Larry Hogan
Republican – Former Maryland Governor (FMG)
Jurisdiction Anne Arundel County
Promise: Will regulate the Southern border to stop illegal crossings and eliminate the entry of the drug fentanyl from the cartel.
In March of this year, the Republicans rejected the Border bill because Trump said it would give Biden a win, so the Speaker never brought it up for a vote. The Republican-favored bill would stop illegal crossings, eliminate asylum seekers, and address the fentanyl problem.
Republicans do not want to regulate the border, this is a political issue to get votes. The bill they refused was a once-in-a-lifetime deal. If brought up again, the old bill will not pass and a new bill will be difficult to pass. Republicans made empty promises regarding the border.
Observation
I live in Baltimore City and Gov. Hogan did nothing for the City when we needed help with crime and transportation.
Although it was 2 years in the planning stage, he stopped funding the Red Line. We got no new transportation except re-routing buses. Any savings went to the rainy day fund.
He did not help with quality-of-life crimes. He prevented the coordination between state, local, and federal governments in solving crime in Baltimore City. Maryland had north of a $2 billion surplus. No money went to Baltimore City, it all went to the rainy day fund.
How Larry Hogan Kept Blacks in Baltimore Segregated and Poor
Hogan portrays himself as a moderate who cares about minorities, but his decisions tell a different story—particularly his decision to cancel Baltimore’s Red Line.
Lawrence Joseph Hogan Jr. (born May 25, 1956) is an American politician and businessman who served as the 62nd governor of Maryland from 2015 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party and son of three-term U.S. representative Lawrence Hogan, he also served as chair of the National Governors Association from 2019 to 2020.
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- May 25, 1956 (age 67), Washington, D.C., United States
- 5’7″ (1.70m)
- Yumi Hogan(m 2004 – present)
- Lawrence Hogan
- Republican Party (United States)0
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Workers
As relates to Maryland workers and their families, Hogan vetoed legislation to gradually increase the minimum wage to $15 over several years. Hogan also vetoed an earned sick leave bill requiring workers to be given five paid sick days per year, and the establishment of a paid family and medical leave insurance program. The Maryland General Assembly overrode these vetoes with the hard work of a broad coalition of civic, labor, small business, and faith groups, state legislative leaders, and the public.
Also, he vetoed a statewide paid family leave insurance program and impose tighter security restrictions on gun stores.
Abortion
On the issue of reproductive justice and access to abortion care, Hogan vetoed a law to increase the number of trained providers and availability of services, including in two-thirds of Maryland counties without a single provider. Hogan issued his veto just as the Supreme Court was preparing to overturn Roe v. Wade and Maryland was facing the imminent need to provide care to patients from neighboring states like West Virginia. After the Maryland General Assembly overrode his veto, Hogan denied a request from the state comptroller to immediately release $3.5 million in appropriated funds for training new providers in quality and safe care.
Education
On education, Hogan vetoed the landmark reform legislation called Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, which was developed by the Kirwan Commission after extensive input and careful study. The legislature overrode Hogan’s veto to enact this 10-year plan to “expand pre-kindergarten programs and increase funding for schools with high concentrations of poverty, increase pay and career opportunities for teachers, create new career pathways for high schoolers who don’t plan to attend college, and establish an accountability board….”
Guns
On preventing gun violence, Hogan vetoed background checks for the sale and transfer of shotguns and rifles, legislation eventually enacted over his veto in response to a 2018 mass shooting at the Capital Gazette newsroom in which five people were killed and two people wounded by a gunman using a shotgun.
Voting
On voting, Hogan vetoed a bill that would have given voters an opportunity to sign their mail-in ballots if they forgot to do so. In 2015, Hogan vetoed a bill — subsequently overridden — to allow approximately 44,000 ex-felons on probation or parole to restore their voting rights.
Red Line/Eviction/Prescription Drugs
Turning to other issues, Hogan canceled the Red Line light rail project for Baltimore; vetoed legislation to prevent eviction of tenants with pending applications for rental assistance in response to Covid-related economic hardship; and vetoed funding for the Prescription Drug Affordability Board.
Vetoes Stopped Hogan
Many Marylanders likely are unaware of Hogan’s record on these policy issues for two main reasons. First, on a large number of these issues, Maryland state legislators overrode Hogan’s vetoes meaning that the policies became law and Hogan’s opposition no longer affected the public. Second, as a skilled politician, Hogan intentionally downplayed and avoided attention to unpopular positions.
Hogan Omits the Truth
Indeed, Hogan’s video announcement for the Senate on Feb. 9 is almost completely devoid of any mention of policy other than taking credit for tax cuts and a budget surplus. Hogan is a traditional, “pro-business” Republican whose record should appeal to traditional Maryland Republicans.
Hogan admits truths forbidden by MAGA
However, the Republican Party in Maryland and nationally are controlled by its Trump and MAGA wing. To his credit, as governor, Hogan acknowledged Covid as a public health emergency and supported policies to limit its spread. He also stated, in what should be unremarkable, that President Biden won the election in 2020.
Hogan doesn’t want to be a US Senator
In an evenly divided U.S. Senate, the most important question will be whether Democrats or Republicans control the majority and the agenda and which party is more likely to govern in the public interest. Based on his record, Hogan would align with Senate Republican leadership. Perhaps for these reasons, back in 2022 when being courted to challenge Chris Van Hollen, Hogan said, “I don’t have a burning desire to serve in the U.S. Senate.”
Maryland voters should be informed about important policy issues not only from the campaigns but also from the nonprofits, state policymakers, and their constituents who have worked so hard to develop and implement them.