Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Republican Larry Hogan for the Maryland Senate race, despite drawing the ire of some of Trump’s supporters by calling on voters to respect the ruling in Trump’s New York hush money trial.
Asked if he would support Hogan winning, Trump replied, “Yeah, I’d like to see him win. I think he has a chance to win,” according to a video shared by Fox Business.
“We’ve got to get the majority. We’ve got to get our country right. So I want to see him win. He’s the guy who can win… I know other people have made strong statements, but from my standpoint, I’m committed to my party and I’m committed to my country,” Trump said. He told reporter Aisha Hasni.
The Trump and Hogan campaigns did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Hogan has been an outspoken critic of the former president, saying in March that he would not vote for Trump in this fall’s presidential election and would instead seek a third-party candidate. He initially supported Trump’s former rival Nikki Haley as the Republican nominee, but she has since dropped out of the race.
Hogan after Trump was found guilty on all charges in the historic Manhattan case It is called It calls on Americans to “respect justice and the legal process” and “reaffirm the rule of law that has made our country great.”
Trump campaign manager Chris LaCivita responded to Hogan by saying, “You just finished your campaign.” Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump said Hogan “does not deserve the respect of anyone in the Republican Party at this point, and frankly, anyone in America.”
But Hogan is running for Senate as Republicans try to seize control of the Senate, which Democrats have narrowly held. Republicans backed the popular former governor of a heavily Democratic state in the hopes that Hogan’s candidacy would give Republicans a chance to turn things around and put Democrats on the defensive to help them hold onto their seats.
Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election forecaster Maryland’s congressional seat transfer With Hogan’s addition, his approval rating rose from “certain” to “likely to favor Democrat.”
Hogan is set to face off this fall against Prince George’s County Mayor Angela Alsobrooks (D), who defeated fellow Democrat Rep. David Trone (Md.) in a fierce primary election.
A Decision Desk HQ/The Hill polling average based on five statewide polls has the two virtually tied, with Alsobrooks leading by less than a point, but a forecasting model gives Alsobrooks a clear chance to win in a head-to-head matchup in November.
Democrats appeared to welcome the former president’s endorsement in Maryland on Thursday. Voted against Trump’s 2016 and 2020 runs.
“Donald Trump wants Republican Larry Hogan to run for Senate,” said Amanda Sherman Beatty, spokeswoman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. statement After reports of support came out.
“The stakes in this race couldn’t be higher. Last week, Republican senators rejected access to contraception. Just hours ago, Republican senators voted against protecting IVF. And now Donald Trump has endorsed Larry Hogan to secure the Republican majority,” Alsobrooks said in a statement.
Julia Manchester contributed.
