Maryland’s Republican former governor has launched a surprise bid for a US Senate seat currently occupied by a Democrat, posing a threat to the latter party’s razor thin margin in the upper chamber of Congress.
Larry Hogan, a moderate member of the Republican party, is seeking to replace retiring senator Ben Cardin, who currently helps the Democrats with their narrow 51-49 Senate margin. Of the 33 Senate seats up for regularly scheduled elections this November, 20 are held by Democrats, and Republicans are hoping to wrest control of the chamber.
Though Maryland, which borders the nation’s capital, often leans left, Hogan was elected governor twice, spending eight years in the state’s top office until last year.
Hogan, in announcing his candidacy on X, positioned himself as a politician who would “work with anyone” in a hyper-partisan political period.
I am running for the United States Senate – not to serve one party – but to stand up to both parties, fight for Maryland, and fix our nation’s broken politics. It’s what I did as Maryland’s governor, and it’s exactly how I’ll serve Maryland in the Senate. Let’s get back to work. pic.twitter.com/d0TuZchAtN
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) February 9, 2024
