Maryland GOP Gov. Larry Hogan Tells CNN That Trump’s Involvement in the Midterms is ‘An Issue to Contend With’

Maryland GOP Governor Larry Hogan appeared on CNN today and told Dana Bash that he believes that former President Trump’s involvement in the midterms is “An issue to contend with.”

Hogan then suggested that Trump might try to “interfere with the primaries” and try to get people nominated who are “unelectable” in swing districts.

“This has been a constant problem” Hogan contended as well and then bragged about his margin in dark blue Maryland compared to Trump’s.

Hogan can brag about his popularity, but the reality is that every single other Republican in the state has gone down by a similar margin when running statewide (outside of his Lt. Gov running mate).

In 2014, when Hogan was first elected, he was boosted by low turnout and his opponent was the Lt. Governor for an incumbent Democratic governor with sinking popularity and a slew of increasingly unpopular tax hikes.

Additionally, Hogan said of the Virginia governor’s race, “Trump never set foot in the state, which was a great thing for Glenn Youngkin and for the country.”

Whether or not Trump stepped foot in the state, his supporters came out in droves to help swing the election and Youngkin was boosted by an inspiring campaign by his opponent Terry McAuliffe.

Hogan has long been a critic of Trump’s and it was reported last year that he cast a mail-in ballot of a write-in vote for deceased former GOP president Ronald Reagan for president.

“I know it’s simply symbolic. It’s not going to change the outcome in my state. But I thought it was important to just cast a vote that showed the kind of person I’d like to see in office,” said of his vote at the time.

CNN’s Dana Bash floated the possibility of Hogan running for president or senate in 2024, as he is term limited as governor, but he was non-committal.

It would be tough sledding for him ultimately to find much support from red state voters, given his track record with his criticisms of the former president.