7 months ago

I’ll take any Republican over any Democrat at this point, because control of the Senate is as important as re-electing President Trump. In my deep red state Hogan wouldn’t get elected dog catcher, BUT I hope he wins the election in Maryland. There is no other Republican that will EVER win in the deep blue sh!thole that is Maryland. So I’m on board. MAGA

Judi
Judi
7 months ago

Larry Hogan is a one world globalist! He might as well be a Democrat!

Stephen
Stephen
7 months ago

Stop conflating “Republicans” and “conservatives.” Hogan has an “R” after his name but votes democrat policies every… single… time.

carol exposito
carol exposito
7 months ago

I guess half a sandwich is better than nothing! If he can be the thorn in the side of bad legislation, then I say “Let’s go. Larry”!

Mabel
Mabel
7 months ago

Agree with the below respondents! He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing! There ARE other conservative candidates you could get behind!

GERRY
GERRY
7 months ago

He is RINO Republican iin name only that is why he was elected. We were all fooled. DO NOT COUNT ON THIS MAN TO DO ANYTHING BUT SIDE WITH THE DEMS

uncleferd
uncleferd
7 months ago

I’m glad to know this man may not be who the article purports him to be. I greatly appreciate the commentary that some of you have provided. I will certainly read about his record.

Cane Bernard
Cane Bernard
7 months ago

Hogan is a Mitt Romney no-count POS baby-killing gun-control RINO! he may as well run for the Dims!

Thinking
Thinking
7 months ago

This is no certainty that he will win in November. The polls are not good. If the American people could only see what would happen if they vote for dems in the House and Senate and the White House. The disaster that will follow. Personally I think a disaster will happen prior to the election. WW III will break out, a manmade disaster will occur, the dems are working on that right now. They are not going to be defeated. Ole Joe does what he wants and all the dem politicians follow him blindly. Everything is okay with them. The lawlessness the open borders the mutilation of our kids the dumbing down of our education in the name of DEI. Instead of lifting up those students that have trouble keeping up with the standards no they lower the standards which will mean less educated doctors, lawyers, engineers and scientists. Everything around us will break down for we won’t be able to compete in the world and China will be the power in the world. Remember China holds much of our 36 trillion debt. In meantime over the years under O they have quietly acquired land and ports strategically placed all over the world. What has O and ole Joe done for America besides pulling out of Afghanistan with our tails between our legs and America overrun bij 17 million illegal migrants. Lawlessness is rampant, drug use is at an all time high, trans and drag queens are revered and the white race is being destroyed and dismissed as Nazis, racists, terrorists. Parents rights are being taken away. And DEI and CRT and black history is being taught in the schools and mutilation of our kids is the order of the day in schools. Every inch of our lives is legislated by ole Joe, ordered by O and the deep state. There is a double standard in this country. In law, religion, politics. The division the dems wanted has been reached and the blame they lay by the what they perceive to be the opposition only it is the Americans that are the same as them. Does feel like the years 1940-1945. You are not with them you are the enemy and has to be eliminated.

Earle B
Earle B
7 months ago

Very suspicious as to whether he will help this country, or help lead it further into the morass it has been in for the last 3 and 1/2 years, by siding with those who are ignoring the Constitution and laws. Like several other politicians, cannot see whether we can handle him (and others that may be of this ‘ilk’) for six years? He did not seem to really do much for his state as a ‘conservative.’ Do not remember him being very supportive of the Trump administration and its policies. The “R” after the name does not guarantee good governance, as pointed out. Please keep praying for this nation – Romans 13. Thank you. Luke 24, v 50-53.

John Godolphin
John Godolphin
6 months ago

Hogan was a bad governor from a conservative point of view. He locked down small businesses and was otherwise a petty dictator during covid. His response was utterly brainless, just following the Dems. He also had an executive order forcing hospitalized covid patients back into nursing homes after hospitalization. A stupid thing to do that resulted in many senior’s deaths. He disappeared that order from the archive of online orders once he realized what a blunder he had made. He was all in on statue destruction trashing our history. I won’t vote for him in the primary but I will vote for him in the general election because he will be more helpful than harmful in the senate and he’ll be far better than the left wing radical that will run against him.

At a place where truth rules
At a place where truth rules
7 months ago

It appears former Governor Hogan is an excellent choice, as the other two are clones of the warped attitudes that run their lives. Back to common sense, either that loss of the Country is threatened by the loudmouth foul anti-Americans. Wake up immediately.

GERRY
GERRY
7 months ago

He is a RINO not to be trusted. We met him a couple times and he could not be bothered.’
The only reason he is running is to get more control for DEMS trust me we from MD know.

Rick
Rick
7 months ago

Just what we need- another Rino!

Stephen Russell
Stephen Russell
7 months ago

Victory if done in Nov

David
David
6 months ago

Good article thanks. As wiser heads say, you cannot expect perfection, especially in a state like Maryland. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

David
David
6 months ago

Good article thanks. As wiser heads say, you cannot expect perfection, especially in a state like Maryland. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Dorothea
Dorothea
6 months ago

I like winning.

Steve
Steve
6 months ago

2nd article down – – – is the next real Swing State Minnesota?
commoncts.blogspot.com

commoncts.blogspot.com

Cathy
Cathy
6 months ago

Democrat aligned Dem polices RINO

Russ
Russ
7 months ago

Hogan is another democrat posing as a republican.

CSMD
CSMD
7 months ago

I live in Maryland! Don’t think for 1 second Hogan is a conservative nor a R! He is the poster boy for RINO…. And will only get worse! Don’t be fooled by this LiberalFakeConservative!

betaraybill1
betaraybill1
7 months ago

Given that the ideological split in the US Senate is 95 to 5 pro Dem Globalist, Hogan is a Democrat masquerading as a Republican. . Hogan is a Globalist elite RINO never Trumper who should never acquire the power of a US Senator… I looked up POS in the dictionary, his picture was next to the definition. We would be better off with a Democrat there, especially if Trump wins. Less drama

Steve
Steve
7 months ago

He’ll vote more with Dems than real Republicans.

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