Former President Trump threw his support behind Republican Larry Hogan in the Maryland Senate race, even after the former governor drew the ire of Trump’s allies by urging voters to respect the verdict in Trump’s trial in New York.
“Yes, I would like to see him win. I think he has a good chance of winning,” Trump said when asked if he would support Hogan to win the race, according to a clip shared on Fox Business.
“We have to win the majority. We have to straighten out our country. So I would like to see him win. He’s someone who can win… I know other people have made some strong statements, but I can just say, from my point of view, I’m for the party and I’m for the country,” Trump said. told reporter Aishah Hasnie.
The Trump and Hogan campaigns did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Hogan has been openly critical of the former president. He said in March that he would not vote for Trump in the fall but would look for a third-party option. He initially endorsed Trump’s former rival Nikki Haley to the GOP’s approval before she dropped out of the race.
After Trump was found guilty on all charges in the historic Manhattan case, Hogan called to Americans to “respect the verdict and legal process” and “reaffirm what made this nation great: the rule of law.”
Chris LaCivita, Trump’s campaign manager, responded by telling Hogan, “You just ended your campaign.” Republican National Committee Co-Chair Lara Trump said Hogan “does not deserve the respect of anyone in the Republican Party right now and, frankly, anyone in America.
But Hogan is running for Senate as Republicans seek to take control of the upper chamber that Democrats narrowly hold. The Republican Party recruited the popular former governor of the deep blue state with hopes that Hogan’s candidacy will give Republicans the opportunity for an upset and put Democrats on the defensive to keep the seat in their column.
The electorally deficient nonpartisan Cook Political Report changed the seat of Maryland from “solid” to “likely Democrat” after Hogan intervened.
Hogan is expected this fall to face Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D), who defeated fellow Democrat David Trone (Md.) in a contentious primary.
Polling averages from Decision Desk HQ/The Hill, based on five polls in the state, show the pair in a virtual dead heat, with Alsobrooks less than a point ahead — although one forecast model puts Alsobrooks as the clear favorite to win the November head-to-head. -head.
Democrats appeared to welcome the former president’s endorsement in Maryland on Thursday, which voted against Trump’s proposals for 2016 and 2020.
“Donald Trump wants Republican Larry Hogan in the Senate,” Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokeswoman Amanda Sherman Baity said in a statement. declaration after reports of the endorsement broke.
“The stakes of this race could not be higher. Last week, Senate Republicans rejected access to contraception. Hours ago, Senate Republicans voted against protection [in vitro fertilization]. And right now, Donald Trump has endorsed Larry Hogan so he can have a Republican majority,” Alsobrooks said in a statement.
Julia Manchester contributed.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
