Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) is incurring the wrath of former President Trump’s top allies after he urged voters to “respect the verdict” in Trump’s trial to silence the money in New York.
However, he is also seeing Senate Republican leaders come to his defense, supporting his need to operate his Senate bid in a deep blue state — a seat long considered immovable — without interference from MAGA forces.
Hogan provoked outrage from that group last week when he called on “all leaders” to “reaffirm what made this nation great: the rule of law.”
Chris LaCivita, Trump’s campaign manager, quickly responded by saying, “You just ended your campaign,” while Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump said Hogan “does not deserve the respect of anyone in the Republican Party at this time and, quite frankly, anyone in America.
Other Trump allies stepped forward.
“I think it was a big mistake,” said Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), who is running to be Trump’s pick for vice president. “When he says things that would alienate most Republicans…I think it’s completely reasonable to criticize him.”
However, Vance and others acknowledged the political realities Hogan faces as he prepares for a November fight with Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D). President Biden’s 33-point victory in the Old Line State four years ago was his third-largest margin of victory in any state, meaning Hogan must appeal to moderate Democrats to have any chance of winning.
“He’s obviously going to run a different campaign than I am,” Vance said. “I still hope he wins.”
Hogan’s antipathy for the former president is well documented, but he has had the full support of the Senate Republican apparatus since launching his surprise campaign to replace Sen. Ben Cardin (D) in February. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) heavily recruited Hogan to run.
NRSC Chairman Steve Daines (R-Mont.), a leading Trump supporter, has stated that he is supporting Hogan despite protests from Trump World and noted that Hogan is running in a Democratic stronghold, “not Mississippi.”
“Obviously, he’s going to have some views that maybe don’t reflect where people in other parts of the country stand on this,” said Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the Senate’s No. 2 Republican. “He ran a campaign [in Maryland]. He knows best how to win in his state and we need him in the Senate.”
Hogan’s response to Trump’s guilty verdict was the latest example of the former governor’s break with his party.
His campaign released an ad last week in which he promised to codify Roe v. Wade. Wade if elected governor “so that every woman could make her own choice” – comments that Democrats immediately seized on.
He has also stated in recent months that he will not vote for either Trump or Biden in November.
“Hogan is already positively defined in the state,” said Doug Heye, a GOP strategist. “He is able to have more conversations with voters than he wants to have, as opposed to the conversation Alsobrooks wants to have about Larry Hogan.”
However, Hogan’s comments on the verdict drew criticism from both sides of the aisle, demonstrating a unique problem for the popular former governor.
“In this environment and on this issue in particular, the word bipartisanship can be interpreted as granting moral equivalence to Republicans and Democrats, and that is not the way to win over either side in such a polarized environment,” said Len Foxwell, a native of Maryland. Democratic strategist. “In his efforts to thread the needle and be all things to all people, my concern is that in this particular case he ended up pleasing no one.”
Top Democrats also argue that while Hogan was successful in the state — he left the governor’s mansion with a 77 percent approval rating — both of his runs for governor came in midterm cycles, and running on the same ticket that Trump and Biden will be a challenge. totally different beast.
“Marylanders don’t want to hear that Mitch McConnell and Steve Daines say, ‘Oh, he’s running a good race,’” said one Democratic operative. “They don’t want to be reminded that Larry Hogan is going to join the Republican majority.”
“It is necessary to convince Democrats that it is okay to elect someone who joins the Republican majority,” added the agent.
Top Democrats are also quick to note polls that show the state’s voters want the upper chamber controlled by Democrats and are trying to link Hogan to a brand of Republicanism they believe is toxic in the state.
“We all agree and it should not be a revolutionary thought that anyone should respect the jury’s decision. … It’s only revolutionary in Trump World,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a key supporter of Alsobrooks.
“Larry Hogan has decided to enter this race,” he continued, “and the only thing we know for sure is that for Larry Hogan it is a vote to put Mitch McConnell and Ted Cruz in charge of the United Senate.”
Hogan is facing Alsobrooks, who easily dispatched Rep. David Trone (D-Md.) in one of the most expensive Senate primary contests in U.S. history. She is trying to become the first black senator in the state’s history.
While Hogan’s comments were certainly intended to support him with moderate and left-leaning voters, they are landing with a thud on the right. Despite Hogan’s widespread popularity, nearly 28 percent of voters supported Robin Ficker, a political busybody, in last month’s primary against the former governor.
As some Trump supporters note, Hogan will have to win over all corners of the electorate – including conservatives and the former president’s ardent supporters.
“He needs Republicans to vote for him too,” said Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), who was one of the first senators to support Trump’s campaign.
“I want him to win,” he added.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
