In a Republican Party dominated by Donald Trump, one detractor of the 45th president is rapidly positioning himself as the national leader of the party’s anti-Trump wing: Maryland Governor Larry Hogan.
Last month, Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.), one of 10 Republicans who voted for impeachment and who has been targeted for defeat by President Trump, held a fundraiser. Hogan traveled all the way across the country to attend and support her reelection bid.
That was only one of many such stops Hogan has made on his nationwide tour to aid Republicans whom Trump is trying to have defeated in the 2022 primary elections.
The list of Republicans Hogan is supporting (against President Trump’s wishes) includes Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski — another impeachment backer facing a Trump-endorsed primary challenger.
Hogan has strongly urged the Republican Governors Association to stand with Kemp and other sitting incumbents facing challengers—a call the organization has heeded.
Hogan is a popular GOP governor in a blue state who argues that Trump’s support of challengers to incumbents will cost the party otherwise-certain victories in 2022.
“It’s crazy. We’ve got the former president going after all these really good elected Republicans, and so I’m trying to support people who I think deserve to be in office,” Hogan said. “We’re trying to help people wherever we can, and I’m sure we’re going to be doing a lot more of it.”
Hogan, who called on Trump to resign after January 6 last year, briefly considered mounting a long-shot challenge in the 2020 presidential primary. For now, he’s building up a nationwide political infrastructure with a notably anti-Trump position.
In 2021, Hogan’s supporters launched An America United, a nonprofit group that’s been promoting the governor as a bipartisan problem solver. Hogan cannot run for another term as governor next year, opening the door to speculation that he’s laying the groundwork for a 2024 presidential campaign.
The speculation is further fueled by Hogan’s efforts to strike relationships that would be key to such a bid. For example, he has been meeting with key donors and speaking at national GOP events. In May, he is scheduled to speak at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute’s “Time for Choosing Speaker Series” about the future of the Republican Party, a forum that has attracted various would-be 2024 contenders.
Hogan has used the momentum he is gaining within the anti-Trump side of the party to support other Republians who have found themselves in Donald Trump’s crosshairs. Herrera Beutler, for instance, who has served six terms in Congress, is facing a challenge from Trump-backed Army veteran Joe Kent—who also has the support of Trump ally and prominent conservative donor Peter Thiel.
New York Rep. John Katko, another one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach, has also won Hogan’s support.
“The folks that wouldn’t overturn the election, or buy into the big lie, they’re being attacked. It’s the reason I want to stand up and help them, but it’s a real problem for the party,” said Hogan.
Politico notes:
Hogan also argued that Trump’s decision to endorse a primary opponent to Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, a fellow blue-state Republican governor, contributed to Baker’s decision to forgo reelection. (Baker, a popular figure in Massachusetts whose retirement could well hand the governor’s mansion to Democrats in November, has insisted he wasn’t “shaken” by Trump’s involvement in the race.)
… The governor also contended that Trump’s attacks on Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey had undermined the GOP’s prospects of recruiting Ducey into the Senate race against Democratic incumbent Mark Kelly, potentially robbing the party of a top-tier candidate in a contest that could determine control of the chamber.
Hogan further asserted: “I think the biggest threat to Republican success next year … is Trump, and Trump cancel culture, what he’s trying to do to screw up these races. And asking people to swear blind allegiance to Trump is going to cause us to lose some races.”
The battle between Trump and Hogan is playing out in the latter’s own state. The governor supports former state commerce secretary Kelly Schulz as his successor, whereas Trump backs Dan Cox, a state delegate who has actively fought against mask mandates.
Referring to Trump, Hogan said he’d “prefer endorsements from people who didn’t lose Maryland by 33 points.”
Trump has called Maryland’s governor a “RINO” who “has been terrible for our Country and is against the America First Movement.”
